Chapter 7 – Powers Unveiled

COMPUTERIZED VOICE: You have managed to enter the Solstice.

Trunks rips off the claws from his neck and throws it aside. A large chandelier hangs over finely polished hardwood floors in the great hall of the Solstice. Someone begins to speak from the shadows.

VOICE: Well well well. Look at you. Never came across one who looked as strange as you do with those things on your back.

Trunks (getting up to stand in a defensive position): Show yourself!

A large figure comes out of hiding; a humanoid type.

FIGHTER: They call me…Awwal. I am the most powerful warrior His Majesty Fujitsu has to offer.

Trunks: His Majesty Fujitsu?

Awwal: Don't play stupid. His Majesty promised me a worthy opponent if one so managed to penetrate through the other warriors. I didn't want to wait so I forced one of you in here. Actually, you look too pitiful to be one of the fighters His Majesty was addressing earlier…but you'll make a fine warm-up session.

This new advasary draws his sword. The tip detaches itself and dives into the floor, leaving a chain trail. Stiff silence claims the area for a brief moment. The sound of wood cracking begins to echo. A daggered tip emerges from its grave and strikes Trunks from behind. He senses this and moves toward the right in effort to get away. The point misses its target, Trunks' spine, and, instead, stabs into his left wing from the back and juts out the other side. Hot red blood gushes out.

Awwal (snickering): Oops. I'll get that out for you.

With one jerk from the owner, the daggered edge begins to retract into the sword. Trunks loses his balance and falls. The bloodstained edge emerges from the back of the wing and returns to the sword. Awwal swings his weapon from side to side, removing blood.

Awwal: And now you've been poisoned. You only got a short amount of time before it kills you off completely.

Trunks (while slowly getting up): That may not be I may have a wing that's damaged, but that still doesn't mean you'll defeat me.

Awwal: Oh really? Let us see for ourselves.

Awwal sheathes his sword and charges at Trunks. Trunks avoids Awwal's first attack, takes his own elbow and speedily drives it into Awwal's stomach, grabs the opponent's head and smashes it into his thigh, and round kicks him in the ribs. The mighty Awwal is projected across the floor and rolls over to his side, but then gets back up a split second later.

Awwal: I expected that from you.

Trunks: What do you mean?

Awwal: I feed off my own injuries. It wasn't much, but it should last me for some time.

The poison injected into Trunks' bloodstream starts to take effect and causes him to cringe in intense pain.

Trunks (trying to speak): We'll…see about that.

Awwal, charged, rapidly advances to Trunks with his battle cry.

Elsewhere

Yamcha: Goku! Shi's right on your back!

Goku dives down to avoid Shi's airborne assault. Shi continues after Goku, but doesn't see the cliff in front and smashes into it. Goku manages to fly back to Yamcha.

Goku: How can something that big and stupid fly that fast? I couldn't even land a single punch! And how come he's only attacking me?

Shi gets up and begins to attack Goku again. The Super Saiyan disappears and reappears from behind and hits Shi in the spine with an elbow strike.

Elsewhere

Awwal disappears. Two other fighters attack Trunks head on. Trunks gets ready to attack, but someone comes out from behind and locks him in a full nelson.

Awwal: Got you now kid!

The other two henchmen attack Trunks with rapid punches to the stomach. Awwal releases Trunks, letting him collapse.

Awwal: Had enough yet?

Trunks (staggering while standing up, bends down to cough up blood, then replies): You think I'm going to give up like that? (looks up at Awwal) You're going to have to do a lot more to kill me!

Awwal (smirks): Ha! I like that kind of attitude. Killing someone like you makes my job worthwhile.

He grabs Trunks by the collar of his jacket and lifts him up over his head. Laughing coldly and tauntingly, Awwal heaves Trunks out a nearby window. Glass shatters everywhere as Trunks passes through and plunges downward to the rocky terrain, disappearing without a trace.

Elsewhere

Krillen: Damn! There're too many of them!

Gohan: I know Krillen! It's like they keep coming no matter how many times we knock them down!

As members form his militia are beaten, more come in their places.

Gohan sees objects falling; some are glistening by the moonlight.

Gohan: What is that?!

Krillen: Huh? (turns around to see; then becomes horrified) Th-that's Trunks!!

Gohan: No way!!! (darts an alarmed look at Krillen) He- he has wings!?!

Krillen: There's no time to explain! Let's go and help him!

Gohan (hesitates): Yeah.

Krillen and Gohan fly quickly to Trunks as Awwal descends Earth. Trunks hits the ground hard and lands on his side. His body still continues to slide down a hill, and is turned over to his front side. Awwal lands several meters away. Trunks barely stays awake long enough to see his enemy coming before losing it, letting the world become dark.

Awwal (while approaching Trunks): Well, I see we can't fight anymore, can we? I can finish you off in so many ways.
Kill you now.
Bring you to His Majesty and kill you there, giving me recognition.
Wait until you regain consciousness to see that look of pain on your face and panic in your eyes.
Oooh, the possibilities are endless.

Krillen and Gohan arrive and land in front of Trunks, between he and Awwal.

Awwal: I see you're friends have arrived. This would be a fine opportunity to kill all three of you at once.

Gohan (kneels down to Trunks, nudging him with his hand): Come on, Trunks! Try to get up! We need your help!

Krillen: Gohan! He won't get up that way! I'll explain later!

Awwal: So little man, do you want to fight me to save your friend? You're going to have to do something first.

Deux (strutting to Awwal agitatedly): You can't just come into my sector and start killing my prey!

Awwal (smirking): I can't?

Awwal raises his arm to Deux, opens his hand, and fires a ki wave. The beam takes Deux's head, tearing it off from the spinal cord. His headless body stumbles about before falling, has a brief seizure, and stops cold. The killer turns back to the fighters.

Awwal: Prepare to challenge my merciless Cohort of Pain!

Identical fighters leap from nowhere and surround Krillen, Gohan, and Trunks.

Awwal: Attack my minions! Give them the pain that can only be felt when life is being hung by a thread! Then leave them for me to kill!

Henchmen charge at Krillen and Gohan.

Krillen: Gohan! We have to try to protect Trunks! Don't let them get to him!

Gohan: Right!

Both warriors fight the henchmen. The endless barrage of fighters constantly comes at the two, then suddenly stops attacking and advances to Trunks.

Gohan (agitated): What the --! Those pathetic things want to fight someone who can't fight back!

He flies in front to defend Trunks and uses a force field, protecting both and reflecting off enemies simultaneously.

Trunks (to himself weakly): I can't… get up. Gohan's using his energy to help me. But…there's nothing I can do to help. (furiously) Damn it all!

Krillen comes and fights off the henchmen closest to Gohan and Trunks. One of the henchmen surprises him from behind and uses a ki-blast, projecting him into a large rock-like object. Krillen breaks the rock in half as he goes through.

Gohan: Krillen!!

Trunks (to himself): What?! That was Krillen?! I thought that was one of Awwal's men. (angrily) Both of them will have their lives taken… and I'm to blame! I need to help them out!!

A luminous glow emerges from within Trunks. It rushes to Gohan, penetrating through his body and joins with the force field.

Gohan: What the --!! Where's this light coming from?!

The light re-energizes Gohan, allowing him to generate a much more evolved force field, annihilating all nearby adversaries. It ruptures. Gohan falls to his knees, short of breath. The mysterious illumination continues to blaze. Krillen, currently struggling to his feet, revives from this new power.

Krillen: Huh? My energy…is returning? But… how?! (looks to where Gohan and Trunks are). What's that strange light?

Trunks' wings start to move slowly upward, carrying his almost lifeless body.

Trunks (to himself): What? My wings are moving? But one of them…is damaged. How are they both able to move?

Gohan turns around to see where the beam of energy is coming from. Seeing the light coming from Trunks frightens and amazes him at the same time. Awwal starts advancing to Gohan for killing most of his soldiers, comes out from behind Gohan, and locks him in a full nelson.

Gohan (trying to release himself): Arrrggg! Let …go... of me!

Krillen: Gohan!

Trunks: No! They got Gohan! This is ALL MY FAULT! (aloud) I'M NOT GOING TO LET HIM OR ANYONE ELSE DIE AGAIN!!

Gohan, Krillen, and all other henchmen gawk overhead. Both wings stop moving. Another blinding light comes from within the injured wing. Blood is dried and the wound mends as both glows dims. Trunks' body hovers above the ground and visibly shows signs of him being conscious. His wings glow this time, temporarily converting his ki into something else – something with another purpose other than fighting. They spread out, causing intense winds to pick up.

The illumination in the sector starts to fade. Trunks unbolts his eyes and glares downward at the henchmen. All in an instant, the glow diminishes and the image of him fades away. He reappears on the ground. The sea rises feverishly up well above ground level as wind howls mournfully. Other surviving henchmen fall to the ground; blood and organs surge out of their bodies. Trunks turns around to confront the fighter clinching on to Gohan.

Trunks (in a cold and loathsome tone): Let him go. NOW!

Awwal releases Gohan, stumbles to the ground and runs off. Trunks disappears and reappears in front of the henchman. He grabs its neck and raises him into the air.

Awwal: Go ahead and kill me off. You won't be any better than me.

Trunks throws Awwal down, who starts to walk off.

Trunks: No…I can't let you continue.

While turning, he raises his hand and fires a ki-blast directly at his opponent from behind. The attack penetrates through the henchman's tough skin, through its internal organs, and lunges out the other side. With blood surging out of its body, the soldier falls to his knees, lands on his face and dies.

Elsewhere

Fujitsu (watching and comparing the battles): Well, it seems that I've missed judged how strong that younger Saiyan was. After watching his pathetic father struggle with the other impertinent loudmouth half-wit fool of a bastard, I realize now that this new generation Saiyan is significantly more powerful. And the other one…

He looks at a monitor displaying statistics of each fighter. All data of Gohan – including age, family, history, signature attacks, and current ki level and vital signs – is displayed. The only thing listed under "Trunks" is the word "infant".

Fujitsu: Damn! Is this thing just completely useless?! No matter…he's already demonstrated his value to this little faction and should prove to have more handy little talents. Computer, get me my assistant.

An assistant walks into the room.

ASSISTANT: Is there anything I can do to be of service to you, My Lord?

Fujitsu: Yes, there is my minion. Get F-9463697 in the stadium – I want him to be my second. (gets up and walks toward the wall of monitors) I also want some of my men to take (points to one showing a split screen of Gohan and Trunks) those two youths into the Erebus.

ASSISTANT: But Sire, they haven't even entered the building yet. That should, if anything, show how hard they're struggling outside and surely wouldn't live long in the arena to satis—

Fujitsu: Silence! You dare to question me?!

ASSISTANT (terrified and stands at attention): No, My Lord!

Fujitsu: Good. Bring them to the Erebus. (to himself) Let us see how much punishment these two can endure.

Elsewhere

Gohan (while running to Trunks): Wow Trunks! That was phenomenal!!

Gohan stops suddenly in fear. Krillen arrives.

Krillen: Trunks! You're conscious!

Trunks (surprised and just noticed this): Yes, you're right! I'm guessing my wings have something to do with this.

Krillen (confused): Huh? How can they?

Trunks: Well, it's kind of hard to explain, but I felt my power coming back the whole time. It was as though I was powering up. I was even able to hear what was going on. In all these years, I've never felt this from them before.

Gohan continues to keep his distance from Trunks and Krillen.

Krillen: Hey little bro. What's wrong?

Gohan hesitates; his gaze becomes fixed on Trunks' wings. With every second that goes by, the same thoughts spinning around in his head continue to repeat themselves.

Gohan (to himself): Are those really wings?! They can't be! But then, how could they revive all of us?! Is this the Trunks we knew before?! Did someone cause the timelines to shift again?!

Trunks: Gohan?

Gohan (snaps back into reality and moves his head upward to see Trunks' face): Yeah! I'm fine! Nothing's wrong! (nods)

Circular objects with extendable claws emerge from the ground and lock onto Trunks' shins, sending electrical charges at a high voltage, paralyzing him.

Krillen: The hell--?! What is that thing?!

Gohan (forgetting about what he was contemplating): I don't know, but we've gotta save him!

Trunks: AAAHHHH! GET…. OUT OF HERE … before…

The objects release Trunks right before he loses consciousness and collapses. As Krillen runs to help, he accidentally steps on an active warp-tile, teleporting him to another area of the compound.

Another pair of circular objects rise from the ground. Both claws grasp each of Gohan's legs, emitting high volts of electricity until he returns to his normal state, collapses, and blacks out.

Elsewhere

Shi: How's 'bout me maken' a deal with youse guys, huh? Whadaya say ta tha'?

Yamcha: We don't make deals!

Shi: Sush, you. I was talkin' ta yer frien'.

Goku: He's right, we don't make deals. There's only one way we're goin—

Before Goku can finish his sentence, Shi continues his assaults, this time on both of them.