Chapter 8: Lord Vail
The next morning 18 was the first one up and she came down stairs to turn on the t.v. to the news.
Newscaster: "You have heard it here first folks."
Trunks started to walk in the room at this time and 18 didn't notice.
Newscaster: "We are entering a peaceful time. The Androids have mysteriously stopped attacking and even more mysterious the people of Star City have returned. We are all working towards a brighter future with nothing but hope in our hearts."
18 reacted with a light smile, which Trunks spotted.
Trunks: "So I see there's nothing but good news today."
18: "Yeah I guess."
Bulma came in the room: "Oh great you're both awake already. How about we all have some breakfast?"
18: "Um no thanks. I think I'm going to step out for a bit."
Bulma: "You think that's a good idea?"
Trunks: "Don't worry about it mom. I forgot to tell you that the second wish I made with the dragon balls was for everyone but my family and friends to forget what 18 looks like."
Bulma: "Oh really that was a good idea Trunks. Okay then 18 go for it."
Later Trunks and his mom were having breakfast at the table.
Bulma: "So you think 18 will be all right on her own?"
Trunks: "Yeah I think so. I bet she went out to help people rebuild. I should go do that when I'm done here."
Bulma: "Yeah so do you think 18 will come back? Do you think she's okay with staying here?"
Trunks: "Yeah I think so. She doesn't have anywhere else to go anyway. Before she and 17 would just stay in a hotel of a deserted city where they ran the people off. She can't do that anymore."
Bulma: "Yeah I guess she would have to come back then."
Later that day Trunks went out to help people rebuild. 18 was in another city doing the same thing. Trunks just got done fixing some wholes in some buildings.
An old man: "Thank you so much young man. I don't know how you can work so fast."
Trunks: "It's no problem. Anyway I should get going to see if there are other cities I can help."
Another man walking by on the city side walked stopped in front of Trunks and said, "Why bother going to help another city? This whole world will soon be destroyed by Lord Vail."
Another man stepped forward and said, "Yes Lord Vail will put an end to this human vermin filled planet."
A crowed started to gather around all at once saying things similar to this. Trunks saw that the crowed looked possessed.
Trunks: "What's happening?"
A voice: "Trunks!"
Trunks: "Dende, is that you?"
Dende: "Yes. Listen, I noticed a poison gas spreading around the earth. It's making people act like this. It's coming from a power source located in the Atlatice Mountains."
Trunks: "Yeah now that I'm focusing on that area I can sense someone with a lot of power there."
Dende: "You must not be affected by the gas Trunks because of your strength."
Trunks: "Has it spread to where my mom lives yet?"
Dende: "No not yet."
Trunks: "Okay, tell 18 to get to the power source and hold him back from doing anything else and I'll be there as soon as I make sure my mom's safe. Then after we defeat this Vail gup we can find a way to reverse the effects of this gas."
Trunks took off towards his house.
Trunks: 18, I'm trusting you with this. Please keep the planet safe until I get there.
18 flew towards the power source after Dende told her what was going on. She got there and saw someone coming down from the mountain smirking. He looked like a tall human except very buffed, with salmon colored skin. He had short black hair and was wearing green armor. 18 landed right in front of him.
18: "What are you smiling about?"
Vail: Well this is a happy day. The world will soon be in my grasps soon."
18: "Really? You actually talk like that? How cliché for an evil guy. It doesn't matter though, either way I'm her to stop you."
Vail laughing: "A female weakling challenging me?"
18: "I'm not weak. You just can't sense my power."
Vail: "Oh really? You think you're strong enough to beat me?"
He powered up making the earth shake.
Trunks was almost home and felt the increased power: Oh no! I hope 18 will be able to handle him at least until I get there.
18 charged at Vail. They kicked and pinched each other back and forth and Vail was clearly had the advantage. Vail hit 18 in the side of her face and she went flying back. When she landed she gave him a death stare.
Lord Vail: "Yes I think I'll have fun making you suffer."
Back at Capsule Corp Trunks was rushing Bulma out.
Bulma: "Okay Trunks, I'm going." (She got into her hover car.)
Trunks: "Sorry mom. I just wanted to make sure you're safe."
Bulma: "I understand Trunks and don't worry I'll be gone way before that gas gets here. I'll go to the look out like you said. You hurry up and get to where 18. I'm sure she needs your help."
Trunks nodded and they both took off in different directions.
18 was having a rough time with Vail. She went down again.
Lord Vail: "You're obviously not a normal human; you're an android aren't you? You're still no match for me though. If you give up now I promise I'll destroy you quickly."
18 stood up: "As if."
18 then looked to her right. She didn't see Trunks, but she could sense him coming. She saw Vail was also looking in the same direction.
18: "You sense that too don't you? Someone with more power than you is coming for ya."
Lord Vail: "I do sense someone with a lot of power, but he'll be no match for me."
18: "We'll just see."
Lord Vail: "Well he's not here yet so I still have sometime to play with you."
He charged at 18 hitting her many times, not giving her time to recover.
Trunks was almost there, but as he was flying all of the sudden he heard a voice.
Voice: "Trunks! It's me Goku!"
Trunks: "What? Goku…wow it has been a while."
Goku: "A while? We've never met."
Trunks: "Oh I'm sorry I guess I was mistaking you for the Goku of the timeline I was in not that long ago."
Goku: "Yeah. Anyway Trunks I have some news about this Vail guy. He's really powerful. What you're sensing now isn't even his full power."
Trunks: "You mean there's more to this freak? What should I do?"
Goku: "You only have one option; you have to transform into a Super Saiyan 3."
Trunks: "But I never transformed that far before. I don't know if I can pull it off right now."
Goku: "You can. I know you've been training; you're ready for this. Trust me!"
Trunks: "Okay I'll try my best to do this."
Goku: "Great I know you wont fail." (He said as his voice faded.)
Trunks: I hope you're right Goku
18 stumbled back as Vail slowly made his way towards her. She snarled at him trying to think of some way she might be able to win. 18 fired a powerful energy blast. She smiled, having made direct contact, but the smirk cleared to revel Vail scowling at her, unharmed.
Lord Vail: "You really don't learn do you?"
His hand went forward and his arm stretched out, wrapping around 18's neck. She gagged as he lifted her in the air. Vail held out his other hand and gathered a lot of energy. Right when he unleashed the blast he let her go right when the blast hit her. 18 slammed into the ground and got up slowly.
Lord Vail: "Oh it looks like your friend finally got here. That's good having more than one toy to play with. It's more fun."
Trunks got closer and landed near 18. He did not look happy as he stared at Vail.
18: "Nice of you to finally show up."
Trunks smiled at her: "Sorry I was getting a little advice from someone concerning him."
Lord Vail: "Oh how nice to hear people thinking about me, but you should know there's no way to defeat me."
Trunks: "We'll see" (He said confidently.)
Lord Vail: "Okay, but let me warn you I'm not going to take it easy on you. I've already been kept distracted from destroying this planet long enough."
Trunks: "Don't worry this wont take long, but even so you can forget about destroying the earth; I wont let you."
Trunks transformed, becoming a super saiyan, then a super saiyan 2. His power kept raising and raising until he finally became a super saiyan 3. Vail was surprised; he wasn't expecting so much power to come from him. Vail's face showed how worried he was.
18 stared at Trunks in amazement: I knew he had gotten stronger than me, but I didn't know he was capable of this.
When Trunks power finally started to stay steady he turned towards 18.
Trunks: "Look 18, I can tell you've been through a lot, so thanks for waiting for me, but now I just want you to stay back. Don't worry I can handle him."
18 crossed her arms: "Is that your way of nicely telling me to stay out of your way?"
Trunks: "Don't think of it like that." (His face got serious again and turned back to Vail.) "Shall we begin?"
18 flew a little away from them as the two charged towards each other. At the same time there fist collided with each other's faces. They were both knocked back, but immediately went on the attack again with fists punching and legs kicking. Vail jumped back out of the repetitiveness and his arm extended outward. Trunks moved to the side and Vail's arm flew pass him. Trunks brought his elbow down on Vail's arm. Vail yelled in pain and pulled it back. Trunks flew towards him and repetitively punched him in the face. Vail fired a blast of energy. Trunks vanished from out of the attack's path and reappeared behind Vail. Trunks kicked him, knocking Vail to the ground. Vail quickly got up they came together again locking hands. They were each trying to force the other back. Trunks had the advantage and Vail began to loose ground.
Lord Vail: "There's no way a weak Saiyan like you could beat me."
Trunks flinched with surprised that he knew what he was.
Lord Vail: "That's right I know what you are and you're people never were a match against me."
Vail let go of the grip and flew upwards to land behind Trunks. All of the sudden Trunks felt very weak.
Lord Vail smirked: "Stupid boy."
Trunks dropped down to his normal form and fell to the ground. Vail had a tight grip of his tail. Vail lifted his foot and stomped down on Trunks' back. Then he did it over and over again. Trunks was just about to black out. A powerful kick slammed into Vail's head and knocked him away from Trunks. 18 dropped to her knees by Trunks' side.
18: "Trunks, are you okay? Snap out of it." (She saw that Trunks eyes were half opened and he was very unresponsive.)
One of Vail's arms stretched out and grabbed 18, pulling her towards him. He glared at her.
Lord Vail: "Stupid, foolish girl! You should have known not to interfere."
With his hand still attached to her throat she tried to fire at him. He easily hit it away with his free arm. Then he countlessly hit 18 in the stomach and face.
Vail glanced over at Trunks (who was still down): "It seems like you've been granted a little longer to live. Now watch as I kill her right in front of you."
Trunks: "18…" (He whispered while he was struggling to get up, but it seemed no use.)
Vail smiled, let go of 18 and spun and then kicked her in the air. Before she landed she received two more kicks. Trunks was on his knees and slowly began to get to his feet. Vail noticed and was quickly in front of him and gave him several hits till he was down on the ground again.
Lord Vail: "I never said it was okay for you to move."
A blast of energy suddenly hit Vail from behind. He turned around and glared angrily at 18. He appeared in front of her and hit her to the ground. He stood over her and stomped down on her stomach. 18 cried out as a crater formed beneath her. He did it again, making the crater bigger; then a third and a fourth time.
Lord Vail: "You got to be a real idiot, you know that. (Stomp) It's plainly obvious that you don't stand a chance against me. (stomp) While I was distracted with that lousy Saiyan you could have made your escape. (Stomp) You're an android, you could have left the planet and found some other place to live. (stomp) I can't sense your energy; I never would have found you. (Stomp) But instead you decided to stay and try to help that pathetic Saiyan. (He stomped down one last time. 18 had stopped moving at this point.) You know it's such a waste, but I shouldn't be surprised you've been contact with a Saiyan after all. Don't worry though. (He raised his hand ready to kill her once and for all.) I'll put you out of your misery."
Trunks: "Get away from her!"
Vail looked over at Trunks, who was on his feet again, seething with furry.
Lord Vail: "Well, well, look at this, you're still able to stand on your feet after all that. (He then looked down at 18.) Now be a good boy and just stay right there while I deal with this piece of scrap metal and then you will have my full attention."
Trunks: "I said get away from her. (He said as he transformed into a Super Saiyan 3 again.) You will not touch her again."
Lord Vail still kept his attention on 18: "Like I said, I'll deal with you once I finish her. I'm tired of her interfering. (He raised his hand to blast.) Say goodbye!"
Trunks moved so fast that Vail didn't even sense him. He grabbed Vail's raised hand and pulled it back. Vail cried out in pain, unable to believe how quickly the Saiyan had moved.
Lord Vail: "What how did you…?
Trunks hissed pulling his arm back further: "I said you will not touch her again."
He caused Vail to turn around. His grip tighten further. Vail tried desperately to pull his hand free.
Lord Vail: "Unhand me!"
Trunks: "What's wrong? Can't break the grip of a lousy Saiyan?"
Vail liquefied his arm and pulled it away. Trunks slowly lowered his hand; his expression unchanging.
Trunks: "Apparently not. You have to resort to cheep tricks."
Vail threw a punch, but Trunks dodged and appeared behind him. When he turned around Trunks hit him. Trunks hit him again and this time he went flying to the sky. Trunks locked both of his hands unleashing a lot of energy into a blast. It blasted Vail away without a trace left. Trunks breathed a sigh of relief as he powered down and looked around. There had been quite a bit of destruction, but it could have been a lot worse considering what had happened. Best of all no innocent people had died this time.
Trunk: 18!
Trunks took off and flew to where she was last. He had no idea if she was still alive, sense he was unable to sense her power lever in the first place, so he was worried. He came across her, still lying in the crater. Landing by her side a wave of relief swept over him as he noticed her breathing steady. Gently, he picked her up, holding her carefully in his arms. Her eyelids twitched a few times before she slowly opened her eyes. She stared at him a moment, seemingly confused, then her eyes brightened with recognition.
18: "Hey." (She said with a smile.)
Trunks returned the smile: "Hey, yourself."
18: "I don't sense Vail anywhere. Did you do it?"
Trunks: "Yes it's all over. Vail's gone."
Trunks could feel 18 relax in his arms when he said this.
18: "It's about time." (she lightly said as she passed out in his arms.)
Trunks: "Don't worry 18, Dende can heal you." (He then flew towards the lookout.)