Chapter Thirteen: Distraction

Gohan quickly covered his hands over his head with his eyes tightly clamped before impact. He had been separated from Pan in his fall. He could only pray she was truly as sayian as she seemed.

The debris fell about him hammering his body into the dirt. He clenched his eyes tighter, squinting at the sting of the weight upon him. The heat lashed out at his exposed skin causing him to break out in sweat. The rumble around him faded into the hiss of the flames indicating the caving building had finally finished its fall.

Gohan placed his palms flat down on the rough soil he lay upon and hoisted himself upwards. He slipped out from under the debris that had collapsed on top of him without hardly any effort. The darkness that surrounded him was covered over with a thick blanket of smoke. He appeared to have been saved from being completely crushed. It was a really small crawl space. When Gohan sat up his head scraped the rough stone of the building that had been transformed into a ceiling.

Guiding himself with the support of the ceiling, Gohan made his way along feeling for a opening. Ahead of him, he spotted Pan's limp form. His heart leapt into his throat. Gohan scrambled over to her keeping low so not to inhale to much smoke. Gohan grabbed Pan's shoulders shook her hard as if to wake her from her slumber. He began crying out her name in desperation of the situation. Pan's head rolled hopelessly back and forth with his shakes, oblivious to his shouts. Worried, Gohan lifted her chin upward opening the airway and placed his ear right in front of her nose to listen for breathing. Her warm breath struck his cheek filling him with relief.

Gohan hugged Pan's limp body into his arms and looked upwards at the stone and debris above them. He prayed the androids had left cause in order to save Pan's and his own life he had to do something very… giveaway.

Trunks gripped the dirt hard between his fingers suppressing his breathing from the androids that stood maybe three or four feet away. Sweat was dripping down his face blurring his vision. He had never been so terrified in his whole life. He just wanted to get to his mother. He wanted to see her sweet face again. He didn't want to fight the androids. Not now.

"They must be dead," 18 muttered. "Not even the blond guy could live through the blasts we pounded down on the two of them."

"Where's the apprentice?" 17 hissed suddenly. "Wouldn't he with his buddies?"

Trunks pressed his back hard against the trash cans for support. His heart bled for his friends. He knew if he didn't do something to distract them those heartless machines would just stand there making sure they didn't come out alive. But what if something happened to him? He didn't like the idea of trying to save people with his life when they might not even be alive…

A new feeling entered Trunks. He didn't quite understand the feeling exactly. It was a wave of energy that held out it hands and hugged him tight. He wrapped his arms about himself as the warm hug continued to cover him. The warmth gave him courage… Trunks let out a small whisper, "I know what I have to do."

18 scanned over the wreckage once more and lifted out one delicate hand aiming at the center of the structure.

"This outta finish them…" She smirked.

It's now or never… Trunks thought to himself as he carefully climbed to his feet.

Trunks quickly kicked the trash cans over as hard as he could sure to get the androids attention. Sure enough, he got their attention. Before they could react, Trunks took off the in opposite direction hoping he wouldn't die for his act of foolishness.

18 glared at the fleeing back of Trunks and then to her brother at her side.

"He is mocking us."

"Yes, he is," 17 agreed.

"I say we destroy the last witness."

"Why?" 17 inquired. "I doubt there was any jail that would hold you 18."

"It's the thought that counts, dear brother," 18 hissed kicking roughly off the ground and chasing after Trunks.

17 watched her go in confusion.

"Dear brother?" 17 muttered in disbelief. "Hey! Wait up!"

Trunks only got about a block before he was pelted down by 18's blasts. He quickly swerved about heading back the way he had come. 18 followed now joined with 17. While they played try and hit the Trunks, Trunks was trying to find some place to hide. He finally spotted a spot under a porch ahead. He dove across the muddy ground and tumbled down with the tight space. The blasts hit about him but he had chosen well. The porch collapsed on top of him sheltering him from there attacks but just enough for him to escape again if it came to that.

Trunks let out a deep sigh and wiped the sweat of his brow. He was sure he wouldn't survive. And for once in his entire life he was glad he was still with the living…

"Is he dead?"

"Did you hear him scream?"

"Argh! Not this again! That child wouldn't scream. He's tough."

"Then how do you know he is dead."

"I don't! Do you?!"

"No."

"Then we don't know alright?!"

18 huffed and sat down on the remains to the building that collapsed with Gohan and Pan. 17 stood in front of her tapping his foot impatiently, "Are we done here or what, 18?"

"No. I want to rest. I'm tired of all this flying. I want to sleep somewhere nice."

"Androids don't need sleep."

"Then rest!" 18 shouted in anger. "I haven't seen a mall all day! These humans are running out of taste. The least they could do was put a mall in some of the ruins they call shelters."

18 was about to rant some more when the rock she was sitting on gave a violent shutter. She jumped off it in surprise. 18 looked down at the stone as if it were a snake that had just bared its deadly fangs.

"What is it?" 17 asked curiously.

"I'm not sur-"

At that moment the debris exploded apart flinging the two androids back several feet. The wind died down just enough for them to get sight at what was in the center of the tornado.

"What the hell?"

To Be Continued…
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