Chapter 4: Escape

Trunks's hair was at shoulder length when he finally managed to put a plan together. The formulation was not very well thought out, and he was 85 sure it wouldn't even work, but he knew that he had to try.

He explained it to the rest of them in a low voice, and while they all looked pretty skeptical, agreements were shared.

Anything to get out of this place.

Trunks knew he was going to need his Saiyan strength back, for he'd tried pulling out the bar without it to no avail. That was part one that he needed to succeed. Then there was the actual escape from the androids and Glock. Part two. He wasn't really sure where they were going to go after that. He didn't think too far ahead because he wasn't very confident it would even work.

And there was no more time for planning. It was time for action.

The androids were sent into the prison cell to give everyone their daily injection of what Nemora called "power-stoppers". They had gotten the accursed things every four hours every day regardless of whether they were conscious or not. Nemora's was blue, Kyanite's was orange, Alusarin's was violet, and Cirus's was green. Trunks's was white and always painful. He had no idea what kind of pain was released into the others because they'd become so stony-faced around the androids that it was a wonder they were even alive when it took place. He'd started to become the same way, come to think of it…

They entered through the door of the cell, the door Trunks had tried to escape from awhile back by trying to scamper between them, only to end up with his needle injected into his neck and increased hours of torture. Every one of them tried it once and failed the same way. They closed and locked the door every time they came in anyways…

It was actually a positive move. The androids had been fooled into thinking that his spirit had been broken. That all of them had been dispirited.

Trunks prepared himself as they entered, plastering on his stony face. He looked to Kyanite who gave him a passing glance. Trunks had given the signal.

As the androids approached the blue-skinned man, who was always first, Kyanite suddenly jumped up and got one of them in a head lock. Nemora immediately jumped up afterwards and kicked the needles out of the other android's hand.

Caught off guard, the cyborgs tried to recover but the plan had already moved into motion. Alusarin had snatched all of the needles and jabbed them into the neck of the free android, sending it crashing to the floor.

It was only a moment longer that the other android had elbowed Kyanite in the stomach and broken free… but it was okay because it was the moment Trunks needed.

And it was good… He could feel his power surging back into his blood stream and for the first time in as long as he had been captured, he began to feel alive again.

Trunks grabbed the android and slammed it into the loose bar. It gave and went clanging to the floor, along with the cyborg.

Kyanite picked up Cirus. "Let's move!" He shouted.

Enjoying his energy, Trunks kicked out several more of the bars, just for his own amusement, and the group clambered out of their filthy cell.

"I don't believe it…" Alusarin muttered, actually making eye contact with Trunks. "What made you think it would work?"

"I didn't think it would," Trunks replied, "but I had to try."

"We got company," Nemora grumbled.

The other android.

Trunks didn't have enough time to react before it ran at him, but before his head could be sliced off with it's hand, Kyanite's arm went around his neck and the skin turned dark blue. The android's hand shattered against it, and Trunks immediately fired an energy beam at it.

They were far from dead, but he didn't care about them at the moment. He just wanted out.

It took him no time to find his sword, leaning against the wall where it had been since it had been placed there on his first day, and Kyanite ripped open the door to the laboratory.

Sunlight poured into the room, and everyone had to squint to be able to focus.

"Come on!" Alusarin shouted, taking Cirus from Kyanite and jumping through the hole. It didn't take any effort to convince them to follow.

Trunks found himself rolling down a steep incline covered in rocks and dirt. He managed to get his footing before falling and found the others had done the same on different places on the way down.

And it was clear. This was a mountain… a mountain in the middle of nowhere.

"Where are we?" Nemora yelled up to Trunks.

"I don't know!" He shouted back down to him and took flight. There was nothing but forest for miles and miles… but he did spot a river not too terribly far away (at least by flight), and there was probably a cave where they could hide out until they got their bearings… and animals in the forest to eat. Meat.

He wiped his mouth to keep it from watering at the thought of real food.

"LOOK OUUUUTTT!!" Cirus sang out, pointing up.

Trunks gazed up at the laboratory they had escaped from to find the androids had recovered from the attack and were descending upon them quickly.

Trunks looked back to them. "GET OUT OF HERE!" He shouted. "I'LL TAKE CARE OF IT!"

They took off towards the sky… everyone except for Alusarin and Cirus, whom she was holding.

Trunks transformed into a Super Saiyan, ready to fight, when there was a sudden twinge that seemed to run through his whole body… he tried to ignore it, which wasn't hard since he'd come under attack.

Of course, he couldn't continue to ignore it… because it was quickly becoming apparent that something was… wrong…

He grew dizzy and found himself struggling to stay in the air. His muscles were stinging. He shut his eyes in the attempt to gain his focus, but when he opened his eyes, he found himself descending. He managed to stop and hold himself in the air, but he was still having trouble focusing his energy.

And the androids were coming…

…and then they were pushed back.

"HEY!"

Trunks looked down the mountain and caught eyes with Alusarin. "I can't hold this barrier for long!" She shouted to him. "Let's get a move on!"

He blinked in confusion for a moment, but nodded and decided to do as she said. The overwhelming sense of dizziness was starting to get to him anyways.

"Why didn't you leave when I told you to?" He couldn't help but question as he came nearer to her.

"I can't fly," She replied simply, grabbing his arm as they took off in the direction the others had gone.

Cirus seemed to be enjoying the breeze in hair, for he was laughing, and for once he seemed like a normal child. Alusarin was too alert to care, for she, using the gems on her forehead, was holding up a barrier that the androids could not break through until they were far enough out of sight that they couldn't be found… at least… that last part was what they were all secretly hoping for.

"Bye bye, bad people!" Cirus suddenly chimed, and Trunks glanced over his shoulder to see the androids had… retreated?

"Where are they--" He started to question, when a dizzy spell hit him so strongly that he fell out of the sky, the trio collapsing into the canopy of trees below.

…

………..

………………

"Trunks… Trunks… TRUNKS!"

His eyes snapped open, and he lifted his head up to look for the source of the noise, his forehead collided with it.

"AGH!" They both cried out.

Trunks recovered first to find Nemora hunched next to him, holding to his forehead and groaning. "Is your head made of concrete or something?" He complained. The half-Saiyan ignored the Namekian's shouts, looking around to find his fellow ex-prisoners around him, hiding in a cave…

"What happened?" Trunks asked.

"We almost died because of your plummet," Alusarin hissed, sending him a particularly wicked glare.

"IT WAS FUN!" Cirus chimed, running dizzying circles around the would-be prince.

"I… don't know… what happened to me. I just…"

Kyanite interjected. "Side affect…" was his suggestion as he knelt down next to Trunks and placed his hand on his forehead. "But your fever is gone for now, so I'm sure it'd be all right if we got a move on. If we stay here very long, the androids are sure to find us."

"Oh, sure, fuss over him," Nemora droned. "I'm the one with the concussion from his wicked hard forehead."

"Don't be such a wuss," Alusarin replied, giving a harsh kick to the behind.

"OW!"

"Would you two quit?" Kyanite sighed. "Honestly. You're like children."

"Especially him." Alusarin.

"I HATE YOU!"

Trunks walked to the mouth of the cave and looked out. It was almost pitch black out. The sun had long since gone down, and with the rain-heavy clouds lingering in the sky there was no moonlight.

"I guess we should go…" Trunks sighed. "I suppose you guys are going to try and find your way back to your home planets now, right?"

"Home?" Cirus asked. "YAY!"

"I guess we might as well," Nemora shrugged. "We'll probably be safer there."

"What about you?"

All attention turned to Alusarin, and suddenly she looked awkward. "W… what?" She growled. "I didn't mean anything by it. He has to live here with them. That's all."

"Aw, he's a Saiyan!" Nemora exclaimed, smacking Trunks on the back. "He'll be FINE."

"But he falled out of the sky!" Cirus shouted.

"Fell," Kyanite corrected. "Trunks, are you sure you'll be all right?"

"I'll deal. I won't be caught off guard again," Trunks smiled. "We have no reason to stay together, so you guys should return to your homes. I'm sure your loved ones will be missing you."

The features on Kyanite's face grew somber, but he smiled and nodded. "Of course."

Trunks stepped out of the cave. "I'll be on my way now then."

Nemora ran out and waved. "GOOD LUCK, TRUNKS!"

"You too!" And with a wave, he left.

-

The rain was harsh and cold on his back as he approached the city he resided in…. and there was an ache in his chest. This weather was eerily familiar. He shut his eyes for only a moment, seeing Gohan's body plastered on his eyelids.

He shook it off and decided to instead keep his thoughts on home. He could have kicked himself for fainting; his mother was worried sick and he was snoozing in a cave. He laughed quietly to himself. Mother…

Mother….

Moth…er…

As he came upon Capsule Corp. he felt his stomach drop…

The place was… there was… a gaping hole in the roof and cracks running over the building… had lightning? No… this…

Trunks slowly descended, seeing more prevalent damage as he drew closer to the building.

He looked in through the gap in the roof and felt all of his breath expel in a shudder.

It…

Couldn't…

Be…

"MOTHER!!"

-

Alusarin stopped. "Wait." She demanded, calling attention to her comrades who were about to go on their own way.

She looked at them, horrified. "We have to go back. I sense something bad…"

Nemora stared at her, concerned. "Trunks?"

"Trunks."