AN: Thank you everyone. This chapter was a little hard to write. I hope it worked out.

She didn't want to die, but she knew she did not stand a chance against Trunks. Not with how easily he had obliterated her brother. And now his sights were set on her and she didn't know what to do. She felt paralysed, unable to move, unable to do anything as Trunks raised his hand at her. She didn't know how to make him stop and while there was one way, she was reluctant to try it. It went against her entire nature, but right now, with her staring death in the face, she had no choice but to try.

"Please," 18 started to beg. "Don't kill me."

"Are…are you begging?" Trunks said incredulously, his instincts screaming to destroy her. "How many people have begged for their lives and you killed them anyway? How many people asked for mercy and you laughed as you slaughtered them? After all the lives you have taken, all the destruction you have caused, what makes you think you deserve mercy?"

"I don't want to die," 18 said, hating herself for begging, hating herself for the fact she could feel tears at the edges of her eyes, hating that realisation made her feel human, hating that she was weak, hating –

"You got a taste of your own death and funnily enough, you didn't like it," Trunks sneered. "You deserved your death. You deserve to suffer in Hell, suffering for all your sins. One would think you'd learn your lesson, but you couldn't help yourself when you came back to life. So I guess you really do want to die if you wanted to go back to Hell so soon."

"I hate you!" 18 shouted, her fear briefly replaced by fury. "I wanted to kill you! Just you. Demigra made me kill the humans. That was not my fault!"

"Like it's not in your nature to kill. Like you haven't spent my entire life killing people, including the ones I care about?" Trunks said sarcastically. "No matter what, you can't help yourself. All the more reason to destroy you."

"Trunks!"

Both 18 and the Saiyan in question stopped and turned towards the voice. 16 stood there, fully intact as if 17 hadn't blown him to smithereens. Both were shocked, unable to believe what they were seeing and suddenly Trunks raised his hand at 16.

"It's a trick," he growled.

"It is not," 16 replied calmly, like Trunks wasn't charging an energy blast. "I took the Gete Star's chip while we were fleeing and I installed it within myself after your mother repaired me. It is the reason why I am standing here before you once more."

"Fine. Did you have something to say?"

"I need you to calm down. You are putting out a large amount of power at an alarming rate and it is affecting you negatively."

"I can't. It's the only way to destroy her for good. I can't let go of this power yet, not until she's dead," Trunks said, returning his aim to 18. "I need to destroy her, 16. I have to destroy her. I can't let her live any longer."

"She could be an asset to us," 16 tried to reason.

"Her brother destroyed you. Why are you trying so hard to spare her?" Trunks demanded. "You know of the destruction she caused. The lives she gleefully destroyed. She has no remorse!"

"Once upon a time, neither did your father," 16 said and Trunks stared at him in shock. "Your mother told me about him. He was not very much different from the Androids."

"Don't bring my father into this. He was a good man. He repented. This machine never will."

"You have already killed her once. Would killing her again not be redundant?"

"You can't be serious, 16. She can't be trusted!"

"If I promise not to kill any more people, will you promise not to kill me?" 18 tried to reason. It went against her better nature, but she could recognise that there had to be a compromise. There was no way she was dying again and spending eternity as a part of Cell. She hated that she was basically pleading for her life, hated how weak it made her in the face of her opponent. She didn't regret killing and would gladly do it again if she could, but her experience in Hell had been enough for her to try and bargain with her hated enemy if it meant saving herself. He was the lesser of two evils.

"I wouldn't trust you even if my life depended on it," Trunks sneered.

"I never said you had to. I will stand by my promise, just…please, don't send me back."

"It's what you deserve. Nothing less."

"Trunks. I will watch over her. If she steps out of line, then you can destroy her," 16 said. "Has there not been enough death and destruction for one day? If your father can redeem himself, can't 18?"

Trunks sucked in a breath. He wanted to kill 18 so bad, destroy her for good this time, but 16 did have a point: she was a powerful warrior and could prove useful if she wanted to be. He thought of the 18 in the past, who had not entirely been evil. He'd even fought to protect her at one point and last he knew, she was still alive and hadn't caused any problems. Could there be a chance for this 18 to become like her past self? And while Vegeta had switched sides in the end, he had been a space-faring mass murderer before that, with a kill sheet longer than the Androids'; if his father could change his ways, could 18 do the same?

He didn't want to give her that chance, he didn't want to, Kami he hated her and wanted her dead, she didn't deserve to live…he thought about Gohan. Even though his mentor hated the Androids for what they'd done, if they had given up their evil ways and repented, Gohan would've let them. He'd said so as much one day, many years ago. Trunks wasn't like his mentor, but if Gohan was here today, he would've probably agreed with 16 and give 18 another chance. But he wasn't, because of her. Kami he hated her. He didn't want to let her live. He thought of his mother, his rock, his safe place. She loved his father, regardless of his past. Could she find it in herself to forgive the Android? It was possible; Bulma had a huge heart and although it was greatly scarred by Vegeta's death and the horrors of the past, Trunks had no doubt that his mother would give 18 a chance if the Android truly wanted to change. But could the Android even be redeemed? He didn't want to know and yet…

Trunks shuddered and collapsed his power. The aura vanished and his hair dropped down into lavender locks and in doing so, the anger and rage that had been driving him evaporated. He looked at 16. "Fine. But this is a bad idea and I don't agree with it at all. She's under your watch. If she kills anyone, it's on you, 16."

"I accept the consequences," 16 said, as Trunks floated over to Pan's side, gently shaking her awake.

"Did we win?" Pan asked once she was conscious enough.

"Yeah, I'd say we did," Trunks smiled fondly, although he shot a glare at 18. "There are some things we need to discuss."

"Huh?" Pan questioned, then peeked around her mentor and saw the Android. "Oh."

"Go and take care of Ocarin and then we'll head home."

"Right."

As Pan flew to the Namekian's side, Trunks made his way back over to the Androids, glaring at 18 in particular. "This is how it's going to work, Android. You don't kill anyone, you do what we say, you toe the line and you get to live. If you even look at someone wrong, I'll kill you. Got it?"

18 nearly bit off an instinctive sarcastic retort, but she managed to reign it in. "Yes, I do." She was not going to do anything to antagonise him, not when he had just spared her life. Regardless, she still hated him and the first chance she got; she was going to kill him. She just had to bide her time.

"Ocarin, are you okay?" Trunks called to the wakening Namekian.

"I've had worse," Ocarin growled and he saw 18. "Why isn't she dead?"

"For some reason, we're letting her live," the half-Saiyan replied. "Are you right to fly?"

"Yes."

"Let's go then," Trunks said and he scowled at 18. "Move, Android."

She tilted her head and slowly took to the sky. Ocarin moved in front of her, 16 to her right, while Trunks and Pan took up the rear. It felt strange to be flying amongst those she would have happily killed and with the exception of Trunks, she probably could. But that was how it was now, until she got her chance, she had to play nice with her loathed enemy. It felt wrong to even be flying with him, but she supposed she should be grateful he didn't kill her. She would rather be alive than spend eternity within Cell and while her brother was undoubtedly a part of that vile creature again, compromises had to be made. In time, she was going to make Trunks regret his decision when she finally got her revenge. Without 17, it was going to take longer than she hoped, but she was patient. After all, she took thirteen years to finally kill Gohan; she could wait however long it took to kill Trunks. Revenge was a dish best served cold.

Capsule Corporation loomed ahead and 18 realised the deeper implications of this 'truce': she would be sharing space with her adversary. No doubt her home in Gero's lab had been destroyed and it wasn't like she really had anywhere else to go (she did, but she had a feeling that Trunks wouldn't let her out of his sight). While the thought did temporarily freak her out, 18 realised she could use this to her advantage. She'd never been a long-term planner, usually doing things spontaneously, but this was something she had to undertake in order to gain her freedom.

They touched down on the lawn and 18 took a moment to admire how green and beautiful it looked (she quickly erased that thought, putting it down to comparing the green with the ugliness of Hell) and she looked up to see a middle-aged (looked great for her age though) blue-haired woman approach the group.

"I'm glad to see you guys survive," Bulma smiled as Trunks moved to her and hugged her. "Obviously the Androids have been destroyed."

"Actually, Mom," Trunks started and 18 raised an eyebrow. This meek human was his mother? Interesting. "We have something to tell you."

Ocarin stepped aside to reveal 18 and Bulma gasped in horror. Immediately, she turned to her son. "What the hell are you thinking, Trunks? Why is she still alive? Did she hit you so hard in the head you forgot what she's done?"

"If only I could be so lucky," 18 thought.

"That would be my fault," 16 said calmly. "I expressed a desire to keep 18 alive in hope she could be rehabilitated and become an asset in the future."

"Ha, keep dreaming, big fella. I knew there was a reason 17 and I kept you locked up."

"Did I accidentally cross a few of your circuits?" Bulma questioned the giant Android. "I should take a look at you. What would make you think she could be rehabilitated?"

"Your stories of Vegeta."

Bulma sighed and looked at her son. "Are you strong enough to destroy her should things go wrong?"

"Of course," Trunks confidentially replied.

"Very well. She is your responsibility, but I am not having her in my house. Got it, Android," she said to 18. "You're not welcome here and you best be on your good behaviour unless you want my son to destroy you. Are we clear?"

"Of course," 18 said. She had found Trunks' weakness and she couldn't wait to exploit it.

"Come on, Pan, your mother is waiting for you. And you, 16, better march yourself into the lab for a check-up now."

"Yes ma'am," 16 cheerfully responded.

"So, what do we do with her?" Ocarin asked Trunks with a nod towards 18.

"Well, I'm tired and I would not say no to some rest," Trunks said, as the Android crossed her arms and turned away from the pair, intent on ignoring them. "Android, follow me."

She cocked an eyebrow in annoyance at the command, but reminded herself that she couldn't do anything until the right time and with a reluctamt sigh, she followed Trunks to the back of the compound where the gravity training pod resided. He opened the door and motioned for her to go inside and she did so with an eyeroll.

"What is this contraption?" 18 asked.

"Your new home," Trunks replied. "I hope you enjoy it."

He shut the door and activated the gravity and 18 was slammed to the ground by the immense pressure. She struggled to move, but her limbs refused to co-operate and as it constantly pushed down upon her, her vision started to go dark until the intense gravity forced her unconscious.