Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ, or we'd have seen the rest of Trunks' alternate future and not just gotten a simple 'era of terror'
Heyyy…an idea for a new fic! Coolies!
AN: VV It's been a long time since I updated…but with this handy-dandy CPU we found in the trash, and some friendly floppies, my updating should actually pick up again! Yes, it's about time we got some floppies! Blegh.
BTW: Word freaking rocks. Automatic Grammatik, auto spell-checker auto-correct, auto-complete, auto-SAVE... XD awesomeness. Although I could see why auto save could forseeably be trouble—I'll have to remember to 'save as' a temporary document when making experimental changes…
Defender
Chapter 2: Plaything
He was not certain if it was a matter of minutes or hours before they reached their destination, as he was unexplainably drained, and therefore passed out not long after his highly undignified trip began.
The floor awakened him unceremoniously, when his unfriendly escort decided she was done carrying him. Rubbing his head dazedly, he looked up at his blonde captor. She looked none-too-pleased with his falling asleep.
"Welcome home." She said flatly. "You'll have to wait until my brother gets here before I decide what to do with you."
And so, he was fated to meet this unpleasant brother after all…at least he would not be completely alone against this brother's 'mercies' this time…hopefully.
Quickly, he took in his surroundings. He seemed to be in a simple log cabin. Nothing but a wooden door and a thin pane of glass from the lone small window dared bar his escape from the small and sparsely furnished room the woman had thrown him in.
No. He corrected, alarm and irritation mixing as one in his thoughts. There is some strange energy barrier surrounding it…
He did not want to think about what would become of him if he tried to pass through the barrier.
He did not have long to sit and think, however, as the infamous brother soon returned.
----
He was a strange creature. Bizarre blue-green skin, emerald hair…and those clothes! He was like no other creature she had seen before…he even spoke in an unfamiliar accent.
He was very interesting indeed.
She pursed her lips into a disappointed frown. Her brother would not agree, he only cared about guns and cars—just like a human male! Although it was unlikely she would ever tell him that.
Perhaps she could convince him not to kill the thing immediately… after all… whatever it was, it could not be human.
And… She added mentally. The only way he's this far behind is if he got sidetracked…probably to go off to
kill some more humans…maybe that will satisfy him enough so he won't kill our 'guest'.
As she was still considering what and what not to say to her unstable—and slightly hyperactive—brother, he arrived. It was as she was leaning back in her plush recliner when he decided to burst in, looking slightly ruffled.
"Where were you!" He hissed, slamming the door behind himself. "I hate it when you run on ahead!"
"And I hate it when you slam the door." 18 retorted coolly. "You'll break it."
"You should have seen it!" Her brother laughed, changing the subject. "The humans made a little refuge…there must have been fifty women and children all huddled in there, waiting to be killed!"
"Was there anyone important there?" 18 asked flatly, not nearly so thrilled with the mindless killing of more humans as her brother was.
"No." He sighed, his glee momentarily deflated. "Not that I could tell."
After a moment, 18 decided not to ask her brother if he had bothered to check before reducing whatever shelter he had found them in, to rubble.
"What's in the room?" Her brother asked suddenly. "My Christmas presents?"
"I don't believe I could fit an entirely new city to destroy in that shiny new car you'd wreck on the first day." 18 said dryly. "I would fret too much about trying to fit another .45 in it might break something before you had the chance to do it."
"How thoughtful of you, sis." He replied. "I only planned on getting you a new outfit or two."
"Coming from you? Another blood-stained outfit is just what I need." 18 snorted. "Besides, I thought you were planning simply to kill an extra amount of humans to celebrate."
"No, that's my New Years resolution."
"Amazing. It may be the only one you actually keep."
"Now, what is behind door number one?" He insisted. "I sense energy…a life-force…maybe a human for my birthday?"
"No, 17, it's not a human."
"What? You get a dog?"
"No."
"You know I hate these 20 question things, 18!" 17 whined."Maybe I'll go see for myself."
"It's just someone I picked up along the way." She sighed, standing up.
"You can't just 'pick someone up', 18!" He cried, "Let me kill it!"
"No! You can't!" She growled, her patience wearing thin. "He doesn't even know where he is, he passed out on the way. Not that it would matter, since he doesn't even know who we are!"
"What? Did he fall and hit his head?"
"I don't know." She sighed. "I don't think he's human."
"Not human?" He said, genuinely confused.
"Yes, he's very interesting." 18 nodded. "And no—before you even ask—you can't kill him and dissect him!"
"Ohh…well, at least let me see him!"
"No!"
"C'mon! Lemme see! Lemme see!"
"Alright!" 18 snapped, annoyed at how childish her twin could be. "With your eyes, not your hands. Go
take it some food."
He made a sour face. "I don't want to do that! I just want to look!"
"He's my plaything! You abide by my rules with him!" 18 ordered. As much as she hated to sink to his level, she doubted he would understand anything else. "You break all yours!"
He smirked. "Well, that's true, I guess."
"Like I said, don't touch him!"
"Why?"
"If you touch him, you'll break him!"
"Oh…all right…"
---
He frowned as he stood in front of the mysterious door, his sister always sapped the fun out of things…but he had to check this new toy out!
Sullen blue eyes turned toward him as he opened the door—he really was not a human! Carefully, he closed the door behind him, and spoke. "So…what are you?"
He gave 17 a blank look and spoke in a strange accent. "What am I?"
"Yeah, you're definitely not human, soo…"
The creature stared off into nothing for a moment, then said, "I don't remember anymore."
"Aww…so you're just another amnesiac with fancy clothes?"
"What?"
"Man…that bites." He complained. "18 got me all worked up over nothing."
"Nothing?" The man asked indignantly, as if trying to muster up some remnant of pride.
"Whatever, go ahead and eat." 17 said, turning toward the door. "Don't worry, 18 would kill me if you turned up dead."
---
King Yemma, lord of the over world, frowned as he looked at his paper work. Where was Zarbon? The little guy had snuck out during a mass-revive wish, but hewas sure he had nailed him with a 'Divine Blast' before he could get anywhere.
Yet, the line was empty for once, and not a trace of Zarbon remained on the records.
What did he do?
CH ENDAN: Alrighty then, finally got this one up! I do so enjoy 17 and 18's banter. I wonder if you've guessed where Zarbon went yet. Originally, I planned something else, but I realized that severely limited the time I would have—and I would be stuck with 16, who's really not as fun. (What can I say? I'm an accuracy freak.)
The true question now is…will I update this millennium or the next.
-Yusagi Sombermoon