Hey everyone! So, quick few things here. It has been over a year since I last updated this -or any- story. With that said, once of the things that happened that is relevant to this story is that Dragon Ball Super came out. And it came out with a new future Trunks arc. And so that timeline was not forgotten which is kinda the premise of this story. But whatever. I'm still doing what I planned to do with this story, and I hope you all enjoy it! Thank you~

Chapter 3: Threats revealed.

Bulma looked up as she heard the sound of boots approaching her lab. Raising her head and turning towards the door expecting to see Ginyu back safe and sound, she was instead a bit surprised to see a rather beautiful young woman in a blue over coat and green hat walk in smiling at her. Bulma grinned back and hopped off her seat excitedly and rushed to greet the young woman. "Mai! It's great to see you back. Your mission was a success I take it?"

Mai nodded her head and shrugged off the strap of her sniper rifle, setting it down gently on the nearby table and letting out a sigh of relief before answering Bulma with a smile. "Yes. It was a bit rough but Ginyu was right with his intel. It took me a few days but I found the shipment of Mark I's and destroyed them before the bandits could do any real damage with them." Mai sighed again and sat down on the nearby stool Bulma had pulled up for her.

Bulma winced at the mention of her wayward inventions and gave the young woman an apologetic look. "I'm sorry this is still an issue. I swear, those things have been nothing but trouble since I first created them." Bulma sighed and palmed her forehead wondering just what it was she had been thinking.

Back when first creating the Wardens as an organization, Bulma had drawn inspiration from her experiences and Ginyu's tales, along with some initial blueprint designs courtesy of Dr. Gero's secret lab, to create the Mark I Arm Blaster. Similar in design and function to those used by the Frieza Forces, the arm blasters were designed to help the then untrained and ungifted population of Earth tap into their energy pools to fire ki blasts. Bulma had designed it as a tool to help the population of earth grow and not be as susceptible to attack, even managing to continually improve the design up to the Mark III's. But as newer models were put into use and fewer and fewer of Earth's growing forces needed the aide of the Blasters, the older models began to fall into the hands of thieves and bandits. Since then Bulma had halted production on all such energy based weaponry to ensure that her inventions would never fall into the wrong hands again.

'Well...with one exception.' She thought with a smile as she eyed the sniper rifle that Mai had just put on her workbench. Mai had been an exquisite find for Bulma. She didn't know why, but when she first saw Mai something in the back of her mind clicked and she knew immediately that she was someone of worth and value to the forces she and her son were creating. Mai was a natural in terms of weaponry and strategy, second only to Ginyu who took her under his wing. Though Mai never got too far in terms of using her own energy or in martial arts, Mai had proven incredibly adept and useful in other ways. Her gifts with weaponry and tactics combined with Bulma's genius created a combination that was difficult to topple. Bulma was grateful to the young woman who constantly had new ideas for weapons and items that tested Bulma's level of genius, resulting in the girl's arsenal of energy firing weaponry and stealth technology. Mai was the Z Warriors personal secret weapon, a shadow member that was best at sneaking missions and had defeated foes many times stronger than herself with her low power level of twenty-two thousand, even managing to outsmart and beat Lime and Ginyu a few times. In terms of skill with weaponry both mundane and magical, Mai had no equal.

"It's alright." Mai said softly bringing Bulma out of her musings and giving the older woman a comforting smile. "Really. Despite what you say they were a huge help to us in the beginning, myself included. And with this latest batch destroyed we have almost all of them accounted for."

Bulma nodded and relaxed a bit more. Honestly the Blasters bothered her, but that wasn't why she felt so off. Ginyu still hadn't returned despite how late it was getting, and Trunks was out scouring the globe after checking back in and letting the rest of the Z Warriors know what was going on. Something must have showed on Bulma's face because she suddenly felt Mai's soft hand over her own, the girl giving Bulma a concerned look.

"What's bothering you Bulma? You usually have more energy than this. Is something wrong?" Mai asked leaning forward. Despite the concern on the girl's face, Bulma looked right past her and focused on the red pole she could now see poking out from behind the girl. The magical weapon was a gift given to Z HQ by Yajirobe who found it at Korrin's, thinking that Bulma could have it as a memento to her oldest friend. However she felt it should be used, and after Mai had gained her absolute trust Bulma gifted it to her who used it like a natural.

Bulma closed her eyes and sighed, remembering the young boy and the brave man who had used that pole before Mai. 'Oh Son, if only you were still around. I'd feel so much more at ease.' Bulma breathed in deep and gave Mai a brave smile. "I'm sorry dear. It's nothing large I promise. Just an old woman's worrying." She snickered at her own joke even as my giggled and covered her mouth.

Mai eyed Bulma briefly before shaking her head in mirth. "I don't know, you must have incredible genes because you look great for your age. You definitely aren't an 'Old Woman' just yet Bulma." Mai teased before the two women broke out into laughter.

After that they talked for a bit, catching back up and enjoying each others company. Mai was very happy to hear that Videl had joined them at HQ giving her another woman to talk to and an extra target for Roshi's perving tendencies. However when Bulma informed Mai about the recent situation that Trunks had explained in depth, Mai got very quiet. Bulma stared at the young woman for a moment before asking Mai what she was thinking.

"I'm not sure. Everything fits, at least as far as I can tell, except for one factor that I feel isn't being taken seriously enough." Mai cupped her chin and hummed to herself before eyeing Bulma. "Gohan's blood. It just doesn't make sense."

Bulma shrugged and looked away. "I know. I mean yes Gohan was Earth's savior and hero for the longest time but using is blood to sen-"

"But that's just it." Mai said suddenly cutting Bulma off. "Gohan's Blood. There is a deeper mystery here Bulma, something that stinks. Hospitals were destroyed and most blood unlabeled. Medical records all but things of the past until recently. Refrigerated samples dried up due to loss of power everywhere. No Bulma...don't you see?" Mai asked, Bulma's own eyes widening in confused fear as she began to realize just what Mai was saying.

"The question isn't WHY did they use Gohan's blood." Mai said quietly in a disturbed voice. "The question that seems to keep getting overlooked is...HOW did they even get it?"

Videl growled in annoyance as she sat across from Master Roshi in a meditative stance. Her elderly master seemed completely relaxed, his energy swirling slowly around him in something of a controlled miasma that was equal parts raging and at peace. Videl was attempting to do that same which should have been no issue, having done so many times before. However she could not keep her thoughts from straying, her concentration slipping in her annoyed state and her own miasma of energy snapping itself away. Videls breathing became labored as she bent over slightly in a sudden pang of exhaustion.

Roshi lifted one of his closed eyes and stared at his protégé contemplatively. "You cannot recuperate if you do not keep yourself under control. We must do our best to heal and regain our strength as soon as possible in case things escalate and trouble begins while we're weakened. The Aura Healing State is meant to restore your vitality and energy with complete concentration, failure to do so will only leave you more exhausted every time the technique fails."

"I know that master." Videl panted out as she attempted to return to the pose. "It's just a bit agitating to do this instead of helping with the search effort. I should be out there, looking for the people who killed my friends! Instead...instead I'm here trying to heal up after today's training. I feel...useless." Videl bowed her head and sighed out despondently. " They died because I wasn't there. I wasn't looking out for them. If I hadn't left...if I had declined to join, then maybe I-"

"Then maybe you would have been first on their list and already dead." Roshi said cutting Videl off completely. Videl whipped her head up and gave Roshi and accusatory glare opening her mouth to respond only for Roshi to again cut her off. "I don't care how strong you are, a sneak attack done correctly could have taken you out of any fight before it could even begin. I know exactly how people like this fight. Not with spectacle, but tactically, using every dirty trick and advantage they have to get an upper hand. You may be the third strongest on this planet Videl, but that doesn't mean anything against people that think they can fight and possibly take on TRUNKS." Roshi said, emphasizing the young saiyans name to try and help Videl understand exactly what it was he was saying.

"Trunks is by and large the strongest thing on this planet. Maybe the entire universe." Roshi continued once he saw Videl begin to contemplate the meaning behind his words. "And he has been very public about his power. Every single person with some talent can sense that boys ocean of strength and whoever it is that is attacking us is not shying away from it. Do you honestly believe that if they aren't afraid of Trunks that you would slow them down? You are wiser than this Videl. If you were still there...you could have been killed just like the rest."

Videl felt as though all her energy was drained out of her, any fight she had in her gone for the moment. Videl sat in silence with Roshi for a few minutes before she sighed out and nodded her head. "You...you're right Master." Videl finally admitted. "I...I'm just so angry. I don't...I haven't felt like this since we were all hiding from that devils pair. I feel weak. Like I can't save anyone." Videl shuddered for a moment before she breathed deeply and brought her emotions back under control, raising her head to look Roshi in the eyes.

"I'm scared that despite all my training, all this strength I have, it still won't be enough."

Roshi looked at his student for what felt like an eternity before he reached out and tapped Videl on the forehead. She blinked as she began to feel the warmth and soothingness of the technique again. Closing her eyes, Videl focused and began to take control of her miasma of aura, the weight and emotions that had troubled her and gave her issue no longer blocking her concentration.

"You are much stronger than you believe Videl, in a way that goes beyond mere power and techniques." Roshi said as Videl closed her eyes, relaxing with the technique. "You have a determination and fire in you I've seen few match. And you possess a bigger heart than many. You fight with you heart, full and true, and you have never broken despite all the terror and death you have faced."

Videl began to feel her energy growing, recovering, her core growing warm as the superficial wounds of the day began to heal away slowly. "You are a brave, strong, capable woman who cherishes her friends dearly. If there is anyone here on this planet that I think won't stop until they overcome every obstacle in their path, it is you. So do not worry if the strength and power you possess will be enough. Have faith that even if it isn't, you will still prevail. Because that is who you are Videl."

Videl breathed deeply, a smile coming onto her face. She knew that Roshi had closed his eyes again and returned to his meditation in earnest, yet still Videl gave him a warm grin somehow knowing he would feel it.

"Thank you Master." Videl said softly. It was all that needed to be said.

"-ject cannot keep going out into the field like this. There is too much instability with the mental controls and orders." A worried voice said as Ginyu snuck deeper into the castle's interior. He stuck close to the shadows, making sure his power was as low as possible in order to avoid detection. "I know our employer may be very specific with how he wants to enact his vengeance, but this is carrying far too much risk if the subject is truly capable of free thought."

"Oh you're far too worried Jane. None of these monsters can actually think. They're all just reduced to their basic most instincts with only enough brains to remember their fighting capabilities genetically locked in them." A male voice said in a way that Ginyu could tell was overly smug and superior. "So it's a little overly violent. It's not like that's anything too alarming. It still comes back after every mission doesn't it?"

Ginyu creeped closer and as he peeked past a wall corner he could barely make out to humans in long white lab coats reminiscent of Bulma's. The woman frowned and seemed to hesitate before answering. "Well, yes, but that doesn't mean-"

"Then there's no problem." The large male scientist said talking over her. "The programming is firm and despite how strong these freaks are there's no way they can break out of it. So stop bunching up your panties and just do your job. Lord Jaguar is almost ready to enact his plan. Just wait like the paid nobody you are and enjoy the benefits of the soon to be new world order."

Ginyu scowled and returned to the shadows flattening himself against the wall. "Lord Jaguar eh?" he said quietly to himself. "Well at least we have a name now."

Ginyu reached up to touch his scouter and report in but movement in the corner of his eyes stopped him. Turning slightly he saw what appeared to be a large tube full of what looked like revitalization liquid from Lord Frieza's healing tanks ascending up some kind of elevator shaft. Furrowing his brow in question, Ginyu turned on his video recording feature of his scouter and closed on eye. Looking through his scouter he zoomed in on the tank that had stopped and was now moving horizontally towards the scientists.

There was a body inside, a body that Ginyu was all too familiar with. His eyes widened in shock as he recognized General Joccobo of King Colds Royal guards. Ginyu's mouth fell open as he stared at the supposedly dead Generals body as it stopped before the scientists. The woman was still frowning, obviously worried and distracted, but the man simply looked at his monitors and readings, barely paying attention to the mighty alien that had beat out both Ginyu and Salza as head of King Colds Grand Army.

"Subject F3-008. Vitals are stable. Body at optimum performance after cellular recovery from traumatic injury. Resting strength still stable at a Gero reading of 25. Optimum reading thus still clocked in at 224,000. Note. Subject line has twice now been the recipient of a near fatal wound by subject Z3-001 in training. Deployment alongside any of the Z series is thus highly discouraged. Second Note. Subject is ready for deployment in global assault at 0700 north city time."

Ginyus eyes widened even more, both his eyes opening in shock as the scientist pressed a few more buttons and sent Joccobo's body back down to wherever it came from. "Global assault. In less than nine hours?!" Ginyu said worriedly, clutching at his head. "No. This is bad. I need to…" Ginyu paused and looked back at the scientists who were bickering once again.

His first thought was to retreat and begin warning the others. Somehow these people had cloned the strongest person in the Cold family's army, and had an assault planned that would span the entirety of the Earth. Though he personally could not stand up to the General, he knew that any of the other humans could take out that threat with minimal effort. However Ginyu stayed in place. Retreating now and planning a preemptive assault could work, but there was still too much that Ginyu did not know about this place.

Most specifically he was worried about whatever this Z line was. If the General could be nearly killed so easily, how much stronger must this threat be? He still did not understand just how it is that Joccobo even lived, but he needed more intel. He needed to investigate.

Rushing out of the shadows, Ginyu mercilessly chopped off the head of the male scientist before clasping his hand over the woman's mouth before she could let out a scream. Ginyu grabbed her and held her still, waiting until she ran out of breath before he glared at her and shushed her. "Make a sound when I remove my hand and it will be your head that topples over next. Wink twice with your left eye if you understand." Once the woman complied Ginyu let her go and stepped back, letting the woman catch her breath before posing his question. "I'm with the Wardens. What is this place? What is going on here?"

The woman shuddered and looked like she was going to cry until Ginyu raised his hand again quieting her with that motion alone. "This...this is Jaguar Castle. The home of L-Lord Jaguar." She said, her voice shaky, "We...we are making the force that can defeat any enemy of o-our Lord."

Ginyu narrowed his eyes and stepped closer to the woman. "Making? What do you mean? Is that how Joccobo is alive?"

"J-Joccobo?" She asked before Ginyu snarled and pointed down below them, making her take the hint. "Oh! The...the white haired alien. Y-yes and no. The...subject is not this Joccobo of which you speak. It is more appropriate to think of it as a clone of some sorts."

Ginyu blinked in surprise and leaned back. "A clone? What? You can't be serious."

"I am!" The scientist protested in worry, thinking Ginyu might kill her out of anger. "The process is slightly complicated but entirely possible with a sample of DNA. The clones are one hundred percent stable and grow rapidly. We have been creating the army for over a decade now and have many many many forces." The woman began to show some pride but it was quickly extinguished by the glare Ginyu sent her way.

"So these...subjects? They are all clones?" He asked as he began to head to the edge of the railing of the cavernous room to peer over the dark edge.

The woman shook as she nodded her head and spoke. "Bio-warriors actually, but again they are clones for all intents and purposes. Capable of reaching the full potential of strength and power their originals possessed by way of Gene Memory."

Ginyu frowned as he peered over the ledge into the inky blackness below, the only lights being those of what he could only guess was an elevator system to bring the subjects up in those tubes. "What is the size of these forces? Power levels? I can tell there are two giants here, but the rest? What individuals did you clone? How did you get the dna for so many?"

The woman began to tear up slightly but Ginyu appeared right in front of her again grabbing her shoulders. "I-I don't know all those answers, but I do know that we got the samples from a DNA archive in 's lab back when those menacing cyborgs were everywhere!" The woman rushed out causing Ginyu to let her goal as she continued spilling everything out.

"We had a wealth of DNA, so many aliens that came from outside our solar system, some form of demonic type beings, Gero's archive had them all and they were ours to plunder and use! The science was all there, especially after we began to incorporate the notes and data from the Wheelo files that helped us to stabilize the Bio-warriors allowing our subject numbers to skyrocket from the high dozens into the two thousand viable and battle ready subjects!"

"Two THOUSAND?!" Ginyu nearly shouted before he got control of his voice. His breathing became intense and labored as he tried to comprehend just what exactly was going on here. Turning back to the woman he asked if that was all she knew and she seemed at a loss as to what else she could say. Quickly knocking her out, he went back to the ledge and leaped down, floating down and looking at everything he could.

He saw tubes. So many tubes, each one filled with a body, a warrior. He had his scouter running at all times, catching random power levels, all in resting states but still using what he heard earlier about Joccobo he could scale it and what he figured was not very reassuring.

Some of the bodies were those that he recognized personally. Many copies of the same few warriors, all of which were a part of the Royal Guard. Some old martial artists that he had seen from archived data of previous martial arts tournaments. Some normal planet trade soldiers that must have come from the same ship as Frieza and the Royal Guard, most likely just crew staff. Surprisingly enough, he even saw a few copies of the Armored Squadron. There were other faces, some of monsters with widely varying skin tones and protrusions, likely those demonic beings the woman told him about .He paused for a brief moment in slight shock as he even saw a few copies of his last body, the purple skinned horned one he used for a decade. The original must have died long ago with that frog brain in it. Shaking his head he proceeded further down.

He found a small walkway that led to a hall labeled M-Hall that he entered. Inside he recognized the crew of Turles the Saiyan Space Pirateer, as well as finding copies of the Saiyan himself, reminding him of the times the crew had done private contract work for Frieza before disappearing. He supposed he figured out where they disappeared now. Not too far from those tubes was a single specimen, a muscular looking Namekian. Ginyu was surprised to find it as he believed Piccolo to be the only one to settle on Earth. Besides him were other aliens that he could not quite recognize, but seemed menacing nonetheless.

Midway down he found a number of walkways and landed upon them, following them to a hall that seemed to reek of importance. His heart nearly stopped at what he saw there.

"F1 and F2." He said, breathing out in shock and terror as he saw a single tube with a clone of King Cold and Lord Frieza respectively. Ginyu took a step back, begging his eyes to be wrong though the image he saw never changed. He clutched at his heart, as it hammered in his chest in pure fear and terror, gasping for air. "No...no this isn't lord Frieza. This is much worse. If what she and that other scientist said was true, then this is a mindless slave with the strength of Lord Frieza. This...this is bad."

No one but Trunks and 16 could stand up to Frieza, and though it might be easy for them to defeat his former masters, with the amount of small fodder also pitching in the fight, it was possible they might be overwhelmed and lose. Quickly running out of the hall Ginyu leaped down once more into the depths, in search of anything else that could be around that same level of strength. It was then that his scouter picked up the two large power levels again. His proximity must have negated whatever had masked them once he got into the building.

Quickly he flew down deeper to land on the bottom floor of the cavern. He ran towards a doorway and froze as he entered a new hall. Hall Z. Taking a breath he entered the hall and the fear he felt before came back three-fold.

"Z7." He said softly as he continued down the hall. "Z6," It just kept getting worse. "Z5. Z4." All the tubes were blacked out with a curtain over them, but that wasn't what Ginyu was looking at as he approached the small rounded room end of the hall. "Z3." The tube was empty but it didn't matter. All that mattered were the two bodies that were in the final tubes, two bodies that he absolutely feared. Two bodies that made him want to turn around and run right away.

"Z2. Z1." The two figures in the tubes were terrifying in every way imaginable to Ginyu. Their strength was something that could not be overlooked in the slightest and their capabilities. Ginyu knew first hand what they fought like. How horrific they were in combat. None save Trunks could even hope to stand against them. He needed to hurry. He needed to Leave.

Ginyu turned and prepared to rush out, only to find his path blocked by a short fat man, and a tall muscular man also dressed in an orange Gi with a dead eyed glare. Ginyu's heart stopped cold. "So...that explains where Z3 was." Ginyu said silently staring at the fat man. "And you...chubby, must be this Lord Jaguar I've heard about. How did you know I was here?"

Jaguar merely scowled at Ginyu, his hands tightening into small fists of anger. "I have every hall individually monitored in case one of my...important projects has a malfunction. When you entered Hall F you were spotted immediately. I chose to come investigate myself with my personal guard. Now who are you? Obviously you are with those blasted Wardens but you are far more skilled to be able to find this place and sneak in."

Jaguar rubbed his thick hands together in what Ginyu was sure was supposed to be menacing but only served to make the pudgy man ridiculous. Eyeing the other man cautiously, Ginyu stepped back a bit. "I...am just a Warden who decided to dig a bit deeper into those disappearances." Ginyu said stalling. His scouter continued to record everything but he must have been too deep underground because it just wasn't sending. "You were rather sloppy Jaguar. I may have been the first to figure things out and find you, but believe me I'm not the only Warden hot on your trail. Soon you'll be swarmed with them." Ginyu said trying his best to scare the man.

Jaguar however only scoffed at Ginyu and brushed aside the response. "Let them come. They shall merely meet their fate sooner at the hands of my magnificent creations. Nothing can stand up to the might of my Bio-warriors, and I shall finally have my revenge!"

Ginyu furrowed his brow as he began to slowly flex his hand, subtly building up some power. "Revenge? For what? Obviously you have done rather well for yourself, so what possible reason could you have for hating the Wardens?"

"You fool!" Jaguar said advancing on Ginyu, followed by the other man making Ginyu step back again cautiously. "I do not hate the Wardens! They shall simply be the unfortunate collateral damage in all this for my true revenge against that accursed no good blue haired transforming GOD of a boy Trunks!" Jaguar spat out furiously, his eyes slightly mad as he stared up at Ginyu with a crazed smile.

"I was going to be the Earth's savior!" Jaguar proclaimed, stepping away in manic giggles of joy and hand movements before halting and slamming his fist down into his palm. "Until that blasted bastard of a super saiyan changed things! The status quo was quite comfortable for me. The menaces 17 and 18 never went far out into the ocean and so my fortress was quite safe away from prying eyes. And the stupid boys Gohan and Trunks would fight and protect, but they never got anything DONE! They were bandaids on an injury that required intensive surgery! Oh they fought bravely, yes, they were the people's champions no doubt, but they were pathetic saviors. They couldn't save anyone."

Ginyu swallowed, his mouth becoming dry as the lunatic continued to ramble. He eyed the other figure, the deadeye gaze never breaking away from him. He was almost out of time. He needed to make his move soon.

"But that's where my brilliance shone through! Mortal men created those monsters with science! Could not their existence and reign of terror be stopped then by similar means? I began a crusade then you see. I searched and rescued every last remaining man and woman of science that I could find save for that Briefs woman. Together they pooled their data along with those of Wheelo and plundering the lab of the mad scientist who birth the menaces, and they created my perfect counter. The Bio Warriors that would save us all!"

Jaguar looked back at Ginyu and advanced on him again, the fat man completely lost in his ramblings. "Why wait for new warriors, for new hopes, when you can use the warriors, monsters, and enemies of the past to fight your battles for you?! What did it matter if the Devils pair were vastly stronger, when they were swarmed by a legion of warriors all with power enough to destroy the world many times over! Eventually after enough piled bodies they would be overwhelmed and defeated, and it would be MY name that would be touted as savior! It would be me who was the hero of Earth, who would be revered and worshipped and be the most loved and honored of all its inhabitants! For all intents and purposes I would rule the world! HA HA HA HA HA!"

Jaguar began to laugh insanely, clutching at his head in mad mirth before he cut himself off suddenly. "But I took too long. My forces weren't ready when that blasted boy came and destroyed the greatest evil Mankind has ever known. All my hard work. All my planning. All my sneaking around and staying hidden and biding my time AND FOR WHAT?! For some upstart to take my glory away from me?! No. NO! That's when I decided. That's when I planned! If I could have the Earth as its savior...I would take it as its ruler!"

Ginyu clapped once loudly, the sudden jolt and noise startling Jaguar into looking at him warily as the other figure immediately fell into what must be an instinctual battle stance. Ginyu glared at Jaguar and snarled at the man.

"You." He said lowly, disgust evident in Ginyu's voice. "You are a sick deranged little man who could never hope to truly comprehend the type of genocide and ruling that you rave about. You know nothing of the sort and are merely lashing out like a petulant child. You disgust me." Ginyu then spit at Jaguar who snarled in rage and pointed at Ginyu.

"Get him my pet!" Jaguar shouted and the other figured moved. However Ginyu had prepared for this perfectly and before Jaguar could even finish talking, he already had his arms in the air pointed at the figure.

"Freeze!" He shouted and used a tremendous amount of his energy to make his attacker stop in place. Immediately Ginyu felt the backlash and strain of holding his telekinesis technique on someone as strong as his opponent, but he had no choice in the matter. Letting out a labored sigh, Ginyu upped the power being used and quickly floated up. As Jaguar tried to shout and demand for action, Ginyu flew past the two of them and rocketed back up the cavernous lab, using as much strength as he could to hold the person in place.

'Exit. Need to make an exit. Need to escape.' Ginyu turned his head and glared at a wall of warriors. 'Might as well make that preemptive strike.' Doing his best to keep the psychic hold going, Ginyu blasted toward a sidewall before he gathered his energy and exploded in a burst of heat and power. He didn't know how much damage he caused as he crashed through the layers of steel and rock with his blast, but he didn't wait to find out. He couldn't risk that thing catching up to him.

He hit the ocean with the force of a train, plowing into the water and immediately suppressing his power as he quickly moved against the rock face. Not a second later, he felt a rush of water above him and he looked out in the murky darkness to see a long stream of bubble and a vacuum of water left behind by what must have been the creature trying to track him down. Mentally sighing, Ginyu swam lower slowly, swimming as far away as he could and being careful not to use any energy that could give him away. He swam for nearly 5 minutes before he surfaced, far away from the castle in the horizon.

He looked up into the dark night sky and sighed in relief, his scouter telling him that the creature had already returned to the castle. Slowly, he began to float above water and fly slowly to remain incognito...but then he froze once more as the sound of klaxons began to erupt from the castle far away. Deciding that now was no longer the time for stealth, Ginyu hurried, pushing his body to the limit as his fingers pressed into his scouter, calling for help. As soon as the line connected, Ginyu frowned at his hypocrisy for flying and talking but carried on.

"Trunks."

Trunks' eyes widened, his hands falling to his sides as he stood back in Capsule Corp. He had barely returned home an hour ago after searching the planet and had planned for a good night's rest. It seemed that was no longer going to be an option.

"Ginyu, you need to stay safe and get here immediately. They must be preparing to deploy now seeing as you escaped. We need to start putting every person on guard and start enacting plans and-"

"Trunks! Calm down soldier!" Ginyu suddenly shouted over the line, causing Trunks to halt in his panic. "You are better than that! Better than this! I know it's a lot to take in, but this is what we prepared for! This is why we trained and ran those drills. Put out the call, Every warden to battle stations. Defense Plan C. We WILL NOT let Earth fall today, but that can only happen if you can get your head in the game and save the rest of us!"

"Trunks took in a deep breath of air and nodded. "You're right. I apologize Ginyu. That...that won't happen again. I promise."

Trunks swallowed and waited for a response from Ginyu, but when he got none the saiyan continued. "The forces are probably spreading out right now. From the position of the ocean you were in, we'll probably make first contact within the hour. So what's most important is that I rouse the rest of the Z warriors and try to attack before th-"

Trunks cut off as a "loud" shuddering wave of energy completely swept through the entirety of the globe. His eyes widened in shock as he felt the wave be joined by a second one, nearly identical in power, then by a third. His heart began thumping loudly in his chest as the intensity of the power he felt. At the Familiarity of the powers he felt.

"No." Trunks whispered even as he heard scrambling noises from above him, likely the others who were awoken or felt the wave of pressure from the energy spike. "No it can't be. This...this is impossible. How?" Trunk began to shake in both fear…and anger. "How dare they?!"

Videl was the first down stairs and by his side, her pajamas a mess in her rush to reach him. "What the hell was that?!" She asked in shock and fear, likely never having felt power so strong.

Roshi was next, rushing towards trunks with a serious look on his face, his simple combat outfit on and staff already in hand. "You felt that right?" He said softly to Trunks. "You felt who that was?"

Trunks nodded dumbly and looked down saddened. Videl looked at the two of them frantically. "What? Who was that? You two know?!"

16 clambered in now, eyes hardened as he stared off in the direction of the energy. "We have more than just those three. I sense several extremely high power levels, all travelling the globe rapidly. They seem to have destinations in mind already. Very valuable targets no doubt."

Trunks ignored everything going on around him and spoke back up to Ginyu. "I'm sending out the distress orders now, though that energy must have gotten everyone's attention already. Get back here as soon as possible Ginyu, we need you." With that he hung up and dialed the emergency number to broadcast to every warden station."

"People of Earth. Defenders of our Planet. We are under attack."

Pigero stood tall on the roof of Sanctuary, staring out into the dark sky ahead of him. Below, dozens of children were being evacuated and herded away to the community bunkers underground for the civilians. A few Wardens were going below with them, a last line of defense, but Pigero had no doubts that he would be the true last line of defense. He had felt the power wave like everyone else and had immediately got into position, to defend his home, this place that he built.

He would be the last line of defence because no one else here could possibly stand up to the monster of a power level that was heading his way. It was as big as Videls, perhaps bigger, and it was entirely malicious. As much as Pigero and Videl fought, he had never once been able to defeat her, the cap in power too large for him to overcome. He knew this monster would be the death of him, but it didn't matter. He would need to stop it. To hold the line.

The children needed protecting and only he could offer it. Until stronger help could arrive, he could not afford to fail. He would not fall.

Lime winced, feeling the three powers heading straight for her. It was intense, the waiting. She had already evacuated the area, most of her wardens being directed to help with the cities and fill in the ranks of other populated areas. But not her. She was in charge of these farms. Of the food that so many desperately needed. That helped bring back some form of happiness and cheerful balance to this world. She could let it go, but she would fight tooth and nail to protect it for as long as she could.

The powers were nowhere near as large as the three that erupted to life twenty minutes ago. No, the powers felt similar in strength to Pigero's and her own, there was even a power that was weaker than hers, though just barely. She couldn't stop them all on her own, there was no way. But the good fight needed to be fought. Like her grandfather had always told her, the only battle you regret, is the battle you do not fight. And by gum, she was going to fight.

Because she was done running away and hiding. She was strong. She would finally not run from a battle. She would make her grandpa proud.

Trunks watched as 16 blasted off to where he felt he was needed most. There was a second grouping of high power levels, not as strong as the first but definitely too much for any but 16 and Trunks to handle. They were off in the direction of Korrin's tower, and that was something that needed preservation of the highest order.

Mai walked out of Capsule Corp besides him, strapping on her Shotgun and putting some explosives onto her hip. Ginyu had returned not five minutes ago and already ordered Mai to try and sneak into Jaguar Castle to find some kind of shut off mechanism. Trunks had been against it but Mai had agreed immediately, suiting up in a flash. Trunks eyed her for a moment longer and approached putting an arm on her shoulder.

Mai blinked then looked up at the young saiyan giving him a kind smile. Trunks' face softened for a moment before becoming hard again. "We still don't know what else might be there. There could be some reserves, or a number of traps that Ginyu was lucky enough to avoid. You don't have to do this. We can figure out another way. I could go or-"

"No, it has to be me." Mai said softly, grabbing Trunks' hand softly with her own before taking it off her shoulder. She gave him a strong smile and stretched briefly. "I'm the most expendable of us all and besides, they would see anyone else coming a mile away. Not only that, but you're needed out there. Dealing with...that." She said frowning.

Trunks nodded but still his displeasure was easily readable. "There could be more of them down there. What then?"

"Then I find the shut off switch or die like the rest. Trunks, you're too worried. I joined, we all joined, knowing that we might have to give up our lives for the Earth. And that means you need to let us fight what battles we can. You're our hero, but we don't expect you to save everyone by doing everything yourself." She gave Trunks a playful pat on his cheek then began to float softly, getting ready to go. "We know you'll save everyone by getting rid of the biggest threat, the thing no one but you can handle. Go Trunks, win for us."

Mai flew away quickly as well, barely detectable to Trunks' senses as she flew further and further. She was perfect for this stealth mission, but still, he didn't want anyone in his new band of Z warriors to put themselves at risk of fighting what he was going to go fight. The person with the highest risk of that was now Mai. Hopefully though it didn't come to that.

"Alright, I'm ready." Videl said as she came out besides him, Ginyu closing in just behind her. "Let's go."

Trunks shook his head. "No. You're not coming with me. You're too outclassed. You need to go and help direct the forces across the globe, make sure they have a fighting chance against all those other small power level. I need you to make sure we get through this with as many lives as possible."

Videl turned to Trunks as though she had been slapped in the face. "Trunks, you asked me to be your partner. I'm going with you no matter what you say."

Trunk eyed Videl and frowned. "No. No you can't. You don't understand what it is I will be facing Videl. In single combat I could dominate them all no issues, but the three are grouped together for a reason. They haven't moved. They're waiting for me. That means they'll gang up on me, and as strong as I am, those kind of tactics might just allow them to take me out. If you were there you might distract one for a minute, at most, but then you'd be dead and I'd be back to square one. It's not a matter of if you can watch my back, it's a matter of you needlessly dying."

Videl stood still, staring at Trunks like she had gotten a bucket of cold water dropped on her. Frowning, Videl opened her mouth to try and argue, but then she saw actual fear and hesitation in Trunks' eyes. Thinking for a moment, Videl relented. "Fine. Okay, fine. But as soon as most of the small threats are handled, I'm going to back one of the others up."

Ginyu clapped his hand on Videl and nodded. "I will be heading to back up 16 right now. Hopefully I will be able to gain some extra power in that fight that will allow me to even the odds with the fight Trunks will be handling. If everything goes well, not a single one of us will die." Ginyu nodded, Trunk's thinking that it seemed to be more for Ginyu's benefit than their own. "Good luck." And with that the shadow commander of the Wardens was off.

Videl looked at Trunks and swallowed before giving him a hug. "Be safe." She said before she rocketed off to the largest of the small grade power levels. Trunks sighed then turned to Roshi who was standing besides some strange spinning turtle. The old master looked at Trunks and gave him a single solemn nod.

"The fight will be hard. You cannot afford to hold back. Not with them. Please Trunks, for all of us. Do not lose."

Trunks stared back as the old martial artist hopped on the turtle and began soaring away. Trunks sighed knowing where he was going and how heavily it must weigh on Roshi's heart. Still...he had trouble of his own to focus on.

"Alright then...here I come...Goku."

And that's the show ladies and gentlemen! I hope you enjoyed it! And for all of those eagle eyed readers out there, yes those were the characters you think they are and no the characters that you didn't see were not forgotten, there is a reason for their absence.

With that Announcement out of the way, I would very, VERY much love review or follow or something. I'm trying to get back into writing and this is my first journey back. Write everything to improve as they say. I'm gonna try to update a few of my other stories, but this is going to be my main focus.

Future Trunks is my favorite character in DBZ and I'm trying to do him right. I'm incorporating everything that I possibly can into this, trying to extend this future timeline further than they did in Super. I want this to succeed and I know that with all you faithful dbz fans out there that this can. Thank you, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and look forward to my next one!

SUNA OUT!