"What're you doing?"
Lazuli looked up from what she was doing to look at the curious Pan. "Painting my nails."
"Oh. Why?"
The Android shrugged. "Because I want to. What are you doing here?"
Pan held up her bag. "Training. I want to be strong like my daddy was."
The nail polish went wild and Lazuli cursed as she grabbed a tissue to wipe the excess away, but Pan didn't seem to notice the reason why. The Android looked into the child's dark eyes and saw Gohan reflecting back at her, the hardened warrior who constantly made a stance against her and failed.
"I'm sorry I took him away," Lazuli wanted to tell the young girl. "I'm sorry I killed him with a smile on my face. I'm sorry that because of me, you never got to see him."
"Can I try?" Pan's voice interrupted the Android's apologetic thoughts.
"Have you ever had your nails done?"
The little girl gave a meaningless shrug as she sat opposite the Android. "A few times, but not very much. Mommy's not a fan of make-up."
"Well, too bad, she's going to have to deal with some cherry red," Lazuli said, dipping the wand to distract herself from her repentant mind. "Give me your hand."
There was a comfortable silence as she painted Pan's nails and she had to admit, it was quite nice doing something so normal with the young girl. It wasn't until Lazuli switched hands that Pan spoke again.
"Did you ever meet my dad?"
Lazuli paused for a split second, trying to control her emotions and keep her guilt in check. "Why do you ask that?"
"Mommy said that you're an Android and the Androids were the reason the world was in a bad place for a long time. My daddy fought the Androids, but he…didn't make it. Did you know him?"
"My brother did. They fought each other a bunch," Lazuli said as she worked, remembering the battles 17 and Gohan had, a personal vendetta against each other. That rain-soaked fateful night came back to her and she blinked, trying to clear her mind. "I didn't really know him too well."
"Did your brother k-"
"All done," Lazuli exclaimed. "What do you think?"
Pan surveyed her nails and a smile broke out, clearly satisfied with the work. "Thank you."
"They need to dry, so don't touch anything for about twenty minutes, okay?"
Pan nodded and opened her mouth to ask another question, but Trunks stepped into the kitchen, a towel around his neck. "Pan, hi, when did you get here?"
"Look, Trunks, I got my nails painted," Pan cried, showing them off to the half-Saiyan. "Do you like them? Lazuli did them for me."
"They look great," Trunks told her, hunting in the fridge for some orange juice and leftover roast chicken. "Let them dry and then head to the chamber; Ocarin's meditating."
"Two sweaty men in a chamber together," Lazuli teased once Pan had run off. "Is there something you're not telling us, Trunks?"
"We're just training. Where do you even get these weird ideas?"
"I have a wild imagination. Surely, you can't be training all the time?"
"Well, I want to be ready," Trunks said, digging into the chicken. "I need to make up for lost time and I need to be strong enough for anyone, not just Demigra."
Lazuli rolled her eyes. "You are so boring."
"I am not boring!" Trunks defended. "I'm not the one who sees shopping as a hobby."
"It's better than whatever you've got. And as much as I'd love to continue this," Lazuli said as Trunks went to retort, "someone needs to check on your mother. She's been in her lab all morning."
"Okay, what have you done to her?" the hybrid asked, setting the plate down.
"What are you talking about?"
"Ever since Zangya, you and Mom have been…nice, for lack of a better word, to each other."
"And that's wrong because why?"
"It's…strange. Before, you two would do your best not to be in the same room together and now, it's almost like you're best friends. What did you do?"
Lazuli narrowed her eyes at him. Since her apology to Bulma, the older woman was friendlier with her, actively talking to her and the Android could admit that it was somewhat nice to have someone be friendly with her. She never had friends before, only her brother and while she wouldn't place Bulma in that category just yet, it was still appreciated all the same. Trunks was still guarded around her and Ocarin despised her (she enjoyed that, however), so she welcomed Bulma's openness.
Naturally, it was unnerving Trunks.
"Is it so bad that your mother at least tolerates me?" Lazuli questioned.
Trunks glowered. "It's my mother. I just find it weird. You did kill her friends after all."
"If it wasn't for your mother being nice to killers, you wouldn't be here. Newsflash, buddy: people change. I thought you would've realised it by now."
The Android stormed out of the kitchen and Trunks sighed. It was like every time they took a step forward, his mouth would put them two steps back. But to him, it was strange to see his mother and the Android interacting with each other on a friendly level, with no apparent reason why. He'd been quietly observing the last few days, wondering when he should intervene or if he even should. He knew the Android had changed, but he was still struggling to come to terms with it.
He needed closure.
Deciding to follow up on Lazuli's suggestion, Trunks headed to the lab in search of his mother. She had been quite busy of late, working on a contract with the military to fortify their defences against powerful beings like the Androids and Broly. He personally felt it was a wasted effort, having seen what Perfect Cell did to the military in the past and that despite his mother's brilliance; it wouldn't amount to much in the end. Still, anything that gave the military some semblance of security would be welcomed in their eyes and Trunks could accept that.
He found his mother buried deep into her work and he plopped down beside her, alerting her to his presence.
"Something troubling you?" Bulma asked, briefly looking up from her work at her conflicted son.
"It's Eight – I mean, Lazuli. Her whole personality change is…hard to get used to. I mean, she's even friendly with you and I can't get my mind wrapped around that."
"She apologised for what she's done," his mother simply stated, zeroing in on some minor calculations. Trunks glanced at it and shuddered. He liked tinkering with stuff and trying to figure out how they worked, but calculations and complex science stuff, he preferred to leave that to his mother.
"Apologised?"
Bulma nodded absently. "Yes, she told me she was sorry for the lives she's taken, especially Gohan and your father. I'm guessing she's yet to say it to you?"
"She's made no mention of it. She apologised? And did you forgive her?"
"I haven't yet, but I haven't spurned her either. I'd be a hypocrite if I did, Trunks. You know full well what your father used to do. He's done a lot worse than the Androids. But since her apology, I've found that Lazuli isn't all that bad. Really Trunks, you should take the time to know her."
"It's a bit hard when I can't forget what she's done, Mom," Trunks muttered darkly, Gohan's rain-soaked corpse flashing in his mind. "She's great in a fight and she's not completely all that bad, but it's like I can never forget."
"Trust me when I say that I will never forget what she's done," Bulma said, relinquishing her work to look her son firmly in his eyes. "But she has apologised for it, she has shown remorse and she's looking to change her ways and to me, that's what matters. She showed mercy to that alien who attacked our home, right? She would've killed that alien without mercy back in the day and not only that, but Lazuli took a hit for me. She's changing. That's what I will focus on with her. Give her time, Trunks, she will come around. Maybe she's just waiting for the right moment."
"Yeah, maybe you're right," Trunks said. "Maybe I'm just over-reacting."
"It's completely understandable," his mother smiled reassuringly as she patted his knee. "I do find that I'm sleeping easier knowing well protected my home is. Seriously, Trunks, just give her time."
"Time," the half-Saiyan mumbled absently and then something clicked in his mind. "Time. That's it."
Bulma frowned. "What's it? Time? Yeah, I just suggested that."
"No, I don't mean that. I'm talking about the Hyperbolic Time Chamber."
"Is that-?"
"The place where Father and I trained for an entire year, but only a single day outside had passed? That's the one. I'm going to spend a day in there and that should be enough to get me where I want to be."
"Okay, but are you going in alone or will you be taking someone?" Bulma asked. "It sounds like something that everyone can benefit from."
"Hmm," Trunks pondered. He knew that only two people could enter the Chamber at any given time, yet he also knew that it would be a great advantage for everyone involved. His top choice was obviously Pan, but Ocarin and Lazuli also needed a day as well. "Well, Pan needs to master her Super Saiyan form, so naturally, I'll take her."
"So then that would mean Ocarin and Lazuli train together," Bulma stated. "They'll kill each other. Or maybe a year together will make them realise there's no reason for the hate and they'll be friends, but I'm putting my money on the former."
Dread ran through Trunks. "Are you…suggesting…I take Lazuli instead?"
"What a wonderful idea," his mother cried, as if it was truly the best plan she ever heard. "I said to give her time and this is a good way to go about it."
"No, no, no, it's a bad idea," Trunks protested. "No, I'll be alone if I must and she can wait for a day of her own. I'm not doing it."
-X-
"So, we're doing what?" Lazuli asked, crinkling her nose in confusion.
"That looks cute," Trunks thought absentmindedly and he shook his head in horror. "DAMMIT TRUNKS, WHY WOULD YOU THINK THAT?"
They were at Kami's Lookout, Trunks wearing the Saiyan Battle Armour designed by his mother, while Lazuli wore a pink tracksuit, a bag of extra clothes on her shoulder. Ocarin, Pan and 16 were nearby, all interested to see the Hyperbolic Time Chamber Trunks had described to them.
"You and I are going to train in the Time Chamber," Trunks dully explained, while cursing his mother for doing this to him. "One full day here equals one whole year inside. Father and I used it in the past to fight Cell. It's how we surpassed our original Super Saiyan forms in the first place. It's how I got strong enough to kill you."
"Wow, you really know how to talk to a woman," Lazuli drawled apathetically. "Take me, I'm yours."
Trunks decided to ignore her comment. "Can we just get this over with?"
"Of course. After you, smooth talker."
The half-Saiyan grumbled, but after giving Pan a quick hug, he led the way to the Room of Spirit and Time, Mr. Popo waiting for them by the door.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
"Ready as we'll ever be," Trunks replied.
The door opened, Mr. Popo stepped aside and the pair walked over the threshold and into the Chamber. The open space stretched out indefinitely before them, but Lazuli was more interested in checking out their accommodations. She was relieved to find separate beds and bathing tubs and after viewing the food supply, she found Trunks already out in the vast white dimension. It was nice, but she didn't see what was so special about this place…until she stepped over the training threshold and the gravity hammered her. The surprise made her knees quiver, but Lazuli pressed on, having already adapted to higher gravity levels that Trunks inflicted on her.
"I don't know why you think this is such a great idea," Lazuli crossed her arms. "This place is weaker than your chamber at home."
Trunks' eyes flashed green and he transformed into Super Saiyan 2. "Does the Android want to go deeper into the unknown? You'll be changing your tune."
She scoffed. "I doubt it, but challenge accepted."
-X-
Pan hummed a nonsensical tune as she skipped around the edge of the Lookout, peering out at the clouds below and then she floated over to the meditating Ocarin.
"Hey, you wanna play hopscotch?"
The Namekian opened his eyes and frowned at her. "What?"
"Hopscotch. Wanna play?"
-X-
She was changing her tune, that's for sure. The deeper they went into the dimension, the less air pressure there was, the harder it was to breathe and the temperature was unlike anything she'd ever felt before. Sweat soaked her clothes and when she wiped her forehead, she was sure there was enough perspiration to fill a dry riverbed. Frustratingly, Trunks seemed unaffected by the intense heat and even looked like he was enjoying himself.
Curse him.
"What's the matter?" Trunks taunted. "Too hot for you?"
Lazuli growled and launched at him. He easily blocked her with a cocky grin and her annoyance boiled over (no pun intended). She unloaded on him, her blows sluggish from the heat exertion. She felt like she was burning, her skin felt like it was on fire, the heat scorching her body. Trunks barely put any effort into dodging her fists, sweat glistening on his face and she growled as she unleashed an energy wave at him; he knocked it upwards and it quickly disappeared. A single blow from him smacked her into the ground and she panted, heat roiling over her.
"Had enough?" Trunks asked, hovering before her.
"Oh, I hate you," Lazuli snapped as she forced herself to stand, the intensity making her want to pass out, but she refused to look weak. She would conquer the Time Chamber.
"You could always quit."
"I never do."
She surged forth – and swiped air. Trunks hit her from behind and she skidded along the pristine, reflective ground, coming to a stop next to his boots. She glared at him and went to stand and that's when the temperature rapidly dropped. Her breath came out as mist, but every time she sucked in air, shards of ice stabbed her lungs. Sweat froze to her skin, fusing it to her clothes and ice laced her hair. Lazuli shuddered, struggling to even breathe, let alone move and Trunks flared his aura. The warmth of his golden flame drew her in like a fly to a bug-zapper – and he clocked her.
"I'll maim him for that," Lazuli thought, frost lancing her brain and icicles burst up from the ground, the air freezing around them as the temperature continued to drop. "How the hell is anyone meant to train in this?" she managed to say, her teeth chattering together.
"It builds character," Trunks said, used to the arbitrary elements of the dimension, but she could see him trying to conceal his body's involuntary shudders. "It's how we got stronger."
The ice continued to increase, threatening to trap them and the half-Saiyan unleashed a Galick Gun at the nearest wall, splintering the ice. Lazuli felt like she wanted to lie down and sleep, but her frozen mind told her that was a terrible idea and she fought to stay awake. Every chunk of ice that was chipped off by Trunks' energy was replaced with thicker sheets and he shouted as he increased his power, chiselling through the wall. Icicles fused together, slowly trapping them and Lazuli forced energy to her frosted hands. She needed to show her strength, show that she was capable of handling anything the Room threw her and she shouted as she unleashed her energy wave, combining it with the Galick Gun.
The two beams spiralled together and smashed through the ice, forcing it to retreat and the pair flew through the gap, rising from the depths of the Chamber. Trunks relaxed his Super Saiyan form as they approached the living quarters and Lazuli was relieved when they flew over the threshold, her body free of the pressures and temperatures of the dimension's depths. The pair collapsed by the dining table, Trunks letting out a small evocative huff.
"What?" Lazuli asked.
"I've missed this intensity," he replied. "It feels like it was so long ago, yet I remember it like it was only yesterday I was here. Well, not this one, but the one in the past."
Lazuli was silent for a moment as she pondered something and decided to voice it. "Did you ever meet me in the past?"
Trunks hesitated fleetingly. "I did."
"What was I like?"
"Uh, very different, I guess. You didn't kill anyone. You actually weren't interested in doing that at all. You did break my father's arm, but that's about it. My father and I initially went into the Chamber so we could defeat you, 16 and 17, but then Cell became a bigger threat. He absorbed both you and 17, attaining his Perfect form."
"So, I died?" Lazuli asked, her brow furrowed.
"Actually, no. Gohan became so strong that he hit Cell hard enough to make him regurgitate you. So, when it was said and done and Cell was defeated, you survived. 17, on the other hand, didn't make it. Last I remember of your past self is you went off on your own."
"So, I lost my brother in the past too," the blonde beauty thought sadly. "Is it my destiny to lose the one person who means the most to me, no matter what timeline? Am I meant to be forever alone?"
"I guess you could say that you were a 'good guy'," Trunks continued. "I mean, in the end, you weren't even a threat and like I said, you didn't kill anyone, so you weren't really that bad."
"Why was there such a big difference between us? We're essentially the same person."
Trunks shrugged. "I don't know. But maybe you could be like her, hopefully."
"Yeah, maybe," she murmured and her body shuddered from the melting ice, soaking through her clothes. "I need to take a hot bath."
She stood up and removed her jacket, revealing a sports bra that displayed a healthy dosage of cleavage and Trunks felt the blood drain from his face at the sight of her milky curves. Oh, Kami, what was she doing to him? She didn't notice the affect she had on him as she headed towards the bathroom and just before she closed the door behind her, Lazuli shucked her track pants, exposing her black panties and long, smooth white legs.
A stunning blonde goddess.
Trunks collapsed on the floor with an intense nose-bleed.
Oh, Kami.
-X-
Semi-Perfect Cell huffed and puffed and he grunted when a kick was slammed into his ribs. 17 rolled his eyes at the lack of effort needed for the blow and content that the bug wouldn't bother him, he turned to the wounded Dr. Gero. Ever since returning to Hell, he'd been busy fending off his absorber, thankful for Demigra's magic. While Cell had regenerated to his most powerful form, despite the lack of 17, he still wanted to reclaim the Android to feel whole again, and stronger than before, 17 refused to have any part of it.
It seemed as though Cell was yet to learn his lesson.
"Please, no more, I beg of you," Gero cried, holding his hands up in surrender.
"Begging now? How pathetic, Gero," 17 stated boredly. "You want mercy, huh? You never showed mercy to me and my sister as you turned us into your creations for your pet bug to eat. This is your fault, remember? You wouldn't be dead and still hurting like this if you'd left us alone."
"Please, 17, I can – I can help you. I can help you escape from here. Just – just listen to me," Gero begged on his knees before his creation. 17 looked thoughtful and then booted him. The scientist coughed. "You want revenge? I can help you get that revenge."
"And how do you intend to do that, huh?" 17 sneered. "We're dead, genius."
"I know – I know someone, a doctor like me – he can help us."
"I'm not interested in being an experiment for you again."
"Like you said, 17, we're dead. What do you have to lose this time?"
17 frowned. "Okay, continue. But if I don't like what you have to say, I'm blasting you to the deepest part of Hell so hard, you'll be stuck there for eternity."
Gero smiled, despite the pain he was in. "Very well. Let me explain."