Well guys and girls, sorry for the wait. I hope you didn't lose too much patience. This chapter took a bit longer than I thought. I know there isn't a lot of action this time, but sometimes I got to slow down the pace a little bit. I know there's a lot of talking between Trunks and Gohan, so I tried my best not to drag it out too long. Thanks again for the support. I tried all that I could to not repeat the same words over and over... one of my biggest issues as a writer. So far, I plan to keep writing. I really like where this story is going, and it's not too late for you guys to send me your input! Please keep the comments going. Tell your friends too. I need all the support I can get. Feel free to leave reviews, whether it's positive or negative I don't mind. I'm always open to listen to constructive criticism. Anything to improve my writing! :)

DM777

Dragon Ball Z: Timeline Zero

Chapter 4: The Ceasefire

Three years later…

Finally turning twenty years old, Gohan decided it was best not to give his birthday much thought, since the next three years involved him and the young Trunks undergoing extreme training. Determined to achieve a new plateau of strength, they spent up to Twenty hours day battling it out sometimes. Not only did they reach new levels in power, but they formed a bond closer than two brothers. As a kid, Gohan never had someone who looked to him the way Trunks did. As they battled, hoping to never cross paths with the two other menaces, they pursued their goal they longed for: To become powerful enough to defeat the androids. While Gohan learned to control his super saiyan transformation, he had to go through the long, grueling process of passing the torch to his student. It was the only way they could stand against them. After the intense confrontation with Android Eighteen three years ago, the son of the legend knew that he had to push his power even further than before. As for the angry blonde cyborg, she pushed her personal grudge against Seventeen aside, regrouping with him soon as she could. As the young heroes prepared for their next fight, the enemy hid deep within the shadows, who waited patiently for the next opportunity to strike. It seemed that an unofficial ceasefire went into effect, but that left the survivors a chance to rebuild their ruins.

A few months have passed after Gohan turned twenty, and the day was still young. The heroic duo spent another bout of fighting near Gohan's home. During their training, they clashed into the skies again. At first, the son of Vegeta struggled to keep up with his mentor in fighting, but like all of those who carry the saiyan blood, it only drove Trunk's fighting spirit to be become ever stronger. The cocky prince's blood surged through his veins. Throwing blows nonstop, they plowed up high until they couldn't keep themselves afloat. Up above, they exchanged their endless amounts of super punches and kicks with incredible impact. Sonic Booms overtook the country lands. After duking it out for about an hour, they landed in the open valley, taking a moment to rest since they panted like two wild dogs in the heat.

"Wow, you just keep getting tougher every day Trunks." He uttered, worn out from another long day of work. "At this rate, you'll be stronger than I am." As he huffed out, he took a sigh, brushing that dirty sweat away from his forehead. Still bearing his father's clothing, Gohan carried on his legacy, while Trunks wore a muddy white tee, and faded blue jeans with quite a few small holes. The kid also kept his light violet hair clean cut, so it wouldn't get in the way during their practicing.

"But I'm still nowhere near as strong as you are." Young Trunks sat down for a moment, feeling like his body weighed a hundred tons. "I try so hard, but I don't think I'll ever keep up with you, especially when you're a super saiyan."

"Hey, don't be so hard on yourself, Trunks." The firmly built Gohan approached him, putting his palm on Trunk's head, almost like a father, son moment for them. He looked down at the kid, showing a childlike grin that always brought out the spirit of Goku every time an old friend saw him. "You're a lot stronger than you think. Plus you'd be tougher than I am if I was your age." 'If I had that kind of strength when I was ten, then maybe everyone would have survived.' Despite all the years gone by, regret was the lone hero's biggest burden. While he did his best to hide that side of him from everyone, he would have done anything to save Goku and his friends whom have perished. Each day that he spent living, he knew that he carried the weight of the world. The fate of the earth rested in his hands.

Trunks faced back at him, seeing his empty smile that he tried so diligently to cover up all that troubled him. While he asked him numerous times what bothered him, Gohan always insisted that everything was okay. Even though Gohan never admitted it, Trunks knew exactly what bothered him. Once they were rested, the mentor calmly said, "So, how about a break? We don't need to get too worn down for your birthday tomorrow."

Trunks just laughed lightly, "That's true… not that it makes a difference. Heck, I don't have anybody to celebrate it with." He took in a deep sigh.

"I know things are tough kid, but there's nothing wrong with taking a little time to unwind. My dad always said that resting is important as work." Gohan instructed him, keeping a look of contentment.

"Well, if you say so Gohan. I wish I could be as positive as you." Trunks finally stumbled back to his feet.

Ending their warm up for the day, they headed for the memorial site, the same one that Bulma funded and helped create.

"I hate to say it, but I'm not looking forward to tomorrow. Another birthday watching our backs doesn't sound fun." He sounded depressed.

"You shouldn't look at it that way, but I know what you mean. That's how I feel when my birthday comes around too, but mom wants me to celebrate it regardless, so she and I normally spend the day together anyways. I can tell that it makes her feel better when we do." Gohan replied, explaining about how he felt when it came to his day of birth celebration.

"Yeah, it's just another day for me too, but I know it makes my mom happy, so I still try to act like I have fun with it for her sake." Trunks said back to his best friend.

Though they didn't travel far, they descended from the skies and landed at the memorial site. Together, they gazed at the gray, carved stone statues of memory. It's been a while since Gohan went to visit his old friends and family, so he thought that he'd pay his respects again. Gazing into the statue of Goku, his content, innocent look always brought him hope and encouragement no matter how good, bad, or treacherous his day went. 'I know you're watching over me, dad. I've become a super saiyan. I'm trying my best to become strong like you were.' Gohan frowned a little bit; words never described how much he missed him. 'I wish you were still here. You would've known what to do against those fiends, but I'm fighting in your place.' Feeling his father's spirit flow in him, he kept it close to him, but then he looked over to his left, past Vegeta, seeing the statue where Piccolo lied, buried. 'Piccolo, how could I ever forget you? I keep your wisdom close to me. You've given me so much strength, if only I had the power to save you from the androids. I was so young then, but the memories are just a strong.' Gohan always had a lot on his mind, and not only did he battle the machines, he also had a spiritual battle within himself. No matter what, he always stayed strong, especially when he was around Trunks.

After a few moments, the leader snapped out of it, noticing Trunks staring blankly at another carving from rock and concrete, the one where Vegeta got put six feet under. Wearing that saiyan armor, his serious, prideful, yet stern look faced forward into the horizon, showing no fear whatsoever. He was truly the prince of all saiyans. "Gohan, I don't remember my dad at all. My mom always told me stories about him, and she'd never stop talking about him." The son of the prince's indigo eyes looked over to his teacher. "She told me that he was once the prince of the saiyan race, and that he was so prideful and strong."

"He sure was a cocky one. I won't forget that day when he and my dad fought it out a long time ago." The mentor shared an old tale of the epic battle. "He almost destroyed our planet, but my dad barely managed to defeat him, and honestly, Vegeta never got over that. He held a grudge against him for ages. He tried so hard to outdo dad ever since those days." He solemnly kept his eyes on the carving of the arrogant prince. "They were about to settle the score too until…" Gohan paused, remembering the last moments when the pure heart hero fell victim to the mysterious illness, suffering great pain on that deathbed. Burdening him with sorrow, he almost couldn't stand straight, as eyes turned a little puffy. "That heart virus killed my dad…" he said unhappily, still saddened by his loss.

All Trunks could do was look close at him, and that time, he felt the hurt and anger radiating from him. The boy sensedl that Gohan carried a heavy weight on his shoulders, and no matter how hard they tired, or how much they wanted too, there was nothing they could have done to bring his friends and family back. He suffered more heartache than anyone could possibly endure.

"I always trusted him," Gohan continued on, letting go of all his emotions. "It didn't matter how powerful our foes were. Even if the odds were against us. He was never afraid of them, and he always found a way to overcome them. When my dad faced foes that brought him to the brink of death, he always had a smile on his face, like none of it ever bothered him. When he was with me, I knew that everything would be okay. I had nothing to worry about when he was with us." A tear drop fell from his face, where it lightly splashed against a blade of glass below.

"My mom always talked about Goku too. She said the same thing about him. No wonder my dad got so jealous about him." Trunks uttered, as they shared a quick bout of laughter together. "Heck, I'm jealous that you got to know your father… I wish I could have been able to know my dad. Mother also told me that not once did he say he loved me or her. He had almost nothing to do with anyone. All he did was train to become the strongest warrior in the universe." Trunks sighed, kicking the grass below as he looked down.

"Don't get jealous bud, deep down inside, Vegeta loved Bulma, and I can tell you right now, that he'd be proud of you. He'd be amazed at how much of a great fighter you've become." Gohan assured him kindly, looking down at him with the same grin his father always showed.

"You really think so Gohan?" Trunks asked him.

"I know so," he kept his gentle smile, as the boy gazed back at him, feeling assured, but then he read the kind words engraved on Vegeta's tombstone.

"Here rests Vegeta: Proud Prince of the great saiyan race, and a warrior who knew no bounds. The Legend of the Super Saiyan will never die."

"So Gohan, is it true that our dads were super saiyans too?" Trunks glanced back at him, asking his master about the legend.

"They sure were, and let me tell you. Their power was unfathomable. Seeing them transform was like watching a living inferno, and they were the only ones who had complete control over it. Nobody could touch them." Gohan said. "It took me awhile to master it, but now I can transform at will." Then he focused his attention to Piccolo's grave, written below his sculpture uttered the following words,

"Here Piccolo rests: A great warrior, teacher, and true friend. To those who knew him well, they shall never forget him. Also from a world far away, once consumed by evil, but the love of a child changed his heart forever. He was a namekian that his ancestors would have been proud of."

After reading it, Gohan's pondering got interrupted by his pupil in training. He knew that he had a lot of work to do with him. As Goku and Piccolo shared their knowledge with him, he passed it down to Trunks.

"So, those androids… are they really that strong?" the kid asked, showing more curiosity about them.

"They're more powerful than you can imagine. They showed no remorse for anybody, and none of us could stop them. Not even Vegeta or Piccolo, and they were the strongest out of all of us. I barely managed to escape after blacking out in rage. I was only able to hold them off long enough to make my getaway." Gohan deeply recalled the first great fall at that island southwest of South City. By the time they showed up, the island was already in ruins. Death and ash covered all that remained of the island. He never forgot about his teacher, protector and friend who fell so quickly to his knees.

"Gohan! Run, they're too strong! Nooooooo!" was Piccolo's last words before the dark haired, tan skinned cyborg carried out his death sentence. Then he recalled Vegeta's death, along with Krillin and the others. In a matter of moments, the most powerful fighters in the world died horrific deaths in battle. He narrowly escaped, vowing to avenge them, and return honor and peace to the earth. Those few minutes of horror felt like an eternity to him, replaying in his head countless times, and each time he thought about it only made him want to erupt like a vicious volcano.

"We needed dad. If he was there, he would have known what to do, and to this day, I believe that we could have destroyed them. I've seen the look in their eyes, Trunks. They're so lifeless and cold. I heard that they were originally humans." Gohan explained.

"Mom must have told you that, cuz she told me the same thing." Trunks exclaimed.

"It was her and a few other people who told me. According to them, Dr. Gero performed all kinds of crazy experiments on those two, but they were only rumors though, and regardless of what they went through, that doesn't justify what they're doing either." Gohan gripped his hand tightly, forming into a fist, almost wanting to let go.

"Hey Gohan, take it easy! We'll beat those guys! I know we will." Trunks gave his teacher some hope, easing his nerves for a little while at least.

"You're right, Trunks, we will. You can count on that." His lips formed a smirk, feeling the scar, the battle wound that always reminded him of his battle with Android Eighteen three years before.

"So teacher, do you plan to take on the androids again?" Trunks just had to ask him, despite already knowing that answer.

"I fought one of them a few years back. I thought I had what it took, but I couldn't beat one of them, so I can only imagine how tough it'd be facing two of them head on. After I transformed into a super saiyan, I overpowered her for a moment, but I know she survived that night." Gohan grimly said to him.

"Well, you'll keep showing me how to become a super saiyan too right?" the determined boy asked.

"You will in time, don't worry. I'll help you bring that out. I know you can do it!" he replied cheerfully. "When I was fighting android Eighteen, I was about to get killed, but there was a point in which I felt all of my anger and sorrow just slip away. It turned into my energy. At that moment I didn't care if she killed me, or what my fate could have been. I saw my aura shine like the sun, and I had the power within me. It was incredible." Rambling on with his story, Trunks stood and listened carefully. "I almost had her, but I know they're still around, waiting for an opportunity to attack again."

"Man, that's just intense. I really want to become one now. If you can do it, then I know I can! I just wish I knew how too." Trunks said discouragingly.

"I'm afraid that it's not easy, but I'll tell you what my dad told me. In order to transform, it comes in response to a need, not a desire. Powering up all the time won't do it, but it can be done under a desperate situation. When Freeza killed krillin, it drove my dad mad, and he completely lost control of himself, thus driving him to change. It's the pain of losing everything, when you're on the edge of defeat with nowhere else to run; that's when your power will come to surface." Gohan continued his explanation to Trunks, as he remained close, keeping his ears open to what he had to say. Normally the average kid had no attention span, and would have grown bored of all the talk, but all it did was draw his interest even more.

"So that almost makes it impossible for me to achieve it then… this stinks!" Trunks groaned.

"Hey, don't stress it kid, you'll figure it out! If I can do it, so can you. Til then, we'll keep training and I'll help you bring it out, but until then, we need to get ready for your birthday tomorrow. So how about we crash at my place tonight?" He said light heartedly.

"Yeah, that sounds good, but… I want to know something Gohan." he said, as the orange sunlight aimed towards the west.

"What's up Trunks?" the master wondered what was on the kid's mind.

"Where do you think the androids have run off too now?" he asked.

"Good question, they haven't attacked a city that I know of since I fought one of them three years ago, but I know they're plotting something, and we must be ready for them." After he stated this,

"Right!" uttered out of the determined kid, and they took off into the skies where they rested for the big day tomorrow.

The next day…

It was a special day indeed, as Trunks celebrated his eleventh birthday. Since West City lost most of its inhabitants, company became very uncommon in the capsule house, and only Bulma, Trunks, and Gohan spent the day together. After devouring a delicious chocolate double fudged cake with eleven shining candles, the genius and great chef tried her best to cook enough rice, meat, veggies, and other assortments of meals for the two starving powerhouses. Not to mention again, the yummy cake that got chomped down in a matter of seconds.

So while they anticipated a refueling experience of the greatest lunch on earth, the lonely widow, Chi Chi was about to receive some unexpected guests of her own. "KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!" rattled through the small house in the deep open country. It was bad timing since she was preoccupied trying to knock out all of the dishwashing before she called it a day.

"Who on earth would be here? It better not be those guys trying to sell that super expensive vacuum cleaner again! I've already said "NO" five times in two weeks!" she loudmouthed angrily in the way that not even Goku could handle it. As she stumbled to the front door, dropping two glasses and a thick, white glass plate that shattered all over the hard wood floor before she finally opened it slowly.

To her surprise, a young man with dark hair, wearing a black shirt with an orange scarf around his neck, along with blue jeans and a pair of sneakers mixed with black and green. He obviously wanted to look hip with the kids, especially with that cute blonde standing next to him. She kept it plain with a white long sleeve shirt tucked in her skin tight blue jeans that proudly showed off her figure. Any man would have drooled for her, but unfortunately, Chi Chi was the only person there to answer the door, and the guests were no ordinary people. Their cold, azure eyes, golden ear rings, and the mark of the Red Ribbon beast on their chests gave that away. So as soon as the widow of Goku recognized them, fear consumed her, immediately.

"Oh no… it's you." She slowly stuttered in terror as her face turn pale as the dead.

"Hi, can Gohan come out to play, we're bored." Android Seventeen said in a friendly, but creepy tone.

It seemed that the twins of doom have come out of their hiding, and they're searching for none other than Gohan. It didn't take long for her to realize who they were. Remembering their appearances from the news stations, terror consumed her soul, and with no one there to protect her, she was at their mercy.

Meanwhile, back at the capsule house, Gohan and Trunks were too wrapped up in consuming a month's worth of food in one sitting. They stayed in the remnants of the giant yellow dome that once stood for the multibillion Zeni Empire. Sitting in the dining room, surrounded by generic silver walls to the ceiling, they devoured bowls after bowls full of white rice covered with all kinds of spices and other assortments. They paid no attention to the large, cracked bay window to their right, showing the apocalyptic scenery of the once thriving metropolis of West City. For the longest time, the third largest city in the world took pride in having over ten million residents, but after the android invasion, only about sixty thousand people remained there. Everyone else suffered death, or fled to underground colonies where the local militias took over in the operation after the military and governments disbanded. For the citizens, it was every man, woman, and child for themselves, but that was another story, for another place, at another time.

By then, Bulma started pushing into her early forty's during her son's birthday, but her appearance generally remained unchanged. While she avoided sharing her age with anyone, she took pride in keeping her youthful figure. Returning to the dining room to add more food for the starving warriors, all she did was shake her head and laugh at them for being a pair of pigs.

"I swear Gohan, every time I see you, you look and act more like your father." She chuckled, taking a seat to the left of the small squared table. After swinging his chopsticks like a wild man against the fried rice mixed with veggies and meat and soy sauce, he simply glanced back at her, with his cheeks inflated like two balloons about to pop.

"Mmph mhpm mmph phuh phuh! GULP! You really think so?" after chomping down his tenth bowl, he asked nervously.

"Yes I do." She couldn't help but laugh at him, in reminiscent of the young, cheerful hero from the distant past. "You're so gentle, but so terrifying and powerful at the same time. He'd be so proud to see how strong you've become, and it looks like you're setting an example for my son. Can't say it's a bad thing." She giggled, snickering at Trunks as she glared at him for cleaning up almost a dozen bowls of dinner, finishing it as the mentor did the same.

"More please!" both guys insisted for more, piling their empty dishes in her arms.

"At this rate, I'll be outta food, geez!" She cautiously strolled back into the kitchen, watching her piled dishes wobble back and forth, hoping not to let them shatter below. When she made it, Bulma went back to work, performing another round of cooking.

However, the content look of Gohan's look changed drastically. Hearing a faint, a feeling of wretchedness hit his gut stronger than any blow, and his spirit became troubled, and it wasn't an upset stomach from eating too much either. Shrieking in horror, the cry that Gohan heard in his soul was obviously familiar to him, no longer having the will to eat anything else, it made Trunks puzzled at his best friend acting so weird.

"Gohan are you okay? You seem so distant all of the sudden." Trunks asked him in concern, but he refused to answer since he felt the life of someone dear to him slipping away,

"Gohan! HEEEELLLLLPPPPPPP!" he heard and felt the agony, and he jerked from the table.

'They're back, and I know that mom is in danger… darn them! How did they find her?' But then he looked sharply at his pupil, ignoring the blue haired one bringing in another bout of goods, but he knew what he had to do next, and quickly. "Trunks, stay here, I'll be back!" Gohan uttered, showing his serious side. I have this feeling they're back and out to get Chi Chi this time. She's in danger, I can feel it!" he quickly dashed for the front door.

"Be careful Gohan, don't get yourself killed." The sapphire haired widow said in worry, as she followed him outside, and she wasn't the only one going out there either.

"I'm going with you Gohan! You'll need my help!" He insisted on going with him.

But at the same time, the stressed fighter and the concerned mother at the same time screamed out, "No Trunks!"

The lone hero's face grimaced. "If it's the androids, then I don't think I could forgive myself if something happened to you." As Gohan powered up in their front yard, he finished with, "I'll be back, don't worry!" and then he took off, blazing through the horizon and beyond.

"Gohan, please come back in once piece. We can't lose you." Bulma took a deep sight, as she lowered her head, but Trunks grew too anxious. He just refused to stand there and wonder what might happen next.

"Mom, I'm going to help him." He uttered quietly.

"Trunks, don't even think about going!" she sternly commanded her son, but he focused his concern on his master.

"Sorry mom, but I can't leave Gohan… I gotta be there for him. He'll need my help if it's them." And without giving a second thought, he leaped into the sky, following Gohan's trail, and leaving behind a rough gust of wind.

"Trunks, come back!" she shouted out, but it was too late. He had already left. "Ugh! He's so stubborn, just like his dad." She sighed so deeply, falling to her knees in despair. 'Oh Vegeta… if you're up there, please watch over our son.'

Moments later, Gohan made it to his side of the world, witnessing exactly what he feared. His home lied crumbled to its foundation, and in desperation, he frantically searched for her in the pile of destruction.

"Mom! Where are you? Are you okay?" he panicked, grabbing and throwing piles of broken wood in all directions. 'I can still sense her… it's weak, hang in there mom!'

After a few minutes of deep digging, he found her, horribly wounded within the ruins. Gently taking her from the destroyed home, he helped her escape the rubble. He looked directly at her, feeling how limp she was. 'Oh no, I'm too late.' "Mom! It's me, wake up! Please." He pleaded for her to live.

Her eyelids slowly opened a little bit, hardly able to stay alive. Seeing her only son holding her close was the only thing that motivated her to hang on by the skin of her teeth. She bled profusely from her gashing wounds. She didn't have much time left. "G… G… Gohan…" she softly muttered, forming a small smile, as her eyes remained half shut. "They… came here… they said… that… they were looking for you."

"Did the androids attack you?" he asked her.

"Yes… they did. They beat me up, and then blasted the house with me in it… they attacked me because I wouldn't tell them where you were… They were… so cold… so lifeless… Cough! COUGH!" she squirmed in his arms a bit, as a trail of blood poured from the left side of her lip, past her chin, scaring her son even further.

"Mother, save your energy! I'm going to get you some help. I'll get Koren to give us some sensu beans, and you'll be fixed in no time! I'll nab some after I get you over to Bulma's!" He tried to stay positive, but he knew her life force was slipping away faster and faster.

"It's too late… for me Gohan…. I won't make it." Her sound was almost a faint whisper. "Just promise me, that you will… live."

"I'll get them for this, I swear." He vowed.

"Gohan… I…" she couldn't finish, breathing her last, and she died being held tightly by her beloved son. He felt her spirit drift away, another burden added to his tormenting conscience. "Mom, don't die on me! Please… come back." The dam that held his feelings together broke once again, and a river of tears flowed out of it while he held her close. 'This isn't fair… first my dad, then Piccolo, and now my mom…. It's all because I wasn't strong enough to stop them. Even as a super saiyan. I should have gone after eighteen when I had the chance, but I blew it! I can't take this anymore! If only I was strong enough… Tell me why… tell me why it must end this way?' The Switch flipped back on, the one that triggered when being pushed too far.

'All this anger, sadness, sorrow and rage; I can't hold it in anymore… I feel it slipping. Mother, forgive me.' In that instant, Gohan's sanity slipped away again, venting his rage for the whole world to feel.

"No more!" he screamed out passionately, as he shined like the sun, turning his hair golden. His eyes shifted from black to emerald. He delved deeply into his super saiyan transformation. It was not how he wanted it to end. His power became so strong that the earth reacted by creating a violent storm around the country side. His mind, consumed by madness wanted to break the androids; the two heartless souls who stole his life, and took everything he loved away over a senseless grudge from a lunatic named Dr. Gero, or was it simply over the artificial humans lust for suffering? Gohan didn't know, nor did he care. He simply wanted them to suffer, just as he suffered over the grueling years.

Not noticing that Trunks arrived, he stayed blind in his radiating rage, and the poor kid, distraught, scared, and amazed at the same time saw Gohan's legendary form. He had seen it before while training, but not in his raw, unrestrained state.

"Gohan… are you still... you?" he asked shyly at his mentor who took a sharp gaze at the startling poor kid.

"Trunks, get Bulma over here so she can make a proper burial for my mom." After giving out his orders, he placed her down, going back to the fallen home where he found a torn and dirty sheet to cover her up.

"Yes, I'll get her… but what are you going to do?" he shook in fear, overwhelmed by his presence.

"I'm going to make them pay for what they did." He angrily declared.

"But won't you need my help?" he insisted on joining him regardless.

"No… I'll finish them off. Just do as I told you and get Bulma, hurry!" the super saiyan commanded him one last time.

"Okay, if you insist… just get em okay?" Trunks said.

The mentor nodded in agreement. "You got it, now go!"

"Right!" Trunks flew into the heavens while Gohan took off into a different direction.

"It's time to end this! Nobody else is going to die… nobody!" He looked ahead, seeing the uprising heat of fire hundreds of miles away. The ruthless machines have resumed their attack on another helpless city. Without hesitation, he pursued them, determined to bring an end to their evil oppression. Did Gohan have the power within to conquer the cold blooded murderers? Find out next time on the next action packed chapter of Dragon Ball Z!