Bulma hummed to herself as she entered the kitchen in need of coffee and she stopped short when she saw 18 at the table, thoughtfully eating a doughnut.
"Relax, I'm not going to kill you," the Android said.
Still, Bulma didn't take her eyes off her until she reached the coffeemaker, willing the machine to brew faster to calm her nerves. Despite the time 18 had been 'living' with them, Bulma rarely came across her and to have the Android sitting at her dinner table…it definitely left her unsettled. The rational part was telling her that 18 hadn't killed in weeks and even helped Trunks save the world twice, but like her son, Bulma found it difficult to let go of the past twenty years.
18 watched the older woman as she bustled about. She had barely interacted with Trunks' mother, but everyone spoke fondly of her and 18 could admit that she was curious to know the blue-haired scientist better. 16 once mentioned that Bulma rivalled Gero in terms of intellect and the blonde Android wondered if it was possible for Trunks' mother to undo the madness Gero had inflicted on her. But as she watched the older woman try to control her nerves as she worked, 18 thought back to her battle with the Z-Fighters and how she witnessed Vegeta's death at 17's hands.
The trip to and back from Sadal and the week at home had given 18 a lot of time to think, to reflect on her crimes. She revelled, she delighted and she took great pleasure in the destruction she wrought on the world, but her actions had caused too much damage. Reflecting on her time in Hell, 18 could finally admit to herself that she had committed wrong. She wanted to say she was sorry, because if she was going to live with these people permanently, she would have to start making amends. At the same time however, she didn't care for their opinion on her.
She didn't need their approval, it didn't matter to her, she didn't care-
"I'm sorry," the words slipped out before 18 could stop them and her eyes widened in surprise at the admission.
Bulma froze, her body tense and the Android waited for her reaction. It didn't take long.
"You're sorry?" Bulma said, slowly turning around, her voice devoid of any emotion, like she was holding them back. "You murdered the father of my son, you slaughtered my friends, you killed millions of people for fun and you're sorry?"
To her credit, 18 didn't flinch under the other woman's hard glare. She hadn't meant to let the words slip out, but they had and there was no taking them back. But it was true. She did regret what she'd done. So many lives pointlessly lost because of one man's insane obsession.
"I realise it doesn't make up for the past," 18 said, lowering her eyes and she set the doughnut aside, her appetite lost, "but for what it's worth, I am sorry for what I've done."
"I didn't realise Androids were capable of feeling compassion and regret," Bulma said, her anger rising up.
18's lips twitched. "Hell is not a very nice place to be and its effects can be quite reflective. I've also had a lot of time to think and this was the conclusion I came to. I'm not looking for forgiveness by any means, but I thought you should know."
"I'm not the only one you should be apologising to," the older woman said and Vegeta flashed into her mind. By comparison, he had slaughtered countless people during his time as Frieza's soldier and he had never once showed remorse for his actions, yet she loved him fiercely. If she could show forgiveness to the Saiyan Prince, could she do the same for his murderer?
"I know. In time," 18 said. "There hasn't been a right moment and I don't know how he'll react."
Bulma hesitantly sat down with her coffee in hand, her anger slowly slipping away as her rationale took over. "Look, I can't tell you how my son will react, only that you will have to suck it up and deal with it. I can't find it in me to accept your apology, but I appreciate it all the same. In time, maybe I will. It would make me a hypocrite if I never do."
18 tilted her head slightly. "Vegeta?"
The scientist blew a shaky breath onto her coffee. "Yes, Vegeta. Long before he came to Earth, he was a soldier in a galactic army, working for a cruel emperor. He never told me how many planets and lives he destroyed, but his kill list far outweighs yours. And I welcomed him into my home all the same, even with the knowledge of who he is and what he'd done."
"He changed his ways, despite a lifetime of death and cruelty," 18 concluded.
"Somewhat. He was still a jerk at times," Bulma said with a fond smile and her heart ached once more, but she had come to terms with her loss, so it didn't hurt as much as it used to.
That fondness. Even though it wasn't directed towards her, 18 found that she yearned for it, for someone to give her that same look. She'd never been on the receiving end, never had a reason for it, but the tortured cries of her victims told her she didn't deserve it and never will. It was because of her and 17 that Bulma could only reminisce about Vegeta and the Android felt a well of guilt.
"I don't remember my life before Gero," 18 said, looking at her hands. "He had a purpose for my brother and I and we refused to obey. What he'd done to us, it made us feel violated and furious, so we took our anger out on the human race and turned it into a game to satisfy our rage. Whoever we were before, Gero took that away from us, made us into his tools of destruction. We lost our true identities and became merely numbers to him. I know it's no excuse for what we've done, but…I want to make up for the destruction we've caused."
Words were spilling out of her without control and the Android could only put it down to the fact that there was something about Bulma that made her want to confess. Perhaps it could do with the fact that Bulma wore no anger in her face, only softness and a willingness to listen.
"Do you regret all the lives you've taken or just the ones that meant the most to me?" Bulma asked. "Who's benefit are you apologising for, me or you?"
"I can't change what I did. I accept that. It doesn't mean that I don't wake up in the middle of the night because of their screams. A side effect of Hell. But to me, the majority of my victims have no faces and there's nothing I can do for them. But Vegeta, Gohan…I always remember them."
For Bulma, it was completely nerve-wracking. Never in her life had she ever thought that one of the Androids responsible for her losses and the ruin of the world would be sitting across her dinner table, confessing her sorrow and regret. If someone had told Bulma a few months ago that an Android would apologise to her for the damage they'd done, she would have laughed hysterically in their face. As it were, this was no laughing matter and as 18 spoke, Bulma began to see a woman who had been stripped of her agency instead of the heartless killing machine that had been at the forefront of her nightmares for years.
"18-" Bulma started, but the Android raised a hand to cut her off.
"No. 18 was a designated number for Gero's twisted experiment," she said. "I was only a tool for him, a piece of his obsession. I'll have no part of him anymore."
"So what should I-"
"GET DOWN!"
Bulma yelped as she was knocked to the ground and a green ki blast tore into the kitchen, taking out 18 instead of the scientist. Shaking, Bulma slowly peeked through the gaping hole in her kitchen wall and spotted a teal-skinned woman with large curly orange hair. The alien's face was twisted into hysterical madness, as she prepared another ki blast. Bulma ducked behind the debris and 18 shot through the hole, her fist smashing into Zangya's jaw.
"Mom!" came Trunks' voice and Bulma sighed in relief when her son appeared. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Bulma replied. "18 saved me."
The hybrid's face drew together into confusion, but it was quickly lost as he looked outside and he immediately transformed into a Super Saiyan, stepping out to join the fight, but 18 flung a hand up at him.
"No, I've got this," she said and dodged Zangya's fist.
"Curse you!" Zangya snarled. Her clothes were torn and there were some noticeable healing wounds, but it clear she was not at full strength, fuelled by her rage. "I'll kill you! You took everything from me!"
"What's the matter? I didn't beat you up enough?" 18 teased. "You had to follow me to Earth because you want to get beaten up again? I didn't know you were into that kind of thing."
"I have nothing left!" Zangya screeched and she flung her hands out, ensnaring the Android with her Psycho Threads. "They're all dead because of you!"
For a brief moment, Trunks sympathised with the alien. He knew what it was like to lose everyone he knew at the hands of 18. But in regards to Bojack and his minions, it'd been for the greater good. The Hera master was too great of a threat to leave alive and he had to be destroyed.
18, for her part, looked bored. "Tell me something new." Being limitless, she simply tangled herself up further, all so she could get close to the worried Zangya and kick her face, stopping the Threads. "If I had a zeni for every time I heard that, I'd be able to buy my own island and still have some spare."
Ocarin appeared, ready for a fight, but Trunks flung his arm out to stop the Namekian. He knew that 18 could handle the Hera, but he remained in his Super Saiyan form just in case.
The Android hit Zangya with her Deadly Dance and launched the Hera into the sky. In pursuit, she socked the alien with an uppercut and blood flew. Zangya spat, her eyes delirious with rage and she started screaming as she powered up, assuming her Full-Power Hera Form. Trunks growled and immediately ascended into Super Saiyan 2, but again, 18 stopped him with a wave of her hand.
"Dammit 18, what are you doing?" Trunks wondered. "If you keep toying with her, she'll wreck the city."
"I'll destroy you," Zangya spat furiously. "I have the power now! I'll destroy you!"
"If you had been at full health, sure, you probably could," 18 said, crossing her arms. "I couldn't fight Bojack, which means you would've had a chance. But you haven't let your body completely heal, instead choosing to chase me down as soon as you could."
Zangya blinked and 18 moved. The Hera barely caught the Android's fist in time. 18 smirked. Zangya's head snapped back from the uppercut. Growling, she flew into a rage, the pair exchanging fierce blows that lit up the azure sky. Trunks watched the battle in trepidation. He knew 18 was strong, but he could sense Zangya's power and tell that she had a slight advantage. Sure enough, Zangya slammed her fist into 18's gut and the Android let out an oof, the air knocked out of her. Delighted, Zangya unleashed a series of attacks that ended with 18 smashed into the lawn.
"She's mine now!" Zangya thought in her madness.
"18, are you sure you don't want my help?" Trunks asked, moving to her side. She spat grass and glared at him. "Come on, don't get arrogant with me. That didn't end well for you last time."
"Ohh, you just had to bring that up, didn't you?" 18 growled at him as she picked herself up and dusted her clothes off. "I've got this. I know I do."
"She's stronger than you."
"Only just. And she's crazy, so that works in my favour."
Zangya spread her arms out to her sides, charging green energy into her hands. This was it. She was going to unleash her Galactic Buster and destroy the Android and her friends. She would get to avenge Bojack and her fallen comrades – 18 kicked her in the stomach with such force that Zangya lost her Galactic Buster, her eyes widened in shock. No, that wasn't right. With a snarl, Zangya punched 18 in the face and the people down below felt the shockwave.
"Is that all you've got?" 18 teased and Zangya started throwing wild punches in her rage. With a smirk in place, 18 only had to block a few blows while dodging the rest. "It's pathetic how you're not even worth my time. You could have waited and given me a real good fight. Instead, you allowed yourself to be blinded by your hatred."
With a kick to the Hera's face, 18 drove her into the ground below and Trunks had enough and he moved to Zangya, a ki blast in his hand, as 18 landed beside him, charging her High-Pressure Wave. Zangya panted, losing her Full-Power form and looking more like a pathetic being than a powerful mercenary. 18 lowered her hand and cancelled her energy.
"Leave her," she said to Trunks and he looked at her in confusion.
"Huh? Why?"
"Because I'm feeling merciful. Hey," she said to Zangya and the alien glared at her. "You've got one chance to get the hell out of here. If I ever see you again or you threaten anyone, I'll kill you. You've got ten seconds and if you don't scram, I'll kill you instead."
"This isn't over," Zangya growled, shifting her glare between 18 and Trunks. "I'll be back."
"She's not kidding," Trunks said. "If you return, 18 will kill you and I will let her. Now get out of here. This is your only chance. I suggest you take it."
Zangya glanced at the stoic Ocarin, who ignored her and with a final glare at the couple, she shot off from the ruined lawn, disappearing from sight. Trunks tracked her until he could no longer sense her and he relaxed his Super Saiyan 2 form.
"Why did you decide to spare her?" he asked 18. "You would've killed her without hesitation."
"I know," 18 said softly. "But I'm trying not to be that person anymore. Hell showed me that I don't have to be bound to Gero's madness. It just took me a while to realise that. So I've decided that I want to be my own person."
"So you don't want to be 18 anymore?" Trunks queried and he thought back to the day they fought Broly, when they had argued and she mentioned something that stuck in the back of his mind. "You once said that you had a name. What was it?"
18 frowned, Demigra's voice echoing in her head. "Lazuli. My name is Lazuli."