She flew and she flew and she flew, wind whipping her face as she sought to get as far away from Trunks as she could. The landscape below her changed rapidly as she pushed her speed to its limits and the ocean stretched out beneath her and she suddenly faltered and crashed onto a small island, sand billowing into the air from the impact.
Why didn't she kill him? She had her chance, probably the only chance she was ever going to get and she didn't do it. She didn't avenge her brother and she felt nothing but shame and self-disgust that bore down on her with such intensity she couldn't breathe.
Something wet ran down 18's face and at first she thought it was the leftover rain, but as she wiped the liquid away, she realised it was tears. She was crying. She never cried before. Only humans cried, usually when they begged for their lives like the weak worms they were and she was not human. She was not weak and she did not cry!
Her head dizzy with grief and regret, the floodgates opened and she cried for the loss of her brother, cried that she would never see him until she died again. She cried that she failed in avenging not only him, but herself as well. She cried because she was truly alone in the world and she had no-one who could ever understand her like 17 did.
In her misery, hating that she was crying like a weak human, 18 drove her fist into the sand and she wished it was Trunks' skull. She could have killed him, should have killed him, but she was weak and her grief melded with her rage and 18 screamed as she took her frustration out upon the island.
Trees were obliterated when she vented her energy upon them, trying to cope with her feelings. It was a completely new experience for her and coupled with her failure, 18 didn't know how to deal, because feelings were for the weak and pathetic humans and she sighed in frustration and fell to her knees, her emotions conflicting between grief, fury, disappointment and everything else in between.
"What do I do now?" 18 whispered. "What is my place in the world now?"
-X-
Trunks picked up a piece of the shattered gravity pod and sighed. After 18 flew away, he retrieved 16 and Ocarin, the Namekian only just barely alive and he hurried back to Capsule Corp and gave the last senzu bean available to Ocarin. Explaining what happened to his mother had been fun, in that Bulma was so not happy that 18 was on the loose once more and she berated Trunks as Ocarin healed the half-Saiyan's broken arm. He calmed her down with the promise that he would start searching for the Android first thing in the morning.
That was two days ago and there'd been no sign of 18 since then.
He had a restless sleep last night, tossing and turning with 18 permeating his thoughts. He dreamt of her killing his mother and Pan while gleefully laughing and he was unable to stop her. Following another repeat of the same visage, Trunks woke up in a cold sweat, saw that it was nearly five in the morning and decided he would start his search. After breakfast, he'd gotten changed into his usual pants and boots, a long-sleeved T-shirt and an orange and black flight vest and went outside for a quick training session.
"We will find her," 16 said as he approached Trunks from behind and the hybrid sighed as he tossed the broken piece aside.
"Yeah, but I don't know what we'll do if we find her," Trunks said. "By all rights, we should destroy her. She nearly killed Ocarin last night and even if she hadn't done that, after all the things she's done? I don't think we should let her live."
16 was silent for a moment and Trunks thought the conversation was over, until the large Android spoke. "It is possible that she will see the errors of her ways, Trunks. We just have to give her the chance and show her that humans are not all that bad as she believes them to be."
"Why are you trying so hard to defend her? After what happened the other night?"
"You said it yourself: she helped you defeat Broly. If it had not been for her, you would be dead."
"And you're willing to overlook the fact that she nearly killed me in favour of that? Did Mom accidentally cross some of your wires?"
"Perhaps when we find her, we can decide then what to do with her."
"Why is this even a debate?" Trunks turned towards Ocarin and the Namekian crossed his arms, anger on his face. "If I had died the other night, the Dragonballs are useless. No, she is too much of a liability and therefore, she needs to be destroyed. We don't need her."
"Fine, it's settled then," Trunks said. "Sorry, 16, but she had her chance."
He rose into the sky, Ocarin following him and 16 half-heartedly joined them, the trio flying towards West City. As much as 16 cared for the humans who accepted him and made him feel like one of them, in truth, he still had moments of loneliness, given that he was a machine and not a human. He could experience emotions despite his lack of a soul, but he could never be truly human. As such, 16 hoped that if 18 could see the error of her ways, he would have someone who might truly understand him and give him the companionship he craved.
It was a big ask, considering the amount of damage 18 had committed, but 16 was confident there was hope for her. He was willing to forgive and forget and could explain why he felt despair at Trunks and Ocarin's suggestion of destroying 18.
He wasn't sure if these were actual feelings that he had managed to develop or if they were broken pieces of programming that Gero failed in removing and were then expanded upon by Bulma.
Out of sight of the civilians, Trunks dropped down onto the streets of West City and took a moment to soak in the atmosphere. There was no fear, no desperation, no suffering and Trunks couldn't help the pride that swelled to the surface. All the years of fighting for survival, fighting for hope, fighting for a world free of the Androids and all that hard work, grief and suffering had paid off. Earth was virtually free from the perpetual nightmare and it'd come at such a high cost.
If only Gohan were alive to see the world now.
"Why are we here?" Ocarin queried. "We are wasting time dallying here when we should be searching for the Android and putting an end to her."
"I know, Ocarin. I'm just taking a moment to appreciate what's been done here," Trunks replied. "For a long time, I never thought this would ever be possible. I spent all my life running and struggling to survive that a peaceful world seemed like an impossible dream. To see that dream come true…it's not something I can explain easily."
"A dream realised is good and well, however, we have more pressing matters at hand. Perhaps afterwards we can reflect-"
A flash of green, an explosion erupted and a building came crashing down. People ran screaming in terror and Trunks immediately went on alert, thinking that 18 had finally shown herself and he was ready for a fight. He may not have a good night's sleep, but he was confident he was able to handle her. The throng of humans swarmed him and Trunks tried to push through them without hurting them, trying to see where 18 was, as there was another explosion and another building fell.
"Anyone see her?" Trunks asked, as the crowd began to thin out.
"I see…someone," Ocarin said and he floated up to get a better look.
A figure walked out of the flames of the destruction, a ragged cloak obscuring their face, but Trunks could tell straight away from the body shape that it was not 18.
"Who is that?" he wondered. "I have enough problems as it is."
The person raised his hand out to his side and fired a green energy blast that brought a building down in a tower of fire and with his other hand, he tore the cloak from his body and Trunks gasped.
"Broly? But - you're supposed to be dead!"
The pureblood Saiyan was in his base form, but Trunks could feel his power, could feel that it was higher than it was before and a tremble ran through the half-blood's body. He did not want to find out what Broly's power was like in his Legendary Super Saiyan form and yet, Trunks knew he had to do something. Nothing else mattered until Broly had been dealt with.
18 was the least of his problems compared to Broly.
"You," Broly growled, pointing at Trunks. "Your name. Tell me. Now!"
"Trunks," the hybrid replied, trying to strategise a plan.
"Good. Now I know what to carve on your headstone."
"We defeated you before, we can do it again," Ocarin said.
"I don't care about you," Broly sneered and pointed at Trunks again. "I want him. You bugs are not worth my time." He transformed into a Super Saiyan and motioned to Trunks. "Fight. Now. Or more people will die."
Trunks followed suit, transforming into the Ascended Super Saiyan and drew his sword. Golden auras pulsed around the two warriors as they stared each other down and Trunks quickly glanced to make sure the streets were clear of civilians and Broly moved. Trunks shifted into a defensive position, but Broly wasn't aiming for him: he grabbed Ocarin by the jaw and flew into the sky.
He slammed the Namekian into the side of a building and released an Eraser Cannon at point-blank. The building crumbled with Ocarin trapped inside and Broly took a hit from 16's fist. Unfazed, he hurled an Eraser Cannon and the Android barely dodged the blast, but copped a kick to the face instead and went flying through several buildings.
Trunks swung his sword and Broly blocked with his wristband, the former feeling the power of the latter. Broly shoved the blade aside and Trunks slashed at him again and again. The pureblood dodged every swing, smacked the weapon out of Trunks' hands and blasted the hybrid across the sky with a punch to the chest. Trunks winced, noting Broly's increased strength and his concern amplified to the point that he wondered if he actually stood a chance this time.
"You tarnish the Saiyan blood," Broly growled and he turned around to deflect Ocarin's ki blast. "Why won't you stay down? Are you that desperate to die?"
"I refuse to stand aside and allow someone of your evil nature to run unchecked," Ocarin said.
"Evil? Is that what you call culling the weak? You only call it evil because you are weak."
Broly prepared an Eraser Cannon, but Trunks' Masenko rocketed at him and he hurled the energy ball, holding the Masenko at bay. Ocarin gathered his power, opened his mouth and unleashed his Break Cannon, intending to catch Broly and hopefully destroy him in the crossfire.
Broly snarled when the Break Cannon slammed into his back and as Trunks increased the power of his Masenko, Broly roared, his aura flared around him and he broke out of the power struggle. The Masenko and Break Cannon slammed into each other with the Eraser Cannon caught in the middle and the resulting explosion levelled the streets below.
Trunks stared in horror at the destruction and Broly clocked him with a clothesline. Ocarin flew in and Broly grabbed him by the face and drove him headfirst into the ruined street. Trunks hit the Saiyan from behind and pushed him away from Ocarin, but Broly whacked the hybrid aside and spotted 16.
"You. You are not real. You have no energy. What are you?" Broly queried.
"It does not matter what I am," 16 replied. "All that matters is defeating you for good."
Broly smirked and motioned with his hand. The Android flew at him. Broly halted him with a blow to the stomach and followed up with a head-butt. 16 skidded through the ruins of the street and Broly spun around and stopped Trunks' ki blast.
"That's enough, Broly!" Trunks demanded. "Enough toying around. You want a fight? We'll fight."
Broly grinned sadistically. "Show me your power, Trunks. Show me so I can destroy you."
Trunks glared at the pureblood, focusing on his power. He channelled it, brought it to the surface and yelled as his aura exploded around him, bio-electricity sizzling the air as he reached Super Saiyan 2. Strength and power flowed through him and although Trunks kept a stoic gaze, inside, he was completely unsure of how this battle would end.
He just hoped that it would be in his favour.
Broly chuckled, his own aura flaring up and he roared with all his might. The colour of the landscape changed twice as Broly's lean frame gave way to the monstrous form of the Legendary Super Saiyan.
He wasn't done yet, much to Trunks' horror.
The city trembled and the ground quaked beneath Broly's power. A crater opened below up and expanded with the rise of his power and the rubble of the demolished buildings were swept away by the extreme force. Lightning whipped up in frenzy around Broly and his hair become spikier, sharper as they stood up on end and with a final roar, Broly pulverized the surrounding area as he completed his transformation.
Legendary Super Saiyan 2.
Trunks' jaw dropped in shock and horror as he felt the depths of Broly's new power. There was no way he remotely stood even the slightest chance. All he could do now was try and hope for a miracle.
"That smell! That stench of royal blood!" Broly snarled, warped by rage. "It lingers upon you! I'll wipe it from the face of the universe!"
"Goku, Father, Gohan, if you're watching over me," Trunks thought, "Any guidance would be appreciated."
-X-
"How much longer until we reach Earth?"
"Another two weeks."
"Good. The energy signature has been picked up again. It's much stronger this time. Hopefully we can obtain him for our employer. The arena has been lacking of late and this should provide a much-needed boost for our audiences. And pleasing our employer always works in our favour."
"I agree."
"Let's not delay. The quicker we get to Earth, the better."
"Of course, sir."