Chapter 2 - Disaster


Vegeta punched the air repeatedly, straining to increase his speed. The level of pressure in the gravity room was exceedingly high - it was even causing him some pain, and he loved it. Vegeta enjoyed every moment of his training sessions; it was the ultimate release for him.

Vegeta quit punching and mopped his brow with his hand. He was not entirely focused - he had not been since he blasted Trunks several weeks ago. The boy still spoke to him - that had not changed at all, but he would not train with him. Vegeta had even lowered himself enough to ASK the boy to spar with him. TELLING Trunks to do anything was like pulling teeth.

The only consolation for Vegeta was that Trunks WAS training, but he was doing it on his own. He did not want anyone to see him when he was working out - he would quit whatever he was doing every time Vegeta walked into the Gravity Room. It was infuriating. His son obviously had a problem with his technique; that much was proven when he got blasted, but he would not let his father help him. Vegeta doubted it had anything to do with what he said to Trunks that day - he had said things like that before and it had not fazed his son.

Vegeta growled and started punching invisible opponents. He was tired of thinking about the whole situation - it was time to focus on his own training for a change. If Trunks really did have a problem, he would work it out.

***

'Jeez, that one hurt a lot...'

Trunks looked at his creation and smiled. In just a few short weeks he had gone from beating up a small energy ball to assaulting a pillar of his own ki power. It was agonizing every time he hit it, and he loved it. His pain tolerance had increased ten fold, and he knew it was only a matter of time before he could withstand anything. Sighing, Trunks floated down from the energy pillar and settled to the ground. Happliy, he gazed at the large meadow spread out before him. The gravity room was nice and all, but sometimes he needed a little fresh air.

Trunks lay down in the soft grass and took a deep breath. He grunted as his thoughts turned to his father. He knew that Vegeta was mad at him, and he knew he would have to tell his father about his unique training exercises eventually. He could not keep them from him forever. Trunks wanted to surprise Vegeta, but he felt like he would need years of training before he could make up for his embarassment a few weeks ago.

Trunks stood up and flexed his biceps a few times. Clearing his mind, he charged up to Super Saiyan. As he did this, the ki pillar expanded and glowed. This was going to hurt, and Trunks could hardly wait.

***

"VEGETA!!" A loud blast shook Capsule Corps as Bulma screamed.
"What??? What is going on?" Vegeta ran from the Gravity Room, trying to find his wife.
"WOMAN! Where are you??"

The entire house was shaking violently. Vegeta was having a hard time keeping his footing.

"Dammit! WHAT is going on? Trunks! Bulma!"
"Here, Vegeta! I'm here!"

Vegeta looked to his right and saw his wife climb out from behind the sofa. The house was still shaking, and Vegeta was worried it would come down on their heads.

Vegeta growled and flew over to his wife. Grabbing her around the waist, he headed for the nearest window, but it was too late. With one final heave, the entire Capsule Corps compound crashed down on top of them.

***

Trunks stopped his training; something was wrong, but it was not tangible to him. He dismissed his ki pillar and floated to the ground. Perhaps a little quiet meditation would give him some insight.

It was almost ominous, this strange feeling, and a bit familiar. Trunks closed his eyes and tried to remember the last time he had felt this way. Was it when Majin Buu attacked? Maybe, but this was deeper - way down in the pit of his stomach, gnawing away.

Suddenly, the ground began to shake and a loud bang resounded in the distance.

"What the fuck was that??" Trunks jumped to his feet and looked towards his home, horrified to see a large cloud of smoke rising from that direction.

"MOM! DAD!" Trunks took to the air, but before he could get very far, another explosion resounded from the east. Trunks looked and saw another plume of smoke rising in the distance. Several other concussive explosions followed, each one closer to Trunks than the last. Trunks knew he had to get home - he had to see if his family was ok.

Trunks could still feel his parents - they were alive. Trunks breathed a sigh of relief, but choked on it when he reached the house. All of Capsule Corps was in ruins, and Trunks could feel that his parents were underneath the rubble. Trunks was not sure how his mother had survived such a catastrophe, unless Vegeta had gotten to her before it happened. Trunks could only hope that was the case.

Trunks flew towards the house, but the moment he was close enough to discern separate pieces of rubble, he was knocked away by an energy blast.

"Get BACK Trunks!"
"Dad! Where are you??" Trunks landed and ran towards the sound of his father's voice. Another blast shot towards him, but Trunks was able to dodge it this time. He looked toward where the blast had come from - Vegeta was surrounded by what was once their living room.

"Dad? Are you ok?"
"GET AWAY FROM HERE TRUNKS!!!"
"Dad! What the hell is going on???"
"Trunks! There is no time! Something is taking over my body...it's already gotten your mother! You must escape!"

Trunks could feel that his father was losing power quickly, and as he looked closer, he could just make out something wrapped around Vegeta's neck.

"Ugh, dad, what is that thing? Is it attacking you?"
"Yes, and it'll attack you if you get too close! Get out of here NOW!"

Trunks just stared. His mighty father, one of the greatest warriors in the universe, was being sucked dry by a worm. Trunks could not believe it, and he would not let it happen.

"Dad, I'm not leaving - I can help you beat this thing!"
"NO Trunks! Listen, if you do one thing for me, ever, then get the hell out of here. This fucking parasite is taking over my mind! I..I can't...stop....it..." Vegeta began to scream. Trunks could feel his father's power returning, but his ki felt different; it felt like the weird feeling Trunks had gotten before. At that moment, Trunks knew it was time to leave. If his father could not beat this thing, neither could he. He had to go find the other Z-senshi before it was too late.

****