"Are you all right?" Trunks asked as she walked over to the window. They had moved to his apartment near the school, with Bulma's rather reluctant help, and he had been showing her how to work simple machines when she had gotten a look on her face and lapsed into what seemed like a trance.
"I'm fine, although I don't understand," Loren replied as Trunks watched her.
"Don't understand what?"
"Why you have it. Why you, of all beings in this universe, have it. I thought it was gone with Shin. I thought it had left me forever."
"What are you talking about?"
She shook her head and sat down. Trunks sighed for a moment then sat across from her.
"You know, this isn't going to work if you refuse to talk."
"Well West City inhabitents, it's going to be another schorcher so dress lightly, drink plenty of fluids and most importantly, keep cool," the radio said and Loren stared at it. She had sat on the edge of a coffee table most of the night after Trunks had tried once again to get her to talk. He had failed and he had become irritated. He had locked himself in his room and Loren sat where she had been sitting hours before.
She heard movement in the bedroom and sighed. She so much wanted to leave him and to put him out of his frustration. Unfortunately, she had nowhere to go. She didn't know the layout of the land so she couldn't very well find a hiding place. It was then that she remembered her transformation ability. She closed her eyes just as Trunks emerged from the bedroom.
"Don't tell me you stayed there all night," he said as the telephone rang. "Hello? Hey Mom. What? No. She wasn't there with me last night. Yes, Mom. I won't all right. Bye. Where are you going?"
"She's mad at you because of me. I'm going to find my own place to live."
"First off, you need to stop being so emotional. Second, no one said you have to leave."
"But you get upset with me."
"I'm afraid I'm not very patient. A trait from my father...unfortunately."
"Yes, I know where it comes from. That time machine...will it work again?"
"I don't know. Hey, do you want to go outside and look around?"
"I guess."
"You look tired. You didn't sleep any, did you?"
"I couldn't because I had made you mad."
Trunks knelt before her and placed his hands over hers. He gazed sincerely into her eyes and she glanced away. He placed a hand underneath her chin and brought her gaze back to his face.
"What do you see in them?" Trunks asked.
"Why do you want to know?" Loren asked.
"I'm just trying to understand you. I really want to help you."
"Why?"
"I think you're special. You're like a family member I never had."
She stared at him for a moment and he laughed awkwardly.
"Yeah...that DID sound stupid, didn't it?"
"I don't understand why you care. I don't know you and you certainly don't know me."
"I want to know you. I'll get the door."
She watched him stand up and walk towards the front door, which wasn't very far, for the apartment was small. Trunks opened the door and invited his visitor in. Gohan stepped into the apartment and looked around.
"Nice and compact," he commented and Trunks nodded his head.
"Yeah well, it was supposed to be just for me," Trunks replied.
"Yeah. I bet the only reason your dad let her come with you was because he didn't want to deal with her."
"Well he had a point. I'm the one that brought her back. She is my responsibility."
"I don't want to be anyone's burdan," Loren said and Trunks stared at the nothingness he held in his hand.
"Well my friend, it looks like you've got your work cut out for you," Gohan said and Trunks nodded his head.
"Yeah, but at least I've got time for this kind of work. At least until school starts. Your mom doesn't need anyone around, does she? I know she's still upset with her loss but..." Trunks said and Gohan smiled.
"Ah, you know how Mom is. She's fine. She's managed to get along this long but she still makes a fuss. I guess what I'm saying is that you can bring her over if you want."
"I've got to find her first."
"Why DID you bring her back? I'm a little curious."
"This may sound stupid but she reminds me of what I felt when everything around me had been destroyed. My friends, my family...I know how she feels. I couldn't leave her in that time, alone with no one."
"Why is this time any better for her?"
"I want to help her. I don't know why, but I do. You know, I also think she could have defeated Cell if she chose to."
"What? Come on, Trunks. My dad had to pay the ultimate sacrifice for Cell's destruction. Are you trying to tell me that if that stranger had come forth, Dad wouldn't have died?"
"I don't know. There's a lot about her that I don't know. About her and Father as well and the last part I am most anxious to know about. You knew your father very well. I'm lucky to stand on the same ground as my father. I'd like to know more about his past, if I can, but I'm not going to hear it from him."
"I see. So you brought her back in hopes of filling a personal need as well."
"If I can get past the wall she's built up. I think there's a powerful ally within her."
"Or a powerful enemy as Vegeta has said."
"I can't believe Father's claims on that. I don't know what she was like back then, but from what I've seen of her, she can't be an enemy."
Dende walked up to where Loren stood in a daze and greeted her.
"You're the one that Trunks brought back, aren't you? I've heard about you," Dende said.
"You know of the Kais, don't you?" Loren asked and Dende nodded his head.
"I'd have to to be guardian."
"Can you tell me if one is still alive?"
"I...I don't know if I can do that. You see, I haven't been guardian for all that long and..."
"What are you doing here?" Piccolo asked as he walked up to them. Loren looked at him critically.
"What do you remember?" she asked. "Do you remember the Kais?"
"The Kais? Which Kais?"
"The ones that sent me to live on your world."
"You're asking me to go to early childhood."
"Do you remember?"
"Parts of that time, yes."
Loren turned to Dende and placed her hands together.
"Is there a way that I can get to the Kais? Is there a way that I can see if they're still alive?"
"I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about."
"Then please. I know what you once were. Take me down so that none of you has to put up with me," she said and Piccolo looked at her.
"I can't do that. I am no longer like that. I choose to protect worlds instead of destroy them," he said.
"Then what am I supposed to do?"
"You're more than welcome to train here," Dende suggested and Loren looked at him.
"Train...it's been awhile since I've done that. Is there a place away from everything? I wouldn't want to destroy everything," she said.
"Yes there is. It's..."
"Why don't you go back to earth and think this over rationally? I know Rion taught you how to act rational," Piccolo said.
"You're right...I've forgotten that. I've just been so worried about not causing destruction that I guess I've forgotten some things," she replied as she sat on the ground. She closed her eyes and began to meditate the way her teacher had shown her. She let go of everything and sought out the power within her soul. She had been running for so long that she had forgotten the true teachings of her master. She had to regain what she lost and make her decision with a clear mind instead of one clouded with guilt and other dark emotions.
"I didn't think she'd sit down right there," Dende commented.
"Leave her alone. She's in a state of supreme concentration," Piccolo said.
"But shouldn't we tell someone she's here?"
"I will. I'm sort of unsure how she found this place, though."