6. Amongst the people
Slowly her eyes opened. A headache was torturing her. She felt nauseas and she was sweating, but she felt so cold. She shivered, but didn't bother to keep herself warm. Her view was blurry and the things she did she, were either upside down or forming into something that she'd never seen before and never wanted to see again. She groaned and closed her eyes.
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Once again, Leela opened her eyes -feeling a whole lot better now- noticing she wasn't where Trunks had left her. Her eyes looked into a small dark room. Leela couldn't see any windows. The only light in here was that of candles. She was lying in some hay on a blanket and more blankets were keeping her body warm. For a few minutes she kept staring at the little dancing flames of the candles, when someone entered the room. The figure was coming closer. It seemed to be a young girl; probably seven or eight. She had two long brown pigtails and hazel brown eyes.
"Hi." she said, glad to see Leela had awoken. "Cody!" the girl called. "Cody! She's up!"
Another figure entered the room; a boy. He was a bit older than the girl. Leela thought he was about ten years old. The boy was taller than the girl and had short blond hair, but had the same eyes as the little girl.
"Hello." he said on a tone as if he didn't care whether she was up or not.
Leela sat up. "Where is your mother?" she asked.
"We have no parents." the boy said coldly.
"They died. The androids..." the girl added but couldn't get the rest of the sentence spoken. She tried holding back her tears, but couldn't. Leela expected the boy to comfort her, but he just kept staring at Leela.
"Hey," Leela began, making her voice sound soft and looked at the little girl. "Come here." she said and lifted her arms. "It's all right to cry."
The girl moved towards Leela, who closed her arms around the girl, trying to comfort her. "It's okay." Leela said. "It's okay, I know how you feel. I lost mine as well."
The girl looked up. "Really?" she sobbed.
"Really." Leela replied, trying to smile at her. "What is your name?" Leela asked.
"I'm Lilly." the girl pushed herself away from Leela and pointed at the boy. She pulled his sleeve. "And this is Cody. He's my big brother." she said proudly. It made Leela smile. "What's yours?"
"Mine?"
"Your name, what's your name?"
"Unico." Leela answered. "I mean, I'm Leela." What possessed her to say her name was Unico?! What kind of name was 'Unico' anyway?
"You were dying." the boy suddenly said.
"Excuse me?" Leela asked surprised.
"You were dying." Cody repeated.
"Oh, you mean..." Leela knew what he was talking about. "But how…?"
"I found you."
"You found me?"
"You were dying."
"Yes, I got that part, thank you." she found Cody a strange boy; he seemed so bitter. She couldn't blame him. The fear and destruction the androids brought with them, must've damaged him. "But how did you bring me here? And what were you doing all the way out there? It's dangerous there!" Leela suddenly felt as if she was the mother-figure. How couldn't she?! Two children living in the dark, trying to survive: alone.
"I was just playing when Cody called me back. Then he saw you and…" Lilly replied.
"Why would you play there?" Leela interrupted.
"Because it's fun up there. You can run around and climb much better than down here." Lilly said enthusiastically.
"I don't want you playing up there anymore." Leela commanded.
"Why?" Lilly wondered.
"Because it's dangerous." Leela said strictly. "How did you two get me here anyway?"
"It's not far from our house." Cody said.
Leela looked around. It wasn't much of a house. "Not far? Where am I?"
"In the forest. This is our underground shelter. Our parents made it when the androids first came. It isn't finished, but it will be soon. We're working hard on it." Cody explained.
"Let me help you." Leela said and stood up, realizing she really did feel great! "It's the least I can do."
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"How could you let this happen?!" Juuhachigou shouted at her brother.
"She surprised me." Juunanagou stayed calm, then added determined: "It will not happen a second time."
"You've got that right. She will not be here a second time. We were pretty lucky having her so weak, but now she will be able to recover." she explained. "How could you let this happen?" she repeated.
"Chill sis. Leela and Trunks are not together anymore, that's what this was all about in the first place."
"I should have killed her when I had the chance." Juuhachigou sighed.
"Speaking of killing..." Juunanagou looked hopeful in the eyes of his sister.
"Yes, she's dead." Juuhachigou threw the diamond somewhere in the corner out of frustration.
"I thought you liked it?" Juunanagou asked, referring to the diamond.
"Don't change the subject."
"Then what do you suggest we do now?"
"We can't do anything."
"You know I'm the strongest one in the universe. I can defeat them if I want to. I could do it right now."
"Then why haven't you already?"
"Because it sort of spoils all of the fun. I like fighting them."
"In case you haven't noticed: they are both becoming stronger. Especially Trunks."
"And I can still handle them."
"The next time we see them, we have to end it."
"Whatever you want, sis." Juunanagou sighed.
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"Cody? Where do you get food and all of the other things you need?" Leela wanted to know. She and Cody were working on some unfinished things within the house. Leela was standing on a small ladder to paint the ceiling white so the room would look lighter, while Cody would gather all of the wax from the candles to be reused later on.
"Where do other people get them?" Cody said it like she should know the answer.
"I don't know." Leela confessed.
"They either trade or make it themselves." Cody sighed.
"Right, of course." Leela muttered. "So I guess you do the same?"
"What do you think?"
"I guess so." Leela said.
"Of course I don't!" he laughed.
"..." Leela didn't understand. Was he messing around with her? "But then how...?"
"I do it." a low male voice from behind her said.
Leela turned her head in the direction of the voice. She did it so fast that she lost her balance so the ladder underneath her fell down, pulling her with it. She rubbed her back as the voice continued: "I gather everything we need." he said and helped Leela up. "It's much too dangerous for the small ones outside."
Leela saw whose voice it was. A tall strongly build guy stood in front of her. Long blond hair was bound into a ponytail low in his neck. His twinkling blue eyes gazed in hers.
"But they do play outside, you know that, right?" Leela asked, wondering who he was.
"Yes, I know. When Lilly was outside playing I asked Cody to help me find her when he found not only her, but you as well. Then he called me and I brought you here. You're lucky they disobeyed me this time." Then he turned to Cody. "But don't let it happen again." he knew Lilly was in her room playing with the dolls she had made herself, but he would get to her later.
"How did you know I'm not a thief or something?" Leela asked.
"I just know." he simply said.
"May I ask for your name?"
"I'm Adam," he said and pointed at Cody: "Their older brother."
Leela thought he was somewhat older than Trunks. "Thank you, Adam." she said.
"You're welcome." he smiled and went to see his little sister.
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"I buried her, but still the feelings won't go away." Trunks said quietly to his mother. Both were in the living room.
"Oh, Trunks. These things take time." Bulma said. "But eventually you will get over it."
"You know, I see the things clearer now." Trunks said, ignoring his mother's words of comfort.
"What do you mean?" Bulma asked.
"I..I didn't love...her; Qiana. I thought I did, but..." Trunks admitted. "Still, Leela will pay for what she has done."
"Are you sure it was her?"
"She was the only one there when I found Qiana. It must've been her." Trunks said. "I should have killed her then. But I thought I was too angry to make such a decision."
"You're still too angry." Bulma made clear.
"I'm gonna track her down." he was determined. "She has to pay. Now." Trunks grabbed his sword and left.
"No! Wait! Trunks!" Bulma called, but her words didn't reach him anymore.
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"Adam, I need to go." Leela said.
"Go where?" Adam asked, looking in her eyes. He knew she had nowhere else to go to.
"I can't stay here. I put you and the two little ones in danger." Leela explained, though she wished she hadn't. She was sure Adam would question her. And he did.
"What do you mean?"
"There's no point in hiding it anymore." she muttered. "Look, Adam. The androids -not to mention someone else I know- really want to see me dead."
"The androids want everyone dead." Adam pointed out the obvious.
"I know, but if they had a list, I would be on top of it."
"What have you done to make them so mad?" Adam asked surprised.
"Well, I fought them. I still am actually." Leela confessed to him.
"You what?!" Adam called out. "You're either insane or very, very strong."
"The last."
"..." Adam gazed at her. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Only one was brave enough to face the androids. And that was Trunks. Everyone counted on him, supporting him. But never did he know: "A girl who fights alongside Trunks?" he asked.
"No, not by his side. I'm on my own, like he is." Leela said strict. "But now you know why my presence here will put you all in danger. I must go."
"Will I see you again?" Adam wondered.
Leela gazed in his eyes and smiled. "If I make it, you'll be the first to know." she turned to the ladder behind her and started to climb. She opened the iron hatch above her and went through the whole to be outside. Just before she lock the hatch when suddenly she heard Adam calling: "Wait!"
Leela came back, looking down on Adam.
"…Be careful." he said.
Leela smiled again and answered: "You too." then she left.
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She walked through the forest again, trying to find a way out. Soon she found the town. She had made up her mind. Leela was going to complete the mission her creators gave her. Only after that would she seek the true cause of her death. Not now, for the memories would only get in her way. I cannot allow that happening again. she thought as her eyes were looking over the town.
Her mind let her see the image of Qiana dying and Trunks blaming her for it. She had begged him to believe her, but he refused to do so. His voice kept crawling into her head: "I'll let you go for now, but if I ever see you again, I'll kill you." he had said.
Leela heard the same thing over and over in her head. It made her feel she had lost a friend. But then again, was he ever really a friend? She did see someone with purple hair murdering her brother and...NO! Not the memories. She had promised herself not to think of them until she had completed her mission, and she would complete it as soon as possible.
Leela stepped forward, into the town where she would wait until the androids showed themselves.
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"Juunanagou." Juuhachigou said. "I have had it. I can't stand sitting here, doing nothing."
"I agree. Where do we go this time?"
"I don't know, how about some city?"
"One that hasn't been destroyed yet?" Juunanagou asked hopeful.
"Of course one that hasn't been destroyed yet. There's no fun in destroying a city that has already been destroyed, now is there?" Juuhachigou said. "Now come on."
"Say, I have a nice idea as well." Juunanagou suggested.
"Well?" Juuhachigou asked.
"What if we split up and we each find someone to fight with?"
"Why?"
"You find Leela and do with her as you please, and I'll pay a visit to Trunks. I'll show him who's the strongest."
"Why don't you find Leela and I'll pay a visit to Trunks?" Juuhachigou wanted to know. "You think I'm not strong enough to take on Trunks alone?"
"I recall you saying these exact words: 'Hurry, we have to get out of here. Trunks is much more powerful.' Just correct me if I'm wrong here."
"You memorized it?" Juuhachigou asked annoyed.
"I knew it would come in handy someday so yea, I memorized it." Juunanagou smirked.
"Fine, I do have a score to settle with that little brat anyway. She won't be messing up my aim anymore." Juuhachigou said. Leela clearly got on her nerves the last time they met.
"So, we agree? You take Leela and I fight Trunks."
"I'm already gone." Juuhachigou thought about killing Leela slowly, let it hurt real bad. The thought alone satisfied her.
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Trunks was flying high above the town, trying to find Leela. Maybe she actually left? he thought. No, I will find her and make her pay.
Trunks felt so angry and frustrated. Not only did he have to stop the androids from killing, he now had a third person to stop: Leela. He couldn't allow Leela to become the same as the androids. He couldn't trust her now, not after she killed Qiana.
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"Hey you! Come out or I'll blast you out." Juunanagou had landed on the ground when he saw someone duck between a couple of big rocks. "I'm not telling you again." Juunanagou demanded.
"Be quiet, you'll get us both killed." Leela stepped out of her hiding place and commanded him to shut up.
"I don't see anyone coming..." he felt Trunks' energy. "Wait, are you afraid of Trunks?"
"I have trained with him and believe me, you'd be better off fearing him. He is much stronger than you think. I know, 'cuz he held back every training. If not for yourself, then be quiet for me."
"So you're saying he can defeat us both?" Juunanagou wanted to know Leela's opinion, but in his arrogance he thought that he could defeat Trunks needing no more but 2 seconds.
"Us both? I'm not fighting by your side."
"Why are you so afraid anyway?"
"He thinks I killed his girl. But that was your sister. And now he's out for revenge."
"That sounds like you need some help." Juunanagou said amused.
"Help? From you I suppose? I don't think so. I hate you."
"Nah, I think you're just afraid I would hurt you."
"Yea, that must be it...freak."
"Chicken." he shot back.
Leela came closer and slapped him in his face like a girl would her boyfriend.
"Are you kidding me? What the heck was that?!" he chuckled.
She hit him again.
"Are you enjoying yourself?" he sneered.
"I'm having the time of my life..." Leela hissed, raised her hand again and swung it his way, but this time Juunanagou caught her hand before it hit his face.
"If you hit me one more time, I will..." he threatened.
"You will what? Finish your sentence this time?"
"Shut up."
"I will shut down your system sometime soon. Prepare yourself."
"Not before I shut you down first."
"You couldn't. You're too dumb. You wouldn't know how to shut down any system."
"You damn well know what I mean." he let her go.
"Why don't you explain it to me?"
"Were you born this annoying or did you work on it?"
"Ask my creators, they'll probably know more." said in sarcasm. She obviously succeeded in pissing him off.
"I'm gonna kill you."
Leela decided to piss him off some more: "Take a number and wait in line."
"You think you're pretty smart, don't you?" Juunanagou said.
"No," she replied. "I consider myself a master-genius. Now get away from me."
"Me? Getting away from you? You're the one who's so close." he pointed out.
"If I throw a stick, would you leave?"
"If you'd throw a stick, I'd bring it back and..."
"Kill me with it? Aren't you a predictable one?"
"Am I now?" he hit her in her face.
She got smacked to the ground. She looked up and saw Juunanagou smirking at her. "You didn't see that coming, did you?" he mocked her.
Leela thought only of Trunks who was surely coming this way now that Juunanagou used a great deal of energy to perform that punch!