Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ. It belongs to Akira Toriyama and Funi.
Sorry this took so long to update, but I lost the tape with the reference episodes and couldn't locate decent episode dialogue summaries (or better yet, scripts). I finally buckled down and bought the Future Trunks Prelude to Terror DVD.
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"Hey, no problem, but shoot, its I who should be thanking you for beating Frieza," Goku says, "I had a chance to finish him on Namek, but I thought that he could change."
"Not him," Trunks says, "he was out of control and you were supposed to stop him. But when he arrived and you weren't around, I had to step in. I didn't think you would make it."
"Yeah, his ship was a lot faster than mine and he gained two hours on me!" Goku says, "I knew he was going to hurt the people here! I was about to make my move, but then you showed up."
"And just how were you going to make a move when you were two hours away in space?" Trunks asks smugly.
"Well, thanks to a technique I learned, I could have been there in seconds," Goku replies.
"Are you serious?" Trunks asks.
"Yeah, its called Instant Transmission!" Goku winks.
Trunks gasps. "You mean time travel!"
"No, you dematerialize and travel as a mass of light and energy," Goku explains, "you'd be surprised how much ground you can cover going one hundred and eighty six thousand miles per second."
"No kidding?" Trunks asks, "man, I had no idea you had that ability."
"Yeah, the people on Yardrat taught me that ability," Goku says, fondly reminiscing, "they weren't very strong, but they knew some amazing techniques! And I think they liked me because I could eat as much as they could.
"Man, that bums me out," Trunks says to himself, "if I had known you didn't need my help with Frieza, I could have waited and come to you later, while you were alone and avoid the risk of meeting all the others."
"Risk?" Goku asks, "whaddya mean?"
"Okay, I don't mind answering that question," Trunks says, looking directly at Goku, as if trying to visually judge the man whom his mother and Sensei had admired so much, "but first let me ask you something: can you transform into a Super Saiyan at will?"
"Well, at first I wasn't able to, it happened spontaneously," Goku says grudgingly, "but now I can control it."
Trunks expression turns serious. "Alright then, can you show me right now?"
"Huh?"
"Please Goku," Trunks asks seriously. This was something he needed to see, needed to judge. Gohan had not taught him much about sensing energy, though he did know how. The amount he sensed from Goku right now was unimpressive.
"Man, I don't know where Goku got his outfit, but I like it!" Bulma says, "it's cool!"
"I wonder what they're talking about?" Krillin wonders.
"Yeah, they look pretty serious," Gohan agrees.
Piccolo merely looked on from the distance, and listened.
"Okay," Goku assents, gathering up just enough power to transform. His expression turns serious, battle ready. His power level skyrockets to unbelievable levels, shocking everyone there who could sense energy. His hair raises up and turns a light golden blonde, and his eyes turn into a pupiless green. The golden aura of the Super Saiyan envelops Goku, swirling around him, making him look even more imposing and dangerous.
Trunks is startled. He couldn't believe he was sensing this much power from Goku! This was more than Gohan at his best!
Meanwhile, everyone else is shocked. Only three people had seen Goku as a Super Saiyan, and one of them was dead.
"What's going on guys, Goku has blonde hair!" Bulma exclaims, "how wild."
"He just transformed into a Super Saiyan," Gohan says in awe, remembering how his father looked on Namek, rising out of the lava. He was just as imposing now as he was then, battle scarred but standing proud and strong.
"How could he generate that much power!" Tien asks in shock. Goku had improved incredibly since they had last fought. When he had learned that Goku had defeated Frieza from King Kai, he had wanted to spar with Goku, just to see how he now stacked up. Now he knew that he wouldn't even be a challenge in power.
"I know, it's mind-boggling, Goku's on fire!" Yamcha says as he stares in shock. This guy was the kid he had met in the desert nearly sixteen years ago?
Piccolo just looked on in shock. He had fought Frieza, even if Frieza hadn't been anywhere near his best, and had thought him nigh-invincible, but Goku was now exhibiting more power than he dreamed possible, enough power to make Frieza look insignificant.
Vegeta just looked on in anger. How dare that third class fool claim what was rightfully his! He should be the Super Saiyan! He should have been the one to slay Frieza, the one who had brought their race to near-extinction! Not a third class Saiyan like Kakkarot!
"Are you satisfied?" Goku asks, unsure why this young man wanted to see him as a Super Saiyan.
"Yes, I am," Trunks nods. Gohan hadn't transformed in years, his fighting spirit nearly broken. He had enough to train Trunks, but not enough to give him a Super Saiyan spar. "Man, how awesome. I'd forgotten what it feels like looking from the outside in."
"So, what's next, friend?" Goku asks.
Trunks smirks. "Now we'll both be Super Saiyans."
And with that, Trunks displays the hair-trigger ability he had developed to transform into a Super Saiyan with virtually no notice. Goku looks on, a bit startled. The guy had a large amount of power, definitely more than Frieza but he could feel that he wasn't as strong as him.
"Man, look at those two!" Yamcha exclaims.
"Hardcore," Tien agrees.
Piccolo was almost in shock. He may have felt the kid's power before, but feeling it now was unreal. He had been holding back against Frieza!
Vegeta, however, was growing downright furious. Who was this guy! How could he become a Super Saiyan! No Saiyan in the history of the race had the hair color he had, and he didn't even have a tail! He knew that neither Nappa, Raditz, or himself had spawned any brats over the years, Nappa too crude for most females and Raditz too low to breed before his Prince had. As for Vegeta himself, he felt that he should not produce an heir until he could be sure that his greatest enemy, Frieza, was no longer a challenge and he could keep Frieza from warping the brat.
"We're exactly the same," Goku remarks, noticing the similarities in their transformations.
"Let's find out," Trunks says, grabbing his sword in a snap reflex and bring it down at Goku's head, shocking everyone watching save for Goku, who merely stood his ground, not even flinching. Trunks was amazed. This guy had nerves harder than steel!
"Why didn't you try to avoid it!" he demands.
"I searched your feelings," Goku smirks, "so I knew that you would stop."
"Yes, I see," Trunks understands, "well this time I'm not gonna stop, got it?"
"As you wish," Goku says, raising his right hand up, index finger pointing up. He forms an energy barrier, a second golden yellow aura, around the finger.
Trunks twitches, then charges, leveling several slashes at Goku, who blocks each and every one of them with his aura-charged finger. Trunks puts his all into his onslaught, testing Goku's mettle, but Goku merely blocks with seemingly practiced ease. When Trunks stops, their auras mesh for a moment before bursting, flaring up stronger than before. Goku's finger didn't even have a single nick in it! Goku and Trunks stare into each others' eyes, testing the nerves of the other.
Trunks drops to the ground, tossing his sword up into the air with a smirk as he powers down. "Heh, you're awesome. Everything I've heard is true. You're good, no you're great!"
Goku smiles and powers down himself. Trunks sword comes falling down, seeming about to slice into its owner but Trunks merely tilts his body and his sword slides neatly into its sheathe with a loud 'clang of metal.
"Man, those same moves turned Frieza into cold cuts," Trunks says wryly, still amazed that Goku had bested his swordsmanship with only his finger.
"Yeah, well, your heart just wasn't in it this time," Goku says politely. This guy was amazing. He could tell that he had been in many battles, even if his actual fighting skills were below that of most of the Z Warriors, he obviously had the strength and endurance that came with being a Super Saiyan. Though from the looks of it, his body was honed to go for killing blows.
"I feel like I can trust you, Goku," Trunks begins, "I had to know that for sure."
"Man, Goku," Tien murmurs, his respect for Goku's skills having risen even further than ever before.
"He's spectacular!" Yamcha agrees.
"Yeah, no doubt," Tien says. Krillin and Gohan were amazed as well, now fully believing that Goku was without equal. Frieza had been good, but this mystery got had taken him apart, and Goku had blocked his moves with only a single finger!
"Blast you Kakkarot!" Vegeta snarls.
"Sorry for all the secrecy, but I really need you're word that you're not gonna tell anybody else what I'm about to say," Trunks says seriously.
"Well, I've never had a problem keeping secrets, but sure, you have my word," Goku says solemnly.
"Thank you," Trunks says in relief as he recalls the guidelines his mother and Gohan had given him for explaining things to Goku, "my name is Trunks and I know this is gonna sound strange but I'm not from this time. I came here in a time machine from twenty years in the future."
Whatever Goku had expected Trunks to say, that had obviously not been it. "Really? From the future? That's incredible!"
"Yes, Vegeta was right," Trunks continues, "only he, yourself, and Gohan have Saiyan blood. I got mine from him. He's my father."
For the third time that day, Goku receives an incredible surprise. "WHAT! You're kidding! Wow, you're absolutely sure that Vegeta's your father!"
Trunks nods. "Yes. I'm half Saiyan, half human."
"You're serious," Goku breathes. He blinks a few times, trying to register this, speaking softly. "Vegeta's son. My gosh."
He turns to look at Vegeta. "Yes, yes, I can see the resemblance. Wow."
"I will be born two years from now," Trunks tells Goku.
Goku laughs. "Ha ha ha, no kidding! Vegeta's gonna be a daddy! That's incredible. Man, who woulda ever thoug.."
Trunks cuts Goku off. "Goku, I didn't come here to tell you that! I have to talk to you about something."
Goku settles down, startled by the seriousness in Trunks' voice.
"In three years, on the morning of May 12th at 10am, a horribly destructive duo will show up on an island nine miles southwest of South City," Trunks says, beginning the terrible tale, "they have dreadful power, even by our standards. They're monsters, Goku. That's the best way I know to describe them, they're monsters! Once this pair surfaces, the Earth and everything you know will be gone for good."
"What'd their deal, are they aliens?" Goku asks, shocked at the thought of something powerful enough to do what Trunks was saying.
Trunks shudders as he takes a breath. "No, they're both Androids built right her eon Earth. Their creator is Gero, Dr. Gero the mastermind behind the old Red Ribbon Army. You remember?"
"Yeah, I defeated them!" Goku retorts.
"Man, for two guys who don't know each other, they sure have a lot to talk about!" Bulma complains.
"But hey, talking's not so bad," Krillin says, "it's a lot better than fighting."
"Yeah, at least he doesn't have his sword out anymore," Gohan says.
"Yeah, and your dad put his finger away, too," Krillin quips.
"No way, same guy?" Goku asks.
"Yeah, that's him," Trunks says through grit teeth.
"But how? Did he live?"
"Thanks to you," Trunks says accusingly satisfied when he sees Goku hang his head slightly. "Yes, that's one battle your gonna wish you had fought to the very end."
Even though he sees how his words are affecting Goku, Trunks doesn't let up. "Look, I'm sorry to say that Goku, I know you're a good person, but letting Dr. Gero escape was a mistake that will come back to haunt you and everyone you know! He's probably working on those monsters as we speak. I'm still not sure where his lab is, but if I knew, I'd be paying him a visit instead of you!"
"Its hard to describe these creatures, Goku!" Trunks exclaims, his emotions beginning to get the better of him, "they're unlike anything you're ever faced! Nothing comes close to rivaling the technology that gave them birth. Its mind-boggling how strong they are."
What's his plan?" Goku demands, "What's Dr. Gero trying to accomplish with them?"
"No one really knows," Trunks says solemnly, "because the moment those things were able to think for themselves, they rebelled. And they've had their own twisted merciless agenda ever since."
Trunks' voice begins to shake slightly as he continues. "There's no rhyme or reason to what they do! They're machines of destruction, man eaters! Their first act after being born was killing their creator, Dr. Gero himself!"
Trunks takes a deep breathe. "These Androids are ruthless, they delight in causing pain and chaos! Living on earth in my time is like living in a nightmare! Always running and hiding and looking for a way out!"
Goku folds his arms across his chest as he thinks over what Trunks has told him so far. "Man, gosh, you defeated Frieza in a flash, and from what you're saying these Androids are even stronger than you!"
"They are," Trunks says, wincing at painful memories, "for sure. hunting me down is one of their favorite hobbies, but its two against one. There's not much I can do against them except run!"
"What!" Goku gaps, "but what about the others? Aren't they helping you?"
"They can't," Trunks says, knowing that this would help show Goku how serious this truly was, "they're dead. Three years from now the Z Warriors will be dead!"
That statement rocks Goku to his core as Trunks begins to ramble.
"I'm all that's left! I'm doing the best I can! They're all gone! Vegeta, Krillin, Yamcha, Tien, Chiao Tzu, Piccolo, they're all gonna lose their lives against the Androids in a horrible battle. There will be only one survivor. That's my sensei and best friend, Gohan. He narrowly escapes from that battle, but thirteen years later, after numerous battles, his luck finally runs out and he's left in pieces!"
Trunks takes a shaky breathe. He could see that Gohan's fate had rattled Goku tremendously. "That was four years ago my time, but you already know that with Piccolo gone there's no chance of reviving anyone with the Dragon Balls."
"Now what's the deal?" Yamcha asks, "they look like somebody just died over there."
Piccolo's face is now more grim and solemn than usual.
"Making the time machine almost cost us many precious lives, so many people have suffered at the hands of those beasts!" Trunks growls, shaking with anger, "damn them! Man, they're just far too strong!"
Its then that Goku notices an omission in Trunks' story. "Hey Trunks, what happens to me? Do I die in the battle too?"
Trunks shakes his head. "Uh uh. You die before it. Not too long from now you'll catch a new virus that attacks the heart. You're going to die from it."
Goku gasps. On the other side of the spaceship impact crater, Piccolo arches an eye ridge. A warrior such as Goku, dying from a virus?
"Sorry to be the bearer of bad news," Trunks says apologetically, "it's a radical virus, you'll start hearing about it in the news soon. Not even a Super Saiyan can beat it!"
"Man, what a bummer!" Goku sighs, "being killed by a stupid virus! What a waste! Damn it! I want to fight those stupid Androids, and I don't even get to take a crack at them."
Trunks had been told Goku would say something like this, but he still couldn't believe it! "You mean even after all I just said, you still want to fight? Aren't you scared of them at all?"
"Well, sure, a little bit," Goku says slowly, "all challenges are scary at first, but maybe I can make a difference!"
"A guy like you probably could," Trunks says, his admiration for Goku now as solid as his mother's or Gohan's, "you are a true Warrior. My mother and Gohan were right about you, Goku. I really can trust you. I'm glad I came."
"Huh?"
Trunks reaches into his jacket and pulls out the vial of medicine and hands it to Goku. "Here you go. Take this man, for your health."
"For my health?" Goku asks, peering at the vial of medicine.
"Its an antidote," Trunks explains, "there's no cure now for that nasty virus, but in my time there is. Take this when you get sick and you'll be fine."
"You're kidding me!" Goku shouts as he takes the medicine, "wow! Awesome! Its purple too, I'll bet its grape flavored!"
"I shouldn't be doing this, Goku, because its going to change history," Trunks says, smiling, "but some history should change. Things are pretty bad."
Goku looks inquiringly at the young demi-Saiyan for further explanation.
"We're living in fear," Trunks tells the older hero, "with no way out, its terrible! But you can make a difference, Goku! My mother told me you could! And now, I believe her."
"Your mother knows me?" Goku asks, "am I going to meet her or do I know her now?"
"Now," trunks says with a faint blush, knowing that this was about to get awkward.
"Oh, wow, I know your mom huh?" Goku asks nervously, "that's bizarre. Does she live by me or something?"
"She's standing right there?" Trunks says, pointing across the crater at Bulma.
"Yegaaah!" Goku screams, eyes wide with shock, falling down, bursting with laughter, "Bulma's your mother!"
Across the crater, Piccolo stumbles in shock. That had to be some cruel joke of fate!
"That guy just pointed his finger and Kakkarot fell down!" Vegeta gasps in amazement.
"I could've sworn I heard Goku call my name," Bulma says as she watches. Everyone present, save Piccolo, was very, very confused. Piccolo, was just plain stunned. Then again, he was the incarnation of Piccolo Daimou and he had developed a soft spot for Gohan and a respect for Goku.
"Wow," Goku says as he gets back to his feet, "Bulma and Vegeta? Unbelievable. I thought Bulma was gonna end up marrying Yamcha. But man, Vegeta?"
"They, ah, don't stay together long," Trunks says, blushing at the talk of his parents' love life, "its more of a, uh, passion thing. You know how stubborn they are."
With a shake of his head, Trunks continues. "Yamcha and my mom don't stay together much longer. He finds someone else, and my mom falls in love with my dad. Not that he'll ever admit to caring for my mother."
"No shock there," Goku says, turning to look at Vegeta. Why was he wearing a hot pink shirt? "I know them, and man oh man, their the feistiest two people I know."
"I don't remember my dad," Trunks says, looking fondly at Vegeta across the crater, "so it's really great to get to meet him. He's a cranky guy, but he is impressive."
"I know it's bizarre," Trunks says, "but they'll find their way to each other pretty soon. But if they get wind of it, it might not happen. Promise you won't tell them or I might not be born."
"Hey, not a problem," Goku assures the young demi-Saiyan with a smile.
"Well, I need to be off," Trunks tells Goku, "my mom's probably worried sick about me and needs to know that I'm okay."
"Yeah, please tell her that I send my love," Goku tells Trunks, "she's like the big sister I never had, and was my first friend."
He tightens his grip on the antidote. "And thanks for this. You're great."
"Hey, you've helped me in a lot of ways," Trunks tells Goku, "I should be thanking you, Goku."
Goku was puzzled. "Me? What did I do?"
"Well, I've felt alone since the Androids eliminated Gohan," Trunks says, not looking at Goku, "at the end, when they broke him, I started having doubts about myself, about my power to stop them. I'm still not as strong as Gohan was in his last battle. You've inspired me. I feel like meeting you was like meeting a long lost brother. You take care."
"You too," Goku says, touched by the praise, "you're a brave young man, Trunks. Now that I've met you, I'll be with you in spirit no matter where you go."
Trunks nods and blasts off. To a secluded spot where he can open up the time machine capsule and head forward in time.
After opening the capsule and setting the coordinates, the time machine begins to take off, hovering in the air above the Z Warriors and Bulma. Looking down, he could see them looking up at him. His eyes settle on his father.
"Father, your so tough and proud, hard and cold like a rock. But still, deep down, your heart beats like mine does. I know you feel. I'm your son, and I will always love you. I'm glad I got to see you Dad."
His eyes turn to his mother. She looks so young, so happy and carefree. He always remembered her as being so worn, especially after Gohan's spirit was broken. He would give his life to keep her from losing that carefree attitude, to save her from being so worn from life under the terror of the Androids.
"Farewell, young mother, may the kami keep you safe."
With a wave down to those who he saw as an extended family, the time machine winks out, traveling through time to the day of destiny.
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Well, now this story will really begin to deviate from the mainstream DBZ timeline. Sorry for the incredibly long wait, those of you who are still reading this. If you wish to be updated via e-mail when this story is updated, leave me a message in your review.