The sun was bright and sat high in the sky causing Trunks to squint as it glared into his eyes. Finally balancing his arm to adequately shield himself he smiled at his mother then proceeded to yawn as they travelled in their helicopter to the lower districts of Metro West to help restore electricity. He raised his right hand to further block out the blinding rays and scratched at his lilac stubble with the other. He decided to himself that he would shower and shave when they returned. The visit from the wraith female still played in his mind. Recalling the words over and over he tried to fathom what she meant. Obviously another 'evil' was attempting to take the inhabitants of the Earth once more and Trunks couldn't help but feel that this one might even win. The thought of its victory over mankind disturbed him deeply. Why is there always something that is so concerned with destroying humans? (Or the Saiyajin on this planet?) I mean, do other planets suffer this same fate? Do they have heroes who sacrifice their lives so that others might live? Or is it just us?…
Bulma looked over at her ever-thinking son. He was always the worrier, always the carer, never giving himself any time to enjoy life. I guess life has never given him that chance. She was very proud of him and the man he had become, yet she wished that there could be more for him in this world other than fighting villains and facing death. No matter how many times she had begged him not to go and fight Juunana-Gou and Juuhachi-Gou he still went because he could not bear to stand idly by whilst they caused the world to suffer. Now again she saw that he was suffering because the world was, because the thought that it might affect his mother lingered in his mind along with the pain he sensed all around him. Bulma tried to look a little chirpier, she had to remain strong to help her son to be, "well here we are. Back to bring some light into their world…electrically speaking." Trunks didn't really say anything in response. Drowsily he stood, picked up their tools, and then walked into the derelict streets. Bulma straightened her baseball cap and followed him out.
The hours seemed to flow by as they worked alongside Metro West workmen repairing wires and cables to once dilapidated homes and offices that were now looking again like their former selves. As Bulma stood directing workers on how to access some cables, Trunks put his Saiyajin strength to use and helped clear rubble from further down the street as workers aimed to restore an abandoned apartment block. "Shift's over, time to go home people" came the call and the workers happily followed the order. Trunks walked down the corridor with them and decided to take a break for himself inside one of the open apartments. "You not coming Trunks?" came the familiar voice of Betsy, one of the female workers on the team, as Trunks strolled into the empty room. He turned at smiled at her as she hung from her right arm round the door frame, "nah, I'm gonna take a break and clear up a little more round here"
"Fair enough." She replied, then her gaze turned seductive, "Say, a couple of us are going down to Tony's later for a few drinks…fancy joining us? I'll let you buy me a beer" she winked playfully at him. Trunks chuckled softly and smiled, "not tonight Betsy. I got a lot to take care of. Some other time maybe"
"All right. See you later handsome" She smiled and then followed the rest of the workers, joining in their hollering and jokes.
Trunks enjoyed their company; it made him feel 'normal' in a world that had marked him their superhero. He appreciated their praise but he was a quiet homely man at heart and just liked to have a sense of normality around him for a change. The world knew he had phenomenal strength and that he was the one that defeated the Android siblings, but he wanted to leave it at that. He never let on how much strength and power he actually had or the fact that he could fly – though he was aware that many citizens had probably already seen him doing so at times. That would just make too much of a superhero out of him. He didn't want the constant attention, he just wanted to live happily and have a peaceful life for once, for both him and his mother.
Trunks walked over to the broken window and stared out into the hot summer sky. With no clouds in the sky the world seemed so still. The heat shimmered from the rooftops and Trunks prayed for a cool breeze to make it's way through the broken windowpane before him. None came. Through the stillness he could hear his mother laughing below with the workmen as they left. He smiled to see her happy. He smiled at the normality of the day; waking up, going out to work, and helping to restore order into the chaos. Leaning his right elbow on the wall next to the window frame he removed a bottle of water from the side leg pocket of his trousers and took in deep draughts of the cold fluid. Here's to rebuilding the future he toasted to himself. He allowed it to overspill from his mouth and run down his chin onto his vest. The water felt refreshing as it seeped through to his torso, dampening down his clammy skin as the sun continued to beat down upon him from through the window. Just how much damage did the artificial humans do if the days can keep getting so hot? Have they actually damaged our atmosphere through their ceaseless destruction? He returned the lid to the now empty bottle and placed it back in his pocket, wiping his chin with the back of his wrist. How long would the day remain nice like this? He knew that as soon as night fell the terror would continue and he felt helpless in the fight. Again his thoughts turned to the events that were taking place. He gazed over all they had rebuilt; both of their city and of their lives, and his heart sank to know that it is being threatened again.
Sighing deeply he thought of the female apparition and her plea for help. In his minds eye he could see her face shimmering before him and he wondered how long it would be before she appeared again. "It will take us all. The dead and the living…" Trunks murmured under his breath. A cool breeze blew across the back of his neck, ruffling his ponytail. Hmm, there's been no wind at all today… Then breeze suddenly turned cold. The chill sent a shudder along his spine. An energy entered the room and Trunks instantly knew it. He span round rapidly and then found himself face to face with the ghost woman who again seemed in a panic. "You came back…" he gasped.
"I have not long. It will seek me out again and then I must continue to run. I chose to find you; you're the only one who can help us! It feeds on your fear, everyone's fear! It is pain. It is the embodiment of suffering! And its only agenda is to live and destroy…" her words were hurried and full of urgency.
Trunks took a tentative step forward and frowned. He'd had enough of being cryptic: not knowing what was going on and how to stop it. He furrowed his brow intently as he spoke, "what is 'it'? Why is it doing this? How can it be stopped?!"
" 'It' is pain! 'It' is the embodiment of suffering!" she repeated frantically and full of emphasis.
"I don't understand!" he barked in reply, becoming frustrated. The woman turned suddenly and looked over her shoulder. "No! It's here! Help everyone!" A second energy signature began to fill the room; a dark and malevolent entity had entered. The woman screamed and tried to flee. "No!" yelled Trunks. He lunged forwards and tried to grab her only to find it was not going to be. The dark entity was quicker. It grabbed her by the throat and pulled her through the walls out into the streets. Trunks next move was instantaneous. Smashing the remaining glass with a small ki blast he jumped from the broken window and flew after them. Bulma watched as Trunks flew past and her heart raced, as she knew he was heading into danger. The entity dragged the wraith woman between the buildings trying to evade Trunks. It was hard for him to follow when flying so he landed without pausing and continued on foot. They stayed just within his vision, the woman panicking as the shimmering black entity pulled her along. The ground thundered beneath Trunks' feet as he ran, jumping over anything that got in his way, as his heart began to burn in his chest. Glass smashed and bricks flew as the rubble was kicked aside. He would not let her be dragged away. He would not let his first chance of confronting this new evil slip from him.
A clearing in the rubble and buildings appeared ahead. The entity and the wraith were no-where in sight. Trunks' breathing was hard and raspy as he surveyed the tall structures that surrounded him, feeling for any trace of their energies. He came up empty. Taking a defensive stance and preparing for anything that would come he suddenly heard laughter echoing all around him. His expression fell as the identity of the laughter registered in his mind. A fear began to tingle through his body, "it can't possibly be…" came his trembling words in a barely audible whisper. Only then did he realise where he stood; to where he had been lead…
