I don't own DBZ.
A Different Future
Chapter 16 – Tortured ones, ones of regret
She raised her hand to knock, then lowered her hand. What was she going to say? What was she going to do? How will Bulma see her now? Does she even know?
The door suddenly opened to reveal a red eyed Bulma, who seemed like she hadn't slept a wink, and then finally managed to cry herself to sleep. She seemed ready to leave, carrying a box of chips.
"Marron."
The blonde fiddled with her thumbs, not knowing quite what to say.
"Trunks hasn't came to school in about a week… is he home?"
Bulma's face darkened, her lower lip trembling lightly.
"No. He's… he's on a trip."
The smile hurt her lips. Marron nodded. Deep down she hoped Trunks would manage to get away. But, she knew it was a false hope. And it was all her fault.
"Oh. I see."
Bulma locked the door and headed to the car. Marron ran after her.
"So, er, where're you going with that? Don't you have employees to do that for you?"
"I want to do it myself."
"Can I come too?""
The bluette studied the girl with a questioning gaze, then nodded.
"Sure, why not. Here…"
She gave the blonde one of the packages.
"Make yourself useful."
Marron took the package and sat besides Bulma in the car.
"So… any phone call? Any letter?"
A shake of the head.
"No."
And that was the end of that conversation.
Gohan was sitting in his 'office' in the rebels' current HQ, trying to grade tests, until eventually he threw the pen on the desk so hard it made a dent, and ran a hand through his hair.
"Damn it! Trunks, where the hell are you?!"
His mind raced a mile a minute, at the very least.
"Taking your work home with you?"
Piccolo's voice was a welcomed interlude.
"Hey, I have to do this sometimes, ne?"
"You have to focus, that's what, Gohan. We'll find him, and make them pay."
Typical Piccolo talk.
"Easy for you to say. I can't face Bulma anymore. What am I supposed to tell her? Heck, I can barely look myself in the mirror anymore!"
The green alien's face was calm and grumpy as always, though his almost-son detected hints of concern and attempted comfort. Not that any of that helped, mind you.
"Tell her the truth. That we'll get him back no matter what. Nothing less."
"But I can't tell her anything more, can I?"
"Nothing more _to_ say, is there? Now finish that test and come to train, important as your undercover is, it's wasting our time."
The Namek left, his cape flying behind him. The Demi Saiyan left behind rubbed his temples, about ready to blast his pupils' hard work into dust.
A cry of pain rang through the halls, yet it was ignored by all who heard. Blood hit the floor as it came out of the boy's mouth with each ragged breath. He was chained to the wall, his cuffs cutting into his skin.
"Aw, I forgot it's not as fun when you're tied down. Oh well."
18 sighed and slapped him, merely for the fun of it."
"You're not gonna faint on me, are you?"
"What? And…"
His speech was cut by another bloody cough.
"…and ruin… your fun? Heaven forbid… ma'am."
She ruffled his bloodied lavender locks, then frowned as the blood stuck to her fingers.
"You're dirty."
Picking a bucket of icy water, she splashed him, laughing as he coughed water in addition to his blood.
"You… bitch!"
She ruffled his hair again, yet the pet-like gesture was turned into a nasty pull, causing the boy to cry in pain again. The Android, however, wanted to keep eye contact.
"You know, the only one who can help you is yourself. Tell us who your contact is, and we'll let you go."
"Drop dead."
"You will long before I do."
"I won't break. Kill me. See if I care."
He put all his heart into it, feeling sick and disgusted at ever looking up to such monsters. But hey, he was raised that way.
She threw him hard against the wall, putting on the best _fake_ laughter she could.
"That's what Krillin said."
All her words, however, froze, as she watched the boy, ripped from her shackles by her herself, push himself to his knees.
"Kill me. Someone else'll stand up to you."
The determined look in his eyes sent her back 14 years ago, and she couldn't take it anymore. A final energy blast knocked him down, and this time, he stayed down.
"I will kill you boy. Don't think I won't! I'm not like you weak…"
"Marron…"
Again, she froze. That one small word that meant the world to her. And the world's end.
"…Why…"
"I'm sending in the medics."
17's voice announced through the intercom as he grew bored of the little aural battle. His sister left the interrogation room only a tad too quickly.
"He sure is a feisty one."
Was her welcome into the main room.
"He sure is."
"Aw, come on. You make it sound like it's no fun doing this."
The blonde stared at her brother.
"Oh? And what does that mean?"
"Look at him."
She did. Trunks was already back to consciousness, fighting to remain awake, coughing blood and glaring at the little med-bots that took care of his battered body. It wasn't that they were keeping him alive in that hell hole. It was that the drug they kept pushing into his body affected the body, yet his mind was clear through all of this. Trunks wished it did. At least he wouldn't have had to suffer through 17's lame clichés over the intercom.
"What about him?"
18 finally asked, managing to sound nonchalant.
"He's as every bit as persistent as his father, I'll give him that. But we're only using sticks and tones; he's willing to let us break his bones."
The female android rolled her eyes again.
"Give me a break."
"But really. We can kill him. That might be fun, but once it's done, he's gone. I can't have anymore fun with him."
His sister was used to his behavior by now. Doesn't mean she found it any less annoying. Still, she tilted her head thoughtfully.
"I think I'm beginning to see your point."
Both smirked.
"I like it."
"So… call his mom. Tell her… we need a special little chip."
"With pleasure."
Marron looked at her pals while Bulma drove them back. What Marron saw at their destination was quite a shock to her.
'People in that institute… Don't they know they're being helped? Why can't they see that?'
In reality, they drove past Marron's home, but she dared not tell anyone where she lived.
"Thanks for helping me."
"No problem."
They drove past the ally where a mere week ago, Marron had sold her best friend out. She looked at the bracelet she bought with the money she received. She told herself it was ok; that if she wouldn't have done it, someone else would've. Trunks wasn't exactly trying to hide his changing views of the world.
"Did you…"
The blonde almost jumped out of her skin at the sound of Bulma's voice. She was so deep in thought!
"Did _you_ get a letter from Trunks?"
Marron shook her head.
"Nope. But… I'm sure he's ok!"
Her smile looked fake. She didn't feel like she could keep the charade up for much longer.
"I'm sure… he's having a great time!"
Bulma half smiled back, then returned to driving quietly.
'He's ok… The Androids don't hurt people, they save them! That's why… my mom's… the way she is…'
A 6 year old Marron was sitting by the window, watching as two men took her mother away. Her father placed his hands on her shoulders, cooing soothing words.
"She'll be back… they always bring them back."
Across the street, a short man was looking intently at the girl. She felt a pull towards him, despite the fact she has never seen him before.
"Daddy…"
"I'm right here, sweetheart."
But the girl didn't mean the man standing behind her, but rather the one she was trying to reach, placing her small palm against the window. The man on the street smiled at her from behind his sunglasses before leaving. She stayed by the window for many more hours to come. But he didn't.
And Krillin beat himself up for it ever since.
"Krillin?"
The once monk looked at Gohan. The Saiyan had a towel hanging around his neck and his Gi was messy.
"How'd the fight go?"
Gohan shrugged.
"Ok, I guess."
The short man returned to staring at the floor.
"What're you thinking about?"
A sigh.
"Marron."
"I see."
They went silent. Gohan knew better than to push him. And Krillin was always fast to let his anger and frustration reach the boiling point.
"I… I can't let it happen to her, Gohan! She already lost her mother to those bastards… in a way, both her mothers! And in the same way, her father. And… And… I just can't let her lose Trunks! Her best friend, Gohan!"
Gohan nodded, knowing full well how Krillin felt. He never wanted his mother to lose another precious person ever again. That was why he kept putting his neck on the line.
"Well, we can't really do anything…"
"We have to!"
"…right now! We will, just… not right now."
It took a while for him to cool off, and when he did, Krillin nodded slowly.
"I won't let them win, Gohan. I'll die fighting before I'll let them get to me."
Gohan nodded again. His shorter friend simply had too many good points in a row.
"Us too, Krillin. All of us."
Trunks was awoken by a splash of water. 18 threw the now empty bucket to the floor, smiling down at Trunks. He, on his part, wasn't looking at anything in particular and generally not paying attention to his surroundings. The Android's smile windened.
"Well, we did give you enough drugs to knock out a horde of elephants, didn't we?"
She kneeled next to him and caressed his cheeks, taking pleasure in knowing he won't be receiving much more tenderness for a while. His eyes managed to focus for several seconds, and half a smile formed on his lips.
"Marron…"
He missed the hurt expression on her face as he was about to fall back to unconsciousness, but she shook him wildly.
"No no no. You're not gonna fall asleep on me! We're gonna play a little game now!"
This time, slapping was the method to wake him up.
"I said don't, ok?"
She messed his messy hair and smirked.
"After all, playing mind games with someone who's asleep isn't fun at all, now is it?"
Had Trunks had half the control over his body as he did when he actually was asleep, he'd have glared to his father's pride. But he hadn't. He was helpless.
"Now, let the games begin."
