Doomed to Failure
episode three ---the time machine---
(Rating: T)
Author's Note: beware of some cuss words. Nothing serious. Just preparing those with heart problems. –wink!
Trunks was taking way too long. Dusk was setting in, celebrating the sky with hints of red and mauve. Bulma scanned the horizon from Capsule Corp.'s backyard, hoping for her son's aircar to loom in the distance rather two hours ago. Sadly, she was left with nothing, nothing that could ease her sudden anxiety. This wasn't like Trunks.
What was taking him so long?
The silence of the evening rang in her ears, making her feel worried. She wasn't used to eating alone, not any more, not since the androids had finally been destroyed. She shook her head and let go of that thought. The world was safe now. But that letter… that letter really was something else.
Trunks was taking awfully long. Perhaps something had happened to him. Bulma laughed. It was ridiculous to worry. Trunks was stronger than she could imagine. No one could match her son. A feeling of pride coiled through her body. She was so proud of him. Of course, she for one had hoped he'd settle down and start a family some day but she knew she couldn't ask for too much. Trunks resembled his father too much. Vejiita had never been much of a family man either. But Trunks was a lot gentler than Vejiita would ever have been. She wondered why he chose to be alone.
The blue-haired woman smiled. Her mind drifted off in that direction only too often. She wondered if Trunks had found anything out yet. She hoped she needn't worry. She'd already worried so much in the years the androids had taken from her. What was this creature, this Majin Buu the messenger had written about in that crumpled up letter? Yet monsters weren't exactly what had Bulma spooked. Something was wrong but it didn't seem it had much to do with monsters and everything to do with the mysterious envoy that had come to their house. Who could've known Capsule Corporation inside and out beside she and Trunks? Which interloper could have known the way through the massive complex and be able to shut down the VC recorders?
She got up from her chair, leaving her plate of food untouched. She didn't have any appetite anyway. She could never eat when troubled. Maybe it was best to work on her latest invention. It might do her some good to be distracted. Worries caused for her face to line and age. She didn't want to look any older. She didn't want to look like a grandmother without being one.
Again, Bulma laughed. There she went at it again! The thought of Trunks ever starting a family had been on her mind a lot, these days. Peacetime had her thinking nothing else.
Kami, she was getting old!
Trunks sat up slowly. He grabbed his head, cradling it in his hands in hopes of pushing the terrible headache away. Kami, he felt like a truck ran straight over his skull. What had happened?
His eyes flashed open and he pulled his hands away from his face. He remembered. The woman had attacked him for no apparent reason. And after that she'd taken off.
The nerve of that woman! He hadn't done anything to upset her. He had a right to get answers! What the hell was wrong with her?
He pushed himself up on his knees, flicking off some dust. Wiping dried blood off his chin, he glared with his mind set on one thing and one thing alone. He took to the sky and flew off in a south-eastern direction.
Oh, he'd find her all right!
Bikini had finally fallen asleep. Today had been knitted together with one upsetting event after the next. Bikini was too young to be troubled with the difficulties and complexities adults were bothered with. How could she ever explain to her daughter that this wasn't their world and not their Trunks?
There was a thin line between keeping disconcerting things from her child and traumatizing her even more.
She sighed. Stupid time machine. Stupid piece of junk!
She wanted to kick something, wanted to kick that damn time machine most of all. God damn it! Work!
No matter how often she'd helped Bulma out when she'd been only a child, she was a Son. She would never be a genius. Frustrated, she tossed a wrench to the side and brushed her black hair out of her face. Why did that stupid time machine have to break down now of all times!
Angered, she stood and landed a solid punch at the pod's side, driving a fist-shaped dent into its surface. That exact moment, the engine of the time machine was activated and the woman leapt in astonishment.
About damn time. Piece of junk.
She picked up her daughter, who was wrapped up in her tattered old cloak and she gently set her down inside the pod. The woman smiled, stroking the girl's cheek, and pressed several buttons to install new coordinates. She glanced at her daughter again.
Poor thing.
The woman turned to check if she hadn't forgotten anything important. Her eyes grew and her heart skipped a beat. What was she, some demented old lady! She'd almost forgotten Trunks' journal of all things she could possibly leave behind. Sheesh, she should get her head out of the clouds one second.
She descended from the craft to pick up the dilapidated old book. As she straightened a firm hand enclosed around her wrist and she looked up into deep blue eyes staring back at her harshly.
Again, her heart skipped a beat.
"Where do you think you're going?" Trunks told her in an irate voice.
He didn't mean to sound as angry as he was. He couldn't really explain why he was so upset. All right, so she'd attacked him. Oddly, that wasn't nearly what had him this wound up.
The woman glanced over her shoulder. Her child was still sleeping, which settled her a little.
She turned to focus on Trunks again and looked at him, showing him only some calculated poise.
"To the inter-dimensional coordinate of '59xw709', that's what."
Trunks stared at her. He didn't have any idea what in Kami's name she was talking about. The number she mentioned might as well be some vehicle's number plate. He sighed.
"Alright," he said as he calmed down. "Why can't you at least stay for a little while? Shouldn't you refuel or stock up some supplies, or something?" He paused, and an idea hit him. "My mom can take a look at your time machine, if you're interested. It could use a touch-up."
The woman scratched her head. He had a point. And she was kind of hungry. At the thought of food, her stomach lurched. She blushed, looking down.
"I could use a bite," she admitted. "But I can't. I have a child to worry about."
Trunks raised his eyebrows, trying very hard to be polite. He wasn't very good with people, especially not with someone who'd attacked him for no reason. He was wise enough to not bring that up though.
"Then bring your daughter along."
She glanced at him, her eyes searching him as if he wore a plaque that said 'stupid'.
"Bikini doesn't know the difference between you and her actual father. Staying here'd only upset her."
"And dragging her from one fucked up world to the next won't?" Trunks bit at her.
Ouch. He had a point. Again. Jerk.
She shook her head, her fists clenched. She shouldn't lose her temper over this. It wasn't worth it, and likely, Trunks was only trying to be friendly. Her Trunks would've done the same, unfortunately.
"Listen," she said with a sigh. "We haven't come here to chat over a hot cup of tea. I have better things to do than to upset my daughter all day." She pivoted and turned her back to him.
"If you'll excuse me, it's getting late and we should be on our way. So long, Trunks."
She turned her cheek in his direction, to peek at him once more.
"And good luck."
Somewhat dumbfounded, Trunks stared at the woman as she ascended the time machine, entering gracefully.
The woman gently shifted her daughter to the back, careful to not rouse her.
Trunks really didn't know what to do. He didn't want her to go. He had so many questions still!
"At least tell me your name."
She didn't seem to hear him as the time machine's engine started to run up. He dashed over to where the capsule was audibly readying itself for travel and had already come off the ground. Quickly, Trunks levitated to her window.
"Tell me your name!"
She still didn't hear him but she didn't ignore him either and she opened the hatch carefully.
"What is it?" she sneered, in an attempt to keep her voice down.
"Your name…"
She shook her head and gave him a modest smile. "It's Pan," she said. "Son Pan."
It was that exact moment Bikini chose to leap out of the pod and into Trunks' stunned arms.
"Daddy! You came back!"
The time machine's loud engine drowned out the angry cuss words the woman screamed as she noticed what had happened and she set the rickety time machine down, angrily gesturing Trunks to land.
This really wasn't her day.
She turned the ignition and the engine shut down with a whistle. She ground her teeth, biting the inside of her cheek. How she hated not having her way. Her Trunks could always convince her as well. She hated it. She absolutely hated it.
Exiting, she couldn't help but notice how elated her daughter was in Trunks' arms, even if the man before her wasn't really their Trunks.
"Alright," she snapped at him. "Have it your way. We'll stay but only until the time machine is fixed."
She walked past him and refused as he gestured her to take Bikini back in her arms.
"You keep her," the woman grumbled in jest. "Finders keepers."
Bah, she hated it here already. She hoped Bulma would be able to fix her time machine soon.
She really didn't want to be here.
Author's Note: next chapter's been written. Will post that one soon.
To answer some questions: Bikini's about six years old. To illustrate what she looks like go here by removing the spaces h t t p / j o s a v . c o m / a r t / d b f 4 7 . j p g
And you finally learned the woman's name, eh? So it's Pan. What does that mean?
You can find out in the next chapter, hopefully.