Krillin: Huh?! The Phoenix Fire Alchemist changed his name?
18: I did notice that. Now his name is The Ultimate Life Form. You think that he would just pick a name and stay with it.
Krillin: Well I guess he just likes to change it up a bit.
18: Maybe but I still think it's pretty stupid. Anyway, just hurry up and read this chapter. I don't feel like standing here for too long.
Krillin: (a bit frightened) Heh, got it!
Chapter 5: A Harmless Little Game
Things weren't exactly going smoothly between Pan and Trunks. Although they have stopped their arguing, they still refused to talk to each other or even be in the same room as each other. Needless to say this was getting old for Bulma. She sat at the table with Trunks, a cup of coffee in front of her, and a serious expression on her face. "I just don't understand Trunks. She seems like a nice girl, so why do you have such a problem with her?" Trunks looked at his mother. How was this fact not obvious to her?
"Do you have to ask? She comes out of nowhere, and claims to be from the future. Next she tries to blast both of us, and do I have to mention the incident with 18? We almost got killed mom!" Bulma did realize this, but couldn't help feeling sorry for the young girl.
"I know that Trunks, but we don't know what her story really is. For the time being we'll just have to trust her." Trunks just scoffed.
"What's to trust in a girl that sided with the enemy?" Bulma just sighed and took a sip of her coffee. Trunks got up to leave the room.
"Just give her a chance Trunks, in time everything will straighten out." Trunks nodded and turned to leave when he suddenly bumped into Pan. The young saiyan girl looked at him and Trunks did to her. They passed each other without a word, and Pan sat herself down across from Bulma.
"I just don't understand it." said Pan watching the silent Trunks leave. "The Trunks in my timeline was so much nicer to me. No offense to your son, but he's being a real jerk." Bulma half laughed but looked into her coffee.
"He may be a little um……hard to get along with, but you have to understand that this has been very tough for him. He's lost so much, friends, family, and his father. What's worse for him is that the cause of all this is still out there killing more, and he feels as if it's all his responsibility to take care of this problem." At these words Pan clinched her fists under the table.
"But he's not alone…why is he so stubborn in understanding that?" Her thoughts where however interrupted but the static of the radio. The voice echoed through the kitchen.
"Ladies and gentlemen we just heard from one of our camera men that the androids are now attacking Northern West City and are heading towards the direction of the Capsule Corporation. Anybody in the way of these fierce beings should flee the area as soon as possible." The announcement ended and Bulma and Pan looked at each other their eyes wide. Suddenly they heard footsteps and saw Trunks walk into the room while clipping his sword to his back.
"I heard it mom, I'll be back." He said, but Pan quickly stood up.
"I'm goi…"but before she could finish Trunks cut her off.
"To stay here and get my mom out of here in case of an emergency." At these words Pan looked indignant.
"But I can go and fight too. I'm not helpless like you think I am." At this Trunks shot her a glare.
"Well sorry to say but you've done a pretty bad job of showing it!" he spat. Pan glared daggers at him, but for some reason she couldn't yell back at him. She just stood there and watched Trunks turn and continue walking towards the door. Without turning around Trunks nodded to his mother. "I'll be back." He said and without another word he took off. Pan just stood there. She didn't realize it, but something hurt. Not physically but mentally……emotionally. She felt a warm liquid run down one of her cheeks and suddenly noticed she was crying.
"Why doesn't he trust me?" she thought as she softly cried. Just then she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see Bulma smiling at her.
"Well? Are you just going to stand there, or are you going to go help my son?" Pan looked questionably at her with these words.
"Wha…what?!" she asked when she heard this. Bulma slightly chuckled.
"Trunks can't do this alone and he knows it. He'll need someone to help him, and you have to be that person." She said. Pan's tears dried and a small smile came across her face.
"Will you be ok by yourself?"
"You don't give me enough credit. Do you have any idea what I've been threw in my life?"
"Yeah…" said Pan with a smile. "Grandpa told me all about it." And with that she ran to the door and took after Trunks.
On the far side of West City, 17 and 18 had just finished killing all the people in the vicinity. "It's fun to watch them struggle like that." Said 18 who was sitting on a pile of rubble with her legs crossed. "It's funny that they actually think that they could survive." 17 looked over at her.
"Yeah, but this gets boring after a while. I want something really fun, something that would give me an actual challenge." His twin looked questionably at him.
"Really? Well what did you have in mind?" As suddenly as she asked however, they both felt a power level heading their way. 17 smiled evilly.
"I don't have to say. He just found us." Trunks landed down about 50 yards from the androids and both set eyes on him. "Long time no see Trunks." Said 17 with a smile, but Trunks' eyes just narrowed.
"I'm not here to play around. You two are as good as dead." The young saiyan said. Both androids just laughed lightly.
"You actually intend to kill us? How about this? We'll count to 5. If you start flying now, you'll be out of range when we blow the city to pieces." Said 18 in a most casual voice. Trunks scowled. How could they be like this? Did they think this was some kind of game or something? Innocent people where dying and he had to put a stop to it.
"1…2…" began 18 but that's as far as she got. Trunks powered up to a super saiyan and with both hands fired an energy blast the shook the city itself. The androids dodged and 17 threw an energy blast at Trunks. The boy braced himself, but suddenly a figure cut in front of him and knocked away the half assed blast with a swing of her arm. Trunks looked surprisingly at her for a moment then a look of anger came to his face.
"What the hell are you doing here?!" yelled Trunks. "I told you to make sure nothing happened to my mother!!" Pan looked back and him with a glare.
"She said she could take perfectly good care of herself, or do you not give her enough credit like you do me?" Trunks slapped his forehead and his super saiyan form came undone.
"I can't believe this. For once, just one time, why can't you do what you're told?"
"You think you can do this alone, but you can't. You need help, or do you want to keep getting your ass handed to you?"
"Gohan was never this annoying. Are you sure he was your father, or do you get that trait from your mom whom I still have yet to meet!"
"SHUT IT YOU IMMATURE JERK!!"
"OH I'M IMMATURE?"
17 and 18 watched the argument go on for about 3 minutes until the male android spoke up. "Sorry to break up the argument but we're still here, or did you forget your revenge Trunks?" the saiyan turned to face them once more. Anger once again took over.
"Believe me. I will never forget, nor will I ever forgive what you two have done!" Pan spoke next.
"How can you two be so heartless? Taking so many lives and not even caring about what it's doing to so many people and their families." 18 walked next to 17 and addressed the girl.
"We were just doing what we were programmed to and that was to kill Goku. But what he died the doctor had no use for us. So before he shut us down, we killed him and destroyed his lab. So now we do what we want."
"And all you want to do is kill people?" the quarter saiyan said and 18 smirked.
"As of now yeah, and from what I see, we have 2 worthy victims right in front of us." Just then an idea hit 17.
"Hey 18, let's make this a little more interesting." His twin sister looked at him. "I'll take on Trunks and you get the girl. First one to kill their opponent get's to pick the next activity." At this Trunks and Pan scowled.
"Sounds good, but why do you get Trunks? I want a challenge too, and the girl is going to be too easy." At this Pan gulped.
"Don't complain. If anything you'll end up choosing what we do next. The girl will be easier to kill then Trunks, and besides I don't hit girls. It's not what a gentlemen would do." At this 18 just laughed and soon both broke into a fit of laughter. Suddenly Trunks clenched both his fists so tight his nails cut into his hands making them bleed. His power level began to climb rapidly.
"I'VE HEARD ENOUGH!!" With a flash of light Trunks turned into a super saiyan and took off towards 17. The android noticed the oncoming saiyan and readied himself. Suddenly both figures disappeared and began to dog fight in mid-air. 18 just sighed at the sight of them.
"Men are so impatient." Then she turned to Pan. "Well then looks like it's just you and me. Look if you just hold still I'll kill you quick instead of playing around with you." Pan faltered a bit, but regained herself and got into her stance.
"I won't go down as easy as you think."
"We'll just have to see about that won't we?" 18 took off and went for her target. Once in range Pan threw a kick, but 18 vanished from her sight, and came in from behind. Pan turned her head, but 18 caught her with a swift kick to the back. Pan flew forward a bit, but corrected herself in the air. She fired a Ki blast at 18 but she knocked it away with ease.
"Ngh! I never fought 18 before. She's strong. She's really strong." Pan thought to herself. Pan looked up to see how Trunks was doing and saw both him and 17 going toe to toe with the upmost intensity. It was like they both knew the others move before they could make it. However a voice suddenly drew Pan back to reality.
"Keep your eyes on me not your boyfriend." Pan turned to see 18 right in front of her. Before she could react however 18 sent a fist right into her stomach. Pan's eyes widened and blood shot from her mouth. The female android then delivered a hammer blow to her back that sent her hurtling towards earth. Pan hit the ground with a fierce crash and dust and rubble flew in all directions from the impact.
"PAN!!" yelled Trunks from above, but the moments distraction was all 17 needed. The android hit Trunks in the side with a massive kick. However Trunks side was not all that got hit. His arm was hit as well. A loud crack echoed through the skies. 17 had broken Trunks' arm. His hair went back to its natural color and his eyes turned back from green to their original state. The young saiyan boy grasped his arm in pain, but it would not stop the punch from 17 that sent him threw a building and crashing to the ground where he skid another 200 meters before coming to a stop. 18 looked up at her twin.
"Aw, you didn't kill him did you?" 17 shook his head.
"Don't think so. I broke his arm though." 17 noted, he then fired an energy blast towards where Trunks had landed. A loud explosion overtook the spot and when the smoke cleared there was a lone crater left where Trunks had laid. Over where she had landed Pan used both her hands to push herself up. She looked over to where Trunks had just been.
"Tr…Trunks…" she said weakly. Then terror filled her. She felt a figure land next to her and footsteps approach from the other side. 17 and 18 where right over her.
"Well I killed mine." Said 17 with a little triumph in his voice. "And since I won, I get to choose our next activity." 18 rolled her eyes.
"You want to blow up more cars and buildings?" she said like it was obvious.
"Yes since the Capsule Corporation was going to be my next target, but before that…" he said an evil smile crawling on his face. "I thought we could finish off yours. Just to be fair." Pan's eyes widened. She suddenly felt herself being lifted off the ground. Then she was eyeing them. Face to face with both 17 and 18. She could feel herself tremble. Sweat ran down from every pore on her body. She could only think of what was about to happen.
"Well it was fun while it lasted." Said 18, who was eyeing the girl who her brother was holding by the neck. "But you wouldn't be as fun to fight as Trunks was. So I don't really see a reason for you to live anymore." Pan was scared. She was really scared. She didn't want this. She just wanted to go home, to see her family again. To see Trunks…just one more time. Tears fell down her face and 17 noticed.
"Why are you crying? You're about to see Gohan and Trunks again." He said softly.
Krillin: That's it?! Why did he have to stop there? I want to see more!!
18: You do know that you forgot to bring the baby to Chi Chi's right?
Krillin: (eyes widen) EEEE!! Why didn't you tell me?!
18: That's your responsibility not mine.
Krillin: (panicking) Oh crap! (takes off)
18: (sighs) Just do me a favor and R&R.