I don't own DBZ.

A/N: I'm so sorry I didn't update for like a forever, but I lost my will to type L but now it's back J so here it is. Chapter 17.

Legolas Luver: updating :\ sorry it's this late.

Candy: er… ^.^;;; sorry?

Xshiny: heya girl, sup? :]

MiNi@MaRrOn: fight? Maybe. But… transformation? o.O

Bardock RD: Marron's origin in this little AU WILL be explained, trust me :x

Julian1: thank you for giving me the freakiest review ever ^_^ if you have a one shot you'd like me to write, lemme know.

A Different Future

Chapter 17 – Mind Games – Part 1

He was walking in a fog. A familiar fog, but fog nonetheless. He knew the corridors, but it was different. Almost alien to the boy.

"This is your new school."

His mother's voice echoed through the space, yet when he turned around, he saw no one.

"Children, today we'll learn about the Androids. What could you tell me about them?"

He turned around again, to find no one still. Small voices the replaced those of the adults.

Rulers. Government. 17 and 18. Pretty. Role models. Twins. Heroes….

Heroes.

His eyes widened as he recognized that last voice. It was his own.

"No, they're not…"

"Says who?"

He recognized that voice, too. Everyone did. The boy glared at the radio system which would usually carry the principle's voice. But he couldn't quite place the voice. Something at the back of his head was stopping him.

"Welcome to Orange High, Trunks. This is your principle speaking. I'm afraid you've been naughty, and so, you've been put in detention until you're a good boy again. Have a nice day."

17 said and turned off the microphone. He smirked as he watched Trunks's still body lying in the room next door. The boy was drugged to an extent a herd of whales would've been sedated, and a simulation device was in place, making sure he saw and heard only what 17 wanted him to see. The male Android smirked.

"Well, 18? Won't playing with him be twice as much fun as just beating him to a pulp?"

18 shrugged.

"Maybe. So far all we've done is stare at him."

"Party poop. Don't worry, we're just starting. The fun's just beginning."

Bulma stared at the blueprints in front of her. She had to make a chip, as usual. But this was a bit different. And considering her chips were meant for humans, this meant the chip was meant for either a Saiyan of a Namekian. And considering no news came of either Vegeta of Piccolo, or heaven forbids, Gohan, captured, it only left one option.

'Those sick bastards!'

She knew she couldn't build the chip, but she had to` otherwise, she'd be following Trunks. Or just hitting the bucket.

How long has it bee? A week and a half? Only Kami knew what was happening to her baby. Well, Kami and a couple of monsters.

"I'll do it. But if they think I'll let them get away that easily, they're wrong!"

Taking out a pen, Bulma began to temper with the plans.

"Don't worry, Trunks. I'm not gonna let that get you. Not without a fight."

Trunks walked through the halls, looking for… well, anything, really. He entered a classroom` they were in the middle of a math lesson. Nothing interesting there. Walking to another class, and another, and another, Trunks only found out that no one could see him. He even tried the school doors. He was locked in.

It was frustrating, to say the least. He was trapped. Then the radio system kicked in.

"Remember, students, don't forget! Androids day is tomorrow!"

Memories of when he was younger surfaced. It was the best day of school. Start at 9, finish at 12, all day talk about the Androids and play games. They were his heroes back then.

"Were?"

17's voice came back again, snapping Trunks out of his daydream.

"Yes. Were."

He walked determinedly through the school, still not giving up. His feet brought him to his locker. He punched in the combination. It opened.

'My old stuff…'

Old books, sports bag, some pictures on the door, and a picture of 18 and 17. It was a must. A must.

He looked for something useful, pushing the sense of nostalgia aside. No luck. Closing the door, he heard a voice. A familiar one. A loved one.

"Heya, sailor."

He remembered her saying that with a smile.

"New in town?"

Trunks remembered that meeting. The first time he and Marron talked. And it was almost as though he was a kid again, but at the same time she was the adult he knew so well.

18 looked at the screen showing her what they were showing Trunks. _That_ she didn't expect.

"Sort of."

Trunks said, following a script already played out. He was still amazed at how much she resembled 18. He considered her even cuter over it, then. It was amazing, he realized in retrospective. The Androids were his gods back then.

He walked away, but had to look back again. Kid Trunks and Marron were talking, just like they did 8 years ago. But then Marron was still there. Staring at him. He stared back.

"Marron? Is it really you?"

No response. She simply pointed at him, uttering a single word which might have been shouted for all it's worth. It sure sounded like she did to the boy.

"Traitor."

Krillin watched as Gohan and Vegeta went at it. They were so strong, yet still not half as strong as they had to be to go against the Androids. They had to find Trunks, and soon, otherwise those two'd kill each other.

'Better go and ask what's going on.'

He wasn't expecting good news; he wasn't sure about the quality of the news he had just received; but it was news, nonetheless. Therefore, he had to risk his neck to separate the two Saiyans to tell it to them.

"Gohan! Vegeta! Gohan!"

The two stopped fighting and looked at him, annoyed.

"What?"

"You're never going to believe it!"

Seeing as Vegeta was about to strike the man down, Gohan stood between them.

"Go on with it, Krillin."

Krillin caught his breath, more of fear than exhaustion.

"Bulma got an order for a special chip. She's sure it's for Trunks."

"So?"

Vegeta asked, his pride not covering the worry in his voice well enough.

"So, it's a special! Just one! She can put a tracking device on it, and we'll find it! Him! We'll find Trunks!"

For the first time in a week, the two allowed themselves a relieved sigh.

Trunks gritted his teeth, the memory of that morning a week and a half ago returning.

"A traitor, eh? At least I didn't sell out my best friend!"

No response, but instead of angering Trunks, it brought him to a slight realization, one that's been nagging at the back of his head, but he was forced to ignore.

"Of course. You're not Marron."

True to the statement, the image disappeared. He felt alone.

"Trunks…"

He turned around to watch another scene. It was his first fight in school. A boy insulted his fater; had the boy known that Trunks was his father's son, and how sensitive he was about it, even back then, he wouldn't have said it, But he hadn't. And he did.

"Why did you hit that boy?"

"He insulted my father."

"Who's your father?"

After slight hesitation, both the younger and older answered.

"Vegeta."

Even though his younger self said the name with shame, the older said so with determination and pride.

That moment, retrospective hit him. It was a wonder how no one ever treated him differently over his father.

"Because you were loyal."

17's voice droned as the scene disappeared.

"But why aren't you now, Trunks? What happened?"

"I heard a different opinion."

A cold, heartless laughter filled the halls.

"Merely a false interpretation of the truth, my boy. And truth in itself is such a subjective matter. To you, what you see around you is truth. Reality."

"And I'm here because of you, another truth."

"To save you."

"To break me."

"Maybe."

"Traitor."

The voice changed, the word remained the same. Behind his best friend this time, Trunks could recognize more of his schoolmates. Even some of the teachers. But what really shocked him was that his mother pointed an accusing finger at him as well; and one of the teens had a striking resemblance to Gohan.

'I guess… this is what he looked like my age.'

"Traitor."

17 watched carefully, studying the boy's body language. Instead of fear or panic, he saw calm confidence. And he was proven right as Trunks threw energy blasts at the crowd without blinking.

"Wow!"

"I didn't think he was this far along."

18 said, rather impressed.

"Well, he is his father's son."

The ones Trunks didn't hit were Marron and his mother. He couldn't spare the Gohan look alike; he couldn't give any hint about any connection to him.

"Mom… Marron…"

His face hardened, and he merely turned away from the two.

"Give me a break, 17. Is this your best?"

If only Trunks knew that he was looking straight into 17's eyes through the screen. And the glares were matched.

Bulma looked at the blueprints and had to grin.

"Sometimes, Bulma, you amaze me."

The tracking device was planned, and designed to seem non suspicious.

"Don't worry, Trunks. Just hang in there. Just a while longer…"