A/N: Thank you everyone for all the faves, follows and reviews :)

Dust billowed and curled, slowly fading with the wind and all that was left was the result of the Androids' devastation, a harsh reminder of their past reign of terror. A sinister smile came to 17's face, marring his handsome looks, as he gazed upon Trunks' final resting place.

"We did it," he said, softly at first, then he looked at his sister and he was overcome with giddiness. "We actually did it, 18! We finally killed him! Who can stop us now? No-one!"

18 hummed, not really paying attention to her brother, her eyes focused on the rubble that Trunks was buried under. She remembered when they thought they had killed him once before, only for the half-Saiyan to return some time later. In fact, it had been quite a recurring theme, even when Gohan was alive and just because they had overwhelmed Trunks this time didn't mean he was dead. She ignited an energy ball and tossed it at the rubble. The sky lit up brighter than ever once more and when it returned to normal, 17 huffed and glared at his sister.

"Was that really necessary, 18? He's dead. There's no way he could've survived that."

"True, but punks like him are like rats. They always find a way out. I'm just making sure to cover ourselves; don't want to make a mistake like last time."

17 shrugged his shoulders carelessly. "I suppose. Come on, we should celebrate. The world is ours for the taking."

"That won't be necessary," came someone's voice and 18 froze at the familiarity of it. She quickly put on her cold mask and turned to face him. Tall and pale, red hair branching out past his pointed ears, blue decorative and ornate robes and a wickedly sinister staff in his right hand. Power crackled from his very presence and 18 felt like a worthless worm just from being near him right now.

"Demigra," she spoke as a breathless whisper.

"Who are you?" 17 snapped flippantly, annoyed that someone was delaying his celebration.

"This is Demigra," 18 told him. "He is the very reason why we're alive right now."

"Oh…thanks…I guess. So what do you want?"

"Well first, I want to thank you for taking care of the Saiyan problem for me," Demigra smiled. "Excellent job, by the way. Now, comes the next part."

"What next part?" 17 questioned. "As far as I'm concerned, you helped us and we helped you, so we're already square. There is no next part."

"17," 18 hissed, trying to get him to stop. She had witnessed Demigra's power when he easily tore her brother from Cell and revived them. She didn't want to piss Demigra off and get returned to Hell as a result. She had no doubt he was capable of doing that. At the same time, however, she was not interested in serving someone, or anyone for that matter, but she was willing if it meant she got to stay alive and right now, that was all that was important to her.

"No, I helped you when I gave you life. Killing Trunks was just a bonus," Demigra said, calm and patient. "Now, you help me in return. Simple, no?"

"I stand by my claim."

Before 18 could hit her brother and tell him to knock it off, the orb on Demigra's staff glowed and she felt a surge of immense power from the back of her mind, the very same surge that compelled to restart her slaughter. She fought hard against it, trying to regain control and take back her individuality, but the power of Demigra's magic was too strong and she felt herself slipping and giving in to him.

"A little resistant, but no matter," Demigra commented. "You belong to me now and I will let you go when I believe you deserve it. Now come, we have much to do."

With no choice but to obey his words, the twins flew after their master.

-X-

Bulma was wringing her hands nervously as she wore out a pattern in the floor. Videl watched her from the doorway, her own feelings of anxiety matched by the genius. Pan was asleep on a nearby couch, worn out from her trip into space, and with a heavy sigh, Videl called out. "You want some tea?"

Bulma finally stopped her pacing, her face wrecked with uneasiness and her body tense. "It's been hours. They should have been back by now. Something's wrong, I know it is."

"We don't know that for sure," Videl said, although she agreed with the older woman. "Tea?"

The heiress sighed, low and weary and Videl's heart went out to her. "Yes, please."

As Videl busied herself in the kitchen, trying to keep her worried mind off the unknown, Bulma decided to check on 16. She had done the repairs he needed and put him through for a final check, but that was when she realised how much time had passed since Trunks and Ocarin left to face the Androids and when the pair hadn't returned, she grew worried. Now, she needed to keep her mind occupied and pray that her son was still alive.

"Hey, 16, how are we?" Bulma asked with false cheeriness, going to the computer for the analysis.

"I have been better," 16 said as he sat up and Bulma hummed as she looked over the results.

"Well, the good news you are back to better now," she said and if there was a slight tremble to her voice, the Android thankfully didn't notice it.

"Have Trunks and Ocarin returned?" 16 asked.

Never mind.

"Uh…no, they haven't," Bulma replied, refusing to look at him.

"It has been hours. They should have returned…perhaps the twins are stronger now," 16 mused. "I need to go and find out what has happened."

"I don't like the idea of you going out there by yourself," Bulma said. "What if…the Androids are waiting?"

"What if Trunks and Ocarin have survived, but need help getting home?"

"Hm, point. But please, 16, be cautious. Who knows what's happened."

Videl's scream and the shattering of china suddenly pierced the air and 16 launched off the table, immediately flying upstairs with Bulma following him as best as she could for a human and when she reached the living quarters, she instantly saw the cause for Videl's distress and her hands flew to her mouth to stop her own scream from leaving her.

"Trunks?" Bulma cried.

Ocarin stood in the doorway, his body slowly healing from the wounds inflicted on him by 17. However, Trunks hung off the Namekian like a limp puppet, unconscious and bloodied, bruises and burns marring his body, his nose clearly broken and there was an ugly discolouring on his ribs, no doubt possibly due to broken bones. His jaw hung limp, signs of it being crushed visible around his mouth. It was like he had been put through a meat grinder and then smashed by a violent tenderizer. The Namekian huffed and laid Trunks on the vacant couch, since Pan had woken up scared due to her mother's scream and was now staring at her mentor with wide, horror-stricken eyes.

"Kami, what happened?" Bulma wailed as she rushed to her son's side, desperately checking for a pulse and Videl disappeared to get rags and hopefully find some senzu beans.

"Whatever they are, the 'Androids', they are powerful," Ocarin explained, his breathing wheezing and laboured due to his own set of broken bones. "I fought one of them and I was easily defeated. I fear to say that against them both, Trunks did not stand a chance."

The half-Saiyan was a complete mess and if she hadn't heard him struggling to breathe, Bulma would've thought her son was dead. He looked worse than the last time he was smashed by the Androids and she worried if he would recover from his injuries.

"How could they have come back?" Bulma said, more so to herself than anyone else. "Why are they back? How are they stronger than my boy? Did we not suffer enough the first time around? Why must we suffer again?"

Videl returned and Bulma gladly accepted the items and set about cleaning her son.

"Tell me more about them," Ocarin said. "I couldn't sense their energy, yet their strength was immense. They make Cooler look like an insect compared to them."

"Well, if you must know," Videl said, her mind filled with the horrors of her past and she started the story about the Androids.

-X-

The waves rolled against the bottom of the cliffs, appearing calm and serene. 18 stared at the water, her mind a complete opposite to the scenery below her; conflict and obedience fought each other for dominance. The magic had lifted slightly enough for 18 to regain some form of self-awareness and although she tried to fight against the mental slavery, she knew it was futile. Demigra's might was too much for her and it reminded her so much of Gero, of how he would compel her to sleep dreamlessly whenever she displeased him. She hated to be under someone else's control, hated it with every fibre of her being. It was the reason why her brother had killed Gero the first chance he got: the twins were too independent to allow someone else have free reign over them. And now, in her desperation to escape Hell and get her revenge, 18 had allowed another person to enslave her and 17 again, forced to carry out their bidding against her will.

Kami, she hated it. She enjoyed her free will and independency far too much to be under someone's control and yet there was nothing she could do about it. Powerful as she was now, she was just a weakling compared to Demigra's power. She was usually the rational one in comparison to 17 and yet, she didn't think it through when she agreed to Demigra's suggestion, too consumed with vengeance, too consumed with fear and as a result, she'd been too reckless in her decision.

Was it worth it?

Yes, she had gotten her vengeance against Trunks, but at what cost? In hindsight, she was stuck between a rock and a hard place. She knew it would have been only a matter of time before Cell found her and if it hadn't been for Demigra's interference, she would be a part of Cell right now, virtually gone from existence once she had become a part of that vile creature. But now that she was alive once more and her vengeance sated, she'd been forced into servitude to Demigra and despite her awe of his power, she wanted no part of it. She didn't want to be forced into blind obedience for him. She'd been a slave once before and she swore to herself that she would die before she ever became someone else's slave. And yet, here she was, just a puppet for another master.

Kami, she hated it.

What were they even doing here?

"What are we doing here?" 18 asked. At least she could speak her own mind, so there was that.

"Don't you see it?" Demigra asked, pointing at the sky with his staff. "Focus your mind at where I'm pointing. You'll see it soon enough."

18 followed his direction, wishing she could focus with her mind. The magic receded a touch more and the focus came to her and she found it: a tiny sliver of a crack in the sky that brimmed with the same magic that filled Demigra's being.

"That leads to the Crack in Time where I am imprisoned," Demigra explained. "It is a tiny thing, unnoticed by the human eye."

"If you're imprisoned in there, how come you're here?" 17 questioned.

"My boy, this is only an illusion. A solid, powerful illusion, but an illusion no less," Demigra replied. "For me to access my full power, I will need to be freed from the Crack. That is where you two come in. You are both endless energy and I believe with enough energy, fuelled by a touch of my own power, should be enough to breech the Crack and set me free."

"Full power?" 18 thought in alarm. "This isn't his full power now? He's even more powerful? No, I can't be a part of this. No, I refuse. Don't make me!"

Demigra's eyes narrowed at 18 and he raised his staff. "Don't worry, my dear Lazuli. There is no need for your concern. I do reward my faithful followers, even if I must make them more…compliant at times."

The magic surged again and 18 fought for control, but she lost herself once more. With the twins under his full control again, Demigra directed them towards the Crack and the Androids raised their hands. Energy flowed from their body, feeding into the Crack and Demigra smiled in satisfaction as he felt the Crack start to widen under their power.

It would be time soon.