Dragon Ball Z: New Future
Chapter 18: A Difficult Decision
A cool wind swept across the grassy plateau, the steady breeze ruffling Trunk's hair from where he sat on the edge of the rock formation, one leg dangling off the side, the other hugged to his chest, his eyes staring down at the small unassuming town in the distance.
The place before him was instantly recognisable, though not in a good way. It was here that a truly harrowing ordeal had been seared into his memory forever, the details of which coming back to him now as his mind vividly recalled a day many years ago.
A large storm had been brewing in the East, the occasional boom of thunder making for an ominous sign of the tragedy that was to occur.
It had been around midday when a series of explosions had lit up Pepper Town, signalling the start of another horrific attack by the evil Android's 17 and 18.
As the life signatures of innocent people vanished in their hundreds, two individuals looked down from up on the plateau, focused intently on the unfortunately familiar sight with pure outrage.
"Those monsters! Those people didn't even stand a chance!" Gohan growled furiously, his Super Saiyan aura engulfing his body like a raging inferno.
"Wait! Are you crazy? You can't fight the Androids with your injury!" Trunks exclaimed in shock, Gohan looking to him with a frown.
"If I don't go then more people will die! I have to do this Trunks, don't try to stop me!" Gohan stated firmly.
"Then let me come with you! I can't let you fight those monsters alone!" Trunks pleaded, stepping forward with his fists clenched.
Gohan quickly shook his head, "No Trunks! I'm a lot more vulnerable when you're with me!"
"But I'm much stronger now!" Trunks countered. "Please Gohan! Take me with you!" he finished, desperation showing in the young boy's eyes.
Gohan regards Trunks silently for a few moments, giving away none of his inner thoughts whilst the seconds pass by.
"Alright Trunks you win. Let's go get them!" Gohan said finally, his face lighting up a bit as he turned to face Pepper Town.
Trunks sighed in relief as he glanced away, his gaze focusing on the besieged settlement below as he mentally psyched himself up for battle.
A sudden strike to the back of his neck nearly knocks him out cold. The precise hit causing his body to immediately go limp, his mind going fuzzy as he faintly feels a hand grasping the back of his shirt to steady him.
"Sorry about that Trunks, but I wouldn'thave forgiven myself if anything happened to you," Gohan spoke whilst carefully lowering him to the ground.
Trunks fought to stay conscious as he could barely made out what Gohan said next, having no idea that these next words would be the last he'd ever hear from his friend and mentor.
"This is my battle for now little brother.You're not quite ready yet," Gohan said resolutely, and with a slight gust of wind he left, never to return.
Back in the present, Trunks sighed heavily as the last traces of the memory ebbed away, blinking as he returned to the reality before him.
He felt a mixture of emotions as he took in the current bustling and peaceful Pepper Town below, its citizens having nothing to fear from Androids or otherwise, their lives unburdened by the near total annihilation of humanity that had engulfed his original timeline.
There was no storm on the horizon and no Gohan charging to his demise. It was a world that Trunks was determined to protect with all of his power.
A task that was a lot easier said than done, Trunk's thoughts soon shifting to the current situation at hand, one that could very easily result in the same destruction he so desperately wanted to avoid.
Mai, Lapis and Lazuli had been taken just over three days ago now. In the blink of an eye his entire world had been turned upside down, with the life he had been so tentatively building shattered, gone without even the slightest of warning.
He had underestimated Dr. Gero, and badly at that. He had known that the rogue scientist was fanatically determined, that much was obvious without ever having met the man. However after destroying his lab he had foolishly thought that it had ended the madman's ambitions for Goku's death and world domination.
That oversight had cost his friends dearly, and with their lives now hanging in the balance, Trunks was faced with the terrifying possibility that he might not be able to get them back.
The guilt was wreaking havoc on his conscience, but he refused to let it tear him down. He'd made a promise to himself to do whatever was necessary to get them back, no matter what it took.
Trunks frowned in thought as he mulled things over again, racking his brain for anything that could help him, mentally going over everything he knew about the situation in an attempt to find a way forward.
It was obvious who his primary adversaries were, being Dr. Gero and Lieutenant Orange, but even knowing who they were it was hardly enough for him to use in finding them, let alone to effectively take them down.
Orange in particular was rather unknown to him, as until a few days ago he had never even heard of his name.
All he knew was that the former Red Ribbon officer had ordered his soldiers after the Dragon Balls. Had hired Tao to accompany them, and had orchestrated the forceful capture of Dr. Flappe, pinning Orange as the true workhorse behind Gero's current schemes.
Trunks was curious about the sort of alliance Orange had with Gero, and what exactly he got out of working with such a deranged person as the doctor.
If the old Red Ribbon Army was anything to go by however, Trunks assumed that they were probably planning to stab each other in the back at some point, though likely not soon enough to help his cause.
He was still in the dark about so much, and it frustrated him to no end. He had no idea how Mai was doing or if she was even alive. He also had no way to tell if Lapis and Lazuli could still be saved, or if Gero had already started to turn them into Androids.
He remembered the operating tables and rows of vicious looking tools back at Gero's Northern lab, and he imagined the horrific torment the twins would have to go through if he didn't save them in time.
Trunks couldn't help but feel nauseous at the unsettling thought, but despite his discomfort his mind continued to conjure up even more distressing thoughts, the next one being of Mai locked up in a cell, helpless and afraid as a darkness slowly swallowed her.
Trunks cried out in anger as he leapt up, his face pale as he then shook his head to clear the dark thoughts, having had more than enough of such unsettling ideas.
"Damn it I can't be thinking like this!" Trunks growled to himself. "I'm not doing me, or anyone else favours by sitting here lost in my own head!" he muttered fiercely, though despite his best efforts the hollow feeling in his gut never quite seemed to leave him entirely.
With considerable effort Trunks forced himself to focus on something else, his thoughts eventually going to the Z-Fighters and their training up on the Lookout.
Earlier in the morning he had sensed Goku and the others gathering there, with even his father having shown up, no doubt generating a fair share of contention for all those involved.
Trunks couldn't help but feel the slightest hint of reassurance at knowing that the Earth's heroes were still with him. He knew that ultimately it would be his responsibility to combat Gero and his machinations, but it was still a good feeling to have allies that he could trust to back him up as well.
Turning his attention to the far off Lookout, Trunks employs his energy sensing, trying to gauge how the training was going for the other fighters.
He quickly locates a small cluster of familiar ki signatures far up in the sky, easily pinpointing the unique ki of Krillin, Yamcha, Tien and Chiaotzu, their energies flaring around them as they looked to be sparring with one another.
"It seems that Goku and my father have already entered the Room of Spirit and Time," Trunks thought, before his eyebrow twitches in confusion. "But where are Piccolo and Gohan? I should be sensing them too, right?"
Trunks expands his energy sensing further, wondering where the Namekian and younger Half-Saiyan might be.
His senses soon encompass a broad section of the Earth, and though Trunks finds no sign of Piccolo, he does pick up on a noticeable ki signature out in the middle of the nowhere, the energy unmistakably belonging to Gohan.
"What's Gohan doing out there all by himself?" Trunks muttered as he opened his eyes, gathering from Gohan's fluctuating power level that he must be doing some form of training as well, though out in the wasteland unlike the rest of Earth's heroes.
"I wonder why he isn't with the others? Maybe I should check up on him?" Trunks thought with mild concern, his energy coalescing around him to indicate his decision, Trunks then taking off, keeping a relatively low profile as he made his way towards Gohan.
A furious yell echoed throughout the canyon as a bright beam of yellow energy soared between the towering walls of rock, the powerful attack striking a cluster of boulders and instantly destroying them in a fiery explosion, causing shards of rock to rain down as a dust cloud settled over the impact.
At the other end of the valley a young boy was breathing heavily, his palms facing outwards in front of his forehead in a signature attack pose, indicating that he had been the source of the powerful blast.
"Not bad... but I can do better! I did bigger attacks on Namek!" Gohan muttered to himself between breaths, wiping the sweat from his forehead as he readied himself for another go.
Gohan stretched out his arms to either side of him, the boy gritting his teeth as he soon felt the familiar sensation of ki surging through his body to form in his palms.
Upon gathering enough energy, he brought both of his hands up to his forehead once again, a bright ball of yellow shimmering in his palms as he then unleashed the attack.
"MASENKO HA!" Gohan yelled at the top of his lungs, the energy beam being much bigger than the last one as it shot down the canyon, striking another outcropping with a thunderous explosion.
Gohan grinned lazily at that, pleased with the extra effort he'd put into the blast. His body however was less than thrilled as he suddenly felt his legs wobbling beneath him, causing him to fall to his knees clumsily.
Gohan manages to hold himself up with trembling arms, his breathing heavy once again as he stared at the ground with a tired look.
"I should take a break... I've been going for... a couple hours," Gohan thought wearily, plopping himself down onto a nearby rock and untying a small bag that was hanging around his waist.
"Yum, apples!" he exclaimed, pulling out a bright red fruit. The young boy happily munching on the snack as he thought about the day so far.
It had been a less than ideal start to the morning for him, his mum having been adamant that he would not be joining his dad and the others for training on the Lookout.
"Absolutely not Goku!" Chi-Chi had shouted, Goku wincing as he held his hands out in front of him defensively.
"But Chi-Chi, everyone's gonna be there! I don't want Gohan to miss out!" Goku said with an awkward smile, a bead of sweat trailing down the side of his head.
"I said no!" Chi-Chi yelled angrily. "He has study to do! And I won't have him wasting time with martial arts!"
"But there's some really powerful Androids that are gonna show up! We might need Gohan's help!" Goku pressed bravely, before shirking back as his wife gave him a venomous glare.
"I don't care about that! These robots or whatever are your problem so you can go and train all you want for them! Our son will not, and that's final!" Chi-Chi finished furiously, Goku gulping as he stepped back towards the door.
"Uh, well... alright then," Goku relented, glancing at Gohan with an apologetic look.
"Sorry son, looks like we'll have to train later! See you when I get back!" Goku said quickly, giving one last cautious glance towards Chi-Chi before hurrying out the door, waving his hand behind him as he then flew off into the sky.
Gohan sighed as he tossed his finished apple core away, a hint of frustration in his eyes as he went to grab another from his pouch.
"I would have liked to go to the Lookout," Gohan thought quietly. "I've been studying since I got back from Namek. One day of training wouldn't be that bad."
Gohan sighed again. He knew his mother had his best intentions at heart, and after all he did enjoy study, his dream of one day becoming a great scholar driving him to get good grades and eventually go to college.
At the same time however, he still wanted to do other stuff as well. Fighting and martial arts didn't appeal to him the same way it did for his dad, but he still enjoyed being with his father and his friends. They were like family to him and he wanted to be part of their world, if only a little bit.
Unfortunately for now he was stuck far away from them all, and he'd decided to make it up regardless by getting in some training of his own today. He'd diligently finished all of the day's study ahead of time, and thankfully his mum had given him permission to go outside until dinner.
This had led him to where he was now, having snuck away from Mt. Paozu to train in the rocky wasteland where Piccolo had taken him when he was four, Gohan smiling as he thought about the time he'd once spent out here.
It had been a difficult learning experience to be sure, and Piccolo was quite a harsh and demanding teacher at times. Yet he couldn't help but look back fondly on it all, remembering the many nights spent resting by the fire after the intense days of sparring that made up the majority of their training.
It was in those quiet times just before he went to sleep that he and Piccolo had truly bonded, and before long he'd come to regard Piccolo as a true friend, practically a member of the family as far as he was concerned.
And whenever he needed encouragement or felt his willpower beginning to falter, all he had to do was recall what Piccolo had taught him, the lessons out in the wilderness being some of the most valuable he'd learnt so far in his short life.
"I won't let you down Mr. Piccolo! I'll train until my tail falls off!" Gohan thought determinedly, before recalling in slight shock that his tail had been gone for a while now, the young boy chuckling at that with a shake of his head.
"Alright! I should get back to it!" Gohan said aloud as he stood up, dusting off his clothes before readying himself for more practice.
As he walked back towards the canyon cliff edge, something in the distance caught his eye, and upon squinting in that direction he could make out a lone figure was trailing through the sky towards him.
Gohan frowned a little as he tried to sense the energy of the mystery person, initially being unable to recognise the somewhat unfamiliar energy, before his eyes go wide in realisation at who it was.
"Hey it's that Trunks guy who dad talked to!" Gohan finally remembered, having secretly eavesdropped on the conversation the two had had a few weeks earlier.
Gohan waved at Trunks as he approached, excited to see someone else who also wasn't training on the lookout.
Trunks soon lands in front of Gohan with a smile, giving a wave of hello as he glanced down the canyon at the piles of destroyed rubble.
"Those are some impressive attacks you made there!" Trunks said, sounding genuinely impressed. "I'm Trunks by the way, I talked to your father a while back, it's good to meet you."
Gohan appears somewhat shy as he looked down slightly, "Thanks Trunks, my name's Gohan. And yeah I was just training a little!"
Trunks raised his eyebrows. "You're training by yourself? Why aren't you with the others up on the Lookout?"
"Mum said I wasn't allowed to!" Gohan said moodily, Trunks trying his best to hide his slight amusement at seeing his former master as a pouting child.
"Ah I see, so you decided to train by yourself then?" Trunks questioned, Gohan just nodding glumly at that.
Gohan then looks up curiously at Trunks. "What about you? Why aren't you training on the Lookout?" he asked, Trunks appearing uncomfortable at the question.
"Uh, well... I just needed some time to... think a few things over for a bit," Trunks said hesitantly.
"Did something bad happen?" Gohan asked in concern, Trunks giving him a surprised look.
"Is it to do with that evil guy, the one who's making the really mean Androids or something," Gohan continued, displaying mature understanding despite being only 7 years old.
Trunks looks at Gohan incredulously as he could hardly believe how much the young boy knew so much about the situation.
"Yeah, something bad did happen..." Trunks trailed off, before giving Gohan a questioning look. "But how do you know about Gero and the Androids?"
Gohan adopts a guilty expression as he laughs nervously. "Well, you know how you were following my dad a few weeks ago, and then you had that talk in the woods?" he said cautiously, Trunks nodding as he recalled the conversation.
"I kinda snuck up and listened in! I'm sorry, but I just wanted to know what was going on!" Gohan said apologetically, rubbing the back of his head bashfully.
"Don't worry about it! You're one of Earth's fighters, you deserve to know about that sort of stuff!" Trunks said reassuringly.
"Thanks. I wish my mum thought like that, she rather I read books all day rather than train for these evil guys," Gohan grumbled, Trunks staring at him for a moment before an idea comes to mind.
"Well, what do you say we train together?" Trunks offered, to which Gohan instantly beams up at him.
"No way, are you serious?" Gohan exclaimed enthusiastically, Trunks nodding at him with a smile.
"Alright! I'll get way stronger if you're training with me!" Gohan said, laughing joyfully.
Gohan then eagerly looks at Trunks. "So what should we do first? Did you want to spar? Are there any cool moves you can show me?" Gohan asked, practically bouncing up and down with excitement.
"Woah, slow down! We'll start off with a little bit of sparring just to see where you're at," Trunks said with a grin, Gohan nodding back quickly as he got into a fighting stance.
Trunks smirks at that as he readies himself as well, finding the positivity of Gohan a welcome change from the depressing feelings he'd been experiencing.
After a brief pause, the two Half-Saiyans clash together in a flurry of blows, the sound waves and impacts from their strikes echoing throughout the canyon well into the afternoon.
Bulma scowled whilst typing furiously on her keyboard, the screen in front of her displaying a confusing mess of diagnostics and code, something only an expert such as herself could even attempt to decipher.
"Alright you piece of junk! Try this on for size!" she muttered irritably, forcibly hitting the enter key and causing the screen to display a rapid set of scrolling numbers and letters as the computer began to whir loudly.
Bulma shifts her attention to the workbench beside her, the wires from the back of the computer hooked up to a damaged chunk of machinery on the bench, this specific piece being an Android's head scavenged from Gero's destroyed lab.
"Come on! Work for me!" Bulma said crossing her fingers, the electrical currents visibly surging off of the cords as it attempted to power the Android's central processing unit.
A faint red light flickers to life from the single remaining eye on the Android's head, causing Bulma to leap up in excitement. Her joy is short lived however as the computer then lets out a loud bang accompanied by a shower of sparks, the screen going black and causing the red light to sputter out.
"Agh, dammit! I was so close!" Bulma yelled in frustration, slamming her hands down onto the workbench in anger.
Bulma sighed as she slid back down in her chair, a defeated look on her face as she stared at the inert Android part.
"Damn you Gero! Why did you have to make these things so complex!" Bulma cursed bitterly, finding it difficult to admit that she was actually struggling to operate Gero's machinery.
She was one of the best engineers in the world, and robotics was an area of expertise that she felt quite comfortable in. Yet the mechanics of this Android was above even her level of knowledge.
Her rationale was that whilst she had gained expertise in a variety of fields, Gero had solely focused on robotics and bioengineering, spending the good part of his life perfecting an unrivalled level of skill that she simply couldn't match, at least not at the moment.
She was learning quickly however, but even still it was going to take a considerable amount of time for her to figure everything out, time she feared that she didn't have as Gero was no doubt currently enhancing his skills even further.
All of that aside however, the main problem she had at the moment was the inability to power on the Android's CPU, as despite having top grade computers and plenty of power it simply wasn't enough to program and turn on the Android.
Bulma knew that she had exhausted all alternatives as she reluctantly glanced to another workbench nearby, the remains of what looked like an engine of sorts sitting upon it, the metallic piece's relatively small in size masking a huge amount of potential locked within.
"Looks like I'm gonna have to get you working after all," Bulma muttered to the machinery gloomily, having hoped to avoid that eventuality.
The power core on the table was a prime example of Gero's innovation and genius. She had only ascertained the basics of its functionality, but her initial testing had come back with astounding results.
Theoretically, the power source that was sitting there unassumingly was capable of virtually infinite energy, capped at a certain power ceiling of course.
That sort of technology was something that most scientists could only ever dream of, and yet Dr. Gero had accomplished it, a truly monumental feat of engineering and science, one that he had unfortunately squandered on a foolish desire for revenge.
It was enough to drive Bulma mad, but taking in a deep breath, the beautiful and brilliant woman stood up and walked over to the power core, determined to learn its secrets.
As she began to tinker away, the door to her workshop slid open, revealing her father as he walked inside, Scratch the small black cat perched up on his shoulder.
"How are things going my dear? Any luck with your testing?" Dr. Briefs said, stopping by the computer to frown as it sparked intermittently.
"Not great if I'm honest. The Android's CPU won't start unless it gets a sufficient power source," Bulma said, gesturing to the power core in front of her.
"I see. Well what do you think about getting it started? It doesn't look too damaged thankfully," Dr. Briefs responded, carefully tapping the exterior of the power core a few times.
Bulma frowns at that as she turns to face him. "That's the problem, I don't know how to get it working!" she said in exasperation.
"Maybe if I had some of Gero's schematics, or notes I might be able to piece things together," she continued, waving her hands around before placing them on her hips.
"But since we don't have any of those I'm working off of pure trial and error," she finished, not looking at all pleased with how things were progressing.
Her father nods his head at that thoughtfully. "Hmm, well I'm sure we'll figure it out! Nothing is impossible once you put your mind to it!" he said encouragingly, Bulma sparing him a faint smile.
Dr. Briefs stares at the robotic parts in thought for a few more moments before his eyes light up in what seemed to be realisation.
"What is it dad? Did you think of some kind of miraculous breakthrough for me?" Bulma asked eagerly, her attention fixated on him in anticipation.
"Huh? Oh, no I forgot to mention that a package arrived for you!" Dr. Briefs said with an apologetic grin, Bulma almost falling over in comedic shock.
"Really? You're unbelievable!" Bulma huffed, shaking her head.
Her father chuckled as he pulled out a small grey capsule from his pocket, holding it out for Bulma who snatches it up with a curious look.
"What's this?" she asked with a frown, "Do you know who sent it?"
Dr. Briefs shrugged. "I'm not entirely sure, it came in a blank cardboard box. There were no details aside from it being addressed to you."
Bulma suddenly felt uneasy as she stared down at the small capsule, a cold shiver creeping up her spine as she was inexplicably reminded of the recent attempt on her life.
"I don't think we should open this," she said cautiously, her hand trembling a little as she glanced up to her dad.
"Hmm, why not?" Dr. Briefs asked, confused.
"Because something's not right about this! Don't you think it's suspicious that there were no details on the delivery box? Anything could pop out once we open this!" Bulma replied, glancing down warily at the capsule as if it was about to explode.
Dr. Briefs scratched his head at that. "Well, I suppose it is a little odd. If you're worried about it I can always put it through the Hoi-Poi Scanner," he offered helpfully.
"Yeah that's the safe bet. Let me know what it comes up with," Bulma said, gingerly handing the capsule back to him.
Her father then strolls amicably out of the room, leaving Bulma to her thoughts, the unsettling feeling sticking with her despite the capsule being no longer in sight.
"I've got a hunch about who might have sent that," Bulma thought worryingly to herself. "And if I'm right, then whatever's inside is bad news."
In a limitless expanse of white, two figures wreathed in bright energy traded blows, their strikes echoing throughout the void as they battled each other in intense combat.
Piccolo grit his teeth as he leapt backwards, sliding across the ground before summoning a ball of yellow ki in his hand, aiming it at his opponent with a yell.
A burst of rapid-fire spheres shoot from his palm, the hail of ki soaring towards Goku who hastily puts up his guard, deflecting the majority of the blasts with his hands whilst dodging the remainder.
Piccolo growls with his fangs bared, irritated that none of his attacks had struck true, and with a grunt of exertion he then charges up another ball of energy, this time holding both hands in front of his chest and forming a much larger energy sphere.
Goku adopts a concerned look as he watches the powerful attack charge up, and he hastily crouches down into a defensive stance to anticipate Piccolo's move.
"LIGHT GRENADE!" Piccolo roared, thrusting his hands forward and unleashing a devastating wave of energy, the yellow ball quickly expanding to a massive size as it thundered towards its target.
Goku's eyes go wide as he swiftly dodges in an instant flash of red energy, barely avoiding the attack as it sailed past him, the blast soon detonating off in the distance with an immense explosion, shaking the ground on which they stood.
Goku released the breath he'd been holding as he let his Kaioken drop, chuckling to himself at the close call.
Piccolo on the other hand remained in his firing position, his body trembling slightly as it shifted up and down with laboured breathing, the effort having clearly taxed the Namekian warrior.
"Wow Piccolo, I haven't seen that move before!" Goku called out sheepishly, walking over to Piccolo who relaxes his posture, recognising that their sparring match was on hold.
Piccolo grinned maliciously. "It's a special move I've been working on. Thought it might make things a little more interesting for you!" he said, Goku smirking at that.
"Well you sure gave me a run for my money! If I hadn't used Kaioken, I'd be a goner!" Goku admitted with a laugh.
"Don't be modest. If you'd gone Super Saiyan, that attack would have hardly scratched you," Piccolo stated observantly.
Goku shrugged at that, "Yeah, but then where's the challenge in that?"
"It's not about the challenge Goku! You need to use that form to get stronger!" Piccolo said sternly, crossing his arms with a judgmental stare. "You need to reach the next level of power that Trunks told you about!"
Goku sighed in resignation, "Yeah, I know. It would be a lot easier if Vegeta hadn't gone off to do his own training rather than working with us."
Piccolo grunts dismissively at that. "Don't concern yourself with him, you need to focus on your own training."
"Right," Goku said, before frowning. "Though he hasn't shown up for a few days. You think he's alright?"
"It'll take more than a few days without food to defeat Vegeta. He's too stubborn to die like that," Piccolo remarked dryly with a smirk.
Goku looked ready to agree before his stomach let out a loud growl, the Saiyan rubbing the back of his head bashfully as he glances hopefully over at the pavilion nearby with an awkward smile.
Piccolo nods in agreement, himself feeling thirsty for a drink of water, the two fighters wordlessly moving back to the entrance at the centre of the Room of Spirit and Time.
As Goku hurries over to the fridge to grab out food, Piccolo goes to the water fountain and takes a long draught of water, feeling thankful for his Namekian biology in such an environment as the time chamber.
After drinking his fill, Piccolo took a seat on the steps outside to meditate whilst Goku began wolfing down several bowls of rice at the table, the plates stacking up in short order as the ravenous Saiyan stuffed his face.
Piccolo attempted to block out the irksome sound of Goku eating as he instead focused on himself, shutting his eyes to allow his body and mind to recuperate after another taxing bout of sparring.
They had spent almost three months inside the time chamber so far, the training being some of the most intense that Piccolo had ever experienced.
The heavy gravity here wasn't much of a problem since he'd experienced a similar level on King Kai's planet. However combining the gravity with the rapid temperature fluctuations, not to mention the seemingly endless white void, all made for a difficult environment to endure.
In other words making it an ideal place for him to become stronger.
He'd already felt a noticeable increase in strength, his body feeling like never before, a true testament to the effectiveness of this mysterious dimension.
Despite this progress, Piccolo couldn't ignore a nagging feeling that was always in the back of his mind, one that insisted that he look at the bigger picture rather than focus on his own relatively mild increase in power.
Goku's progress was the real goal for them in coming here, and a scowl forms on Piccolo's brow as a pressing issue slowly boils up to the surface before his eyes snap open in realisation.
No matter how hard he trained, no matter how much strength he gained, the gap between him and Goku was just as vast as it had been since Namek.
The Super Saiyan form outclassed him in every way, in speed, power, endurance. There was simply no way for him to compete, even with Goku holding back.
It was why Goku opted to only use Kaioken whilst they trained, though Piccolo knew this was only a temporary measure, a short term fix to compensate for the real problem here.
That fact was that he simply wasn't strong enough to help Goku, and his continued presence here was keeping Goku from reaching his full potential.
Piccolo then swiftly stands up, Goku pausing his consumption of food to glance at the Namekian curiously.
"This has gone on long enough Goku. You are going to have to start becoming stronger as a Super Saiyan. There's no other way we'll be able to beat these Androids," Piccolo stated abruptly, Goku cocking his head at that before swallowing his current mouthful.
"Yeah I get that Piccolo. I'll get round to doing some training on that soon," Goku said reassuringly, though Piccolo just grunts irritably as he turns to face him.
"You need to start training now!" he declared loudly, before striding over to Goku. "You've been holding back whilst sparring with me! It's time to get serious!"
Goku gives Piccolo a shocked look. "What do you mean by that?"
Piccolo glances down begrudgingly. "As much as I hate to admit it, I'm not strong enough to help you in this."
"You're better off training by yourself, or better yet finding that fool Vegeta and challenging him to a fight instead," Piccolo continued, before jabbing a finger at Goku.
"You won't get stronger training like you are currently! It's more important that you're ready for the upcoming battle than it is to sit here humouring me!" he finished, sounding resigned to the fact that he was no longer a worthy rival of Goku.
Goku frowns at Piccolo, a mixture of thoughts going through his head before he gives him an understanding look, nodding as he stands up, clenching his fists in determination at his side.
"Thanks Piccolo, I really appreciate all of your help," Goku said genuinely, displaying deep respect for his old rival.
Piccolo smirks at that, "Yeah, well don't let it get to your head. I may not be powerful enough to compete with you now, but someday I'll find a way to catch up!"
Goku smiles back. "I'll be looking forward to that day!" he said eagerly, Piccolo just giving him an amused look before walking past, heading towards the exit of the room.
"Train hard Goku," Piccolo said finally, before grabbing the handle of the door and walking out onto the Lookout.
Out in the wasteland, Trunks and Gohan are resting on top of a cliff, the two of them sitting cross-legged across from each other as they talked about the training they'd finished this afternoon.
"My dad was right, you really are strong Trunks!" Gohan said in amazement, having had to really push himself to keep up with Trunk's skill.
"Hey you're doing pretty well too! When I was your age I could barely fly, let alone fight like you," Trunks admitted, taking a swig of his water bottle.
"Really? Do you think if I keep training I'll get as strong as you?" Gohan asked.
"Yeah... I've got a pretty good hunch that you'll be one of the strongest guys on this planet when you get older!" Trunks said with a smirk, recalling how the Gohan from the other timeline reached Super Saiyan 2 during his battle against Cell.
"Wow! That'd be so cool!" Gohan said in awe.
Trunks couldn't help but smile at Gohan's optimism. It was good to see a Gohan who had yet to suffer through the terror of the Androids, giving him hope that things might work out for the younger version of his mentor.
"Anyway, I guess I should head home before my mum finds out I've left," Gohan said whilst scratching his head.
Trunks nods whilst glancing at the sun sitting low across the horizon. "Yeah I should probably get going as well, it's getting late," he said in agreement, standing up slowly whilst stretching his arms above his head.
"We really stayed out late didn't we? What time is it anyway?" Trunks said as checked his watch, frowning as he saw that he had multiple notifications from his phone.
Trunks quickly pulls out his phone, his eyes widening in surprise as he sees over a dozen missed calls from Bulma since midday, worry taking over him as he dialled her number.
"Hey Gohan, I'm just gonna take a call over here for a sec," Trunks said hastily as he moved a few steps away, holding the phone to his ear as the dial tone beeped.
After a few long seconds the call is answered, Trunks getting the shock of his life when Bulma's voice yells loudly into his ear.
"Trunks! Where have you been? I've been trying to call you all afternoon!" Bulma shouted from the other end, Trunks wincing as he moved the phone away from his ear slightly.
"I was training with Gohan. I must have missed your calls whilst we were sparring," he managed to get out, Bulma just letting out an exasperated sigh in response.
"Look, it doesn't matter! You just need to get here as soon as you can!" Bulma said frantically.
"Why? What's happened? Is something wrong?" Trunks asked in a concerned tone, uneasiness forming in his gut.
"It's the Red Ribbon Army, that's what's wrong! They've sent me a capsule with some kind of video recording inside!" Bulma stated, Trunks instantly becoming on edge at the mention of the evil organisation.
"A recording? Do you know what of?" he asked, wondering what sort of message his enemies would send.
"We haven't put it on yet, we thought that you should see it first," Bulma said, sounding nervous.
Trunks scowled suspiciously at that, knowing that whatever was on that tape was likely nothing good.
Despite that, he also knew that this could be one of the only chances he'd get to find a lead on Gero and his associates, an opportunity he simply couldn't afford to pass up.
Bulma's voice calling out his name from the phone snaps him back to the present.
"Trunks? Hello, Earth to Trunks?" Bulma said, sounding worried.
"Sorry, I'll be there soon," Trunks said quickly before hanging up, shoving the phone in his pocket as he went to leave.
"Wait, Trunks!" Gohan said from behind, Trunks turning to see the boy running up.
"What's going on? Where are you going?" Gohan asked, confused at seeing his new friend leaving in a hurry.
Trunks chides himself mentally for forgetting about Gohan, and he walks up to place a hand reassuringly on Gohan's shoulder.
"Sorry Gohan, something's come up, we'll have to catch up another time," Trunks said apologetically.
"We can do some more training another day," he added, Gohan nodding glumly with a disheartened look.
"Yeah I guess so..." Gohan said, thinking back to something similar his father had said to him this morning.
Trunks picks up on Gohan's mood, feeling disheartened that there was nothing to be done about it. It was just another thing that he hated about Gero, how much one man's actions affected everything in his life.
"Things will figure themselves out Gohan," Trunks said resolutely, Gohan looking up to him in understanding, almost like a little brother to his older sibling.
"I promise we'll meet up again soon!" Trunks said before turning away, his energy forming around him as he soared off into the distance, leaving Gohan to make his own way back home.
Trunks reached West City within the hour, stopping for nothing as he soared past the tall skyscrapers and elevated highways before descending towards the city centre, making a beeline for Capsule Corp.
Smoothly landing on the ground outside, Trunks manages to avoid notice as he quickly goes inside, a look of intense concern on his face.
"Whatever's on this recording may be the difference between saving Mai and the twins or not," Trunks thought to himself grimly, feeling apprehension about the entire situation.
Making a judgment on where his mother would likely be, Trunks heads straight for the workshop, each step feeling heavier than the last as he anticipated whatever information was in store for him.
The workshop door slides open as Trunks quickly walks inside, looking over to see Bulma and Dr. Briefs standing next to a set of workbenches with Android parts strewn over them, a project that Bulma had informed him about a few days prior.
Apparently his mother was trying to glean information from the remnants of the Androids he'd fought at Gero's Northern lab, but as with anything involving Gero, things had so far been anything but easy.
"Trunks, you're here!" Bulma cried out upon seeing him, walking over to give him a quick hug.
"Where is the recording?" Trunks asked as he stepped back, getting straight to the point with a serious expression.
Bulma nods as she walks over to her computer, picking up a video tape that was lying on the desk, the seemingly normal tape providing one singular clue as to who it belonged to.
Trunks stared intently at it once Bulma handed it to him, taking a close look at the symbol plastered on the side, a bright red ribbon with two white letter 'R's placed in each bow, providing no doubt that it was property of the Red Ribbon Army.
"What could they possibly send us? Is this some kind of trap?" Trunks asked warily as he glanced up.
Bulma sighed. "Yeah I suspected that too, but dad made sure that it's safe. It's just a regular video tape from what we can tell," she offered with an unsure expression, sharing his concern about the mysterious message.
Trunks nods at that as he glanced over the tape once more before going to the computer and slotting it into the video player.
Trunks then clicks the play button and steps back to watch, the three members of the Brief's family watching in trepidation as the recording whirs to life.
A light buzzing noise comes from the video as black and white static takes up the screen, the image clearing up after a few seconds to reveal a figure seated before them, the positioning of the camera and lighting making it so that only the bottom half of the man's face could be seen, leaving his eyes and hair out of sight.
The mystery figure clears his throat, seemingly awaiting a signal of sorts before smiling as a faint clicking sound comes from behind the camera, the man's immaculate teeth on full display as began to speak.
"Greetings to you Miss Bulma, I trust that this message finds you well after the... unfortunate incident that occurred several days ago," the man started, his black goatee moving up and down as he spoke.
Bulma just scowls at that with her fists clenched, realising that the person in front of her was likely the one responsible for her almost-assassination.
"I would first like to extend my sincerest apologies for that ordeal. It was never my intention for you to be harmed, and I hope we can put whatever ill will that has caused behind us," the recording continued, oblivious as Bulma angrily pulled the finger at him.
"This message is not just an apology however. It is also a warning," he stated, his tone turning serious.
"It has come to my attention that you are in association with a man by the name of Trunks, and I would like to point out that he is as equally to blame for the incident at Capsule Corp," he added, garnering looks of shock and outrage from his audience.
"You see, Trunks is a declared enemy of my organisation, and he has been waging a campaign against me and my associates for some time now. By aligning yourself with him you not only continue to endanger yourself, but everyone close to you."
"If you wish to prevent further escalation then I ask that you pass a message along to Trunks, so that we can resolve this matter without the need for further bloodshed," the man said before pausing as he leaned forwards slightly, briefly revealing the glint of his green eyes in the shadow of the light above him.
"Please inform him that in exchange for the ceasing of hostilities we would be willing to return to him a certain dark haired girl who is currently within our care, a token of goodwill to ensure future cooperation and understanding between us."
Trunk's eyes go wide at that, a flurry of thoughts going through his head before he quickly refocuses on the recording as it continued.
"Tell Trunks that he is to be at this address at midnight tonight. He is to come alone, and fair warning, if he doesn't show or if he attempts some form of subterfuge, then he can count on never seeing Mai again," the man finished, letting the threat hang for a few seconds as the screen displayed the address of the meeting place.
"Make the smart choice," he added finally, the screen then going to black as the recording ended on those ominous final words.
Bulma immediately pulls out her phone the moment the recording finishes, and she starts tapping away, quickly finding the location of the address that had given them.
"Looks like the place he gave us is in West City. Some sort of dodgy looking bar in the downtown district," Bulma said with a frown, before looking up to see that Trunks was hardly paying attention, his face a swirl of emotion at the moment.
Bulma and Dr. Briefs give each other uncomfortable looks as they then glanced back to Trunks, seeing him mentally grappling with everything they'd just learnt, the recording having thrown him for a loop.
"So what are you thinking?" Bulma stated carefully after a short time. "I know that it's a lot to process but we've only got roughly six hours until midnight."
Trunks shifts his head from side to side with a frown, taking several moments to respond, Bulma and Dr. Briefs giving him time to think before he eventually clears his throat.
"Well, I think it's obvious that they're worried about me for starters. They wouldn't even be bothering with these 'negotiations' otherwise," Trunks stated, leaning back against the bench with his arms crossed.
"There's no way I can trust them. Whatever agreement they want must have an angle to it," he continued, staring down at the ground intently as he thought it over.
Trunks sighs. "But if there's a chance at getting Mai back, I have to take it. I won't leave her to these monsters," he said resolutely, causing Bulma to give him a worried look.
"Look Trunks, I understand that you want to save Mai, but negotiating with people like this, well... it's never going to end well," Bulma said, Dr. Briefs nodding in agreement as Trunks exhales.
"I know, but if I don't try this then Mai's as good as dead," Trunks said simply.
Bulma rubs her arms nervously. "Right. What about Lapis and Lazuli? That guy didn't mention them. Do you think they're planning on keeping them?" she ventured uneasily.
Trunks didn't say anything for a moment, a resigned look on his face.
"Gero won't give them up, that's almost certain," he admitted bitterly, getting a sinking feeling that the decision might resort to choosing between Mai and the twins.
"What are we going to do then?" Bulma asked, appearing deeply troubled at the idea of leaving the twins to their fate.
"I don't know," Trunks said solemnly. "But whatever happens, I'll do my best to bring them all back. Even if some things can't be helped."
Bulma lets out a stressed sigh at that, slumping down in her chair as she stared off into nothing, her mind reeling from the horrible choice presented to them.
Dr. Briefs shakes his head in dismay. "I'm afraid this looks like one of those times where there is no easy answer. All you can do now is try for the best, we'll support you all the way," the old man said as he walked up to pat Trunks on his arm.
Trunks gave him a brief smile in gratitude, Dr. Briefs then heading out the door, leaving the remaining two to their swirling thoughts.
After a couple of minutes of silence, Bulma stands up and begins tinkering absent-mindedly on the Android pieces, attempting to distract herself from the daunting prospect of what was to come.
Trunks too sought a distraction from his thoughts, and he walks up beside her to look at the Android power core.
"Any luck with getting the Android powered on?" he asked half-heartedly, Bulma taking a few moments to respond as she put down a wrench with a sigh.
"Not really. This sort of robotics is above even my knowledge, it's probably gonna take some time before I figure things out and get it up and running," Bulma said before frowning. "I might even need to fully reconstruct the Android's chassis to get it functional."
Trunks just nods quietly at that as he doesn't really know what else to say, though after a moment Bulma turns to him with a concerned look, one that Trunks returns as she places both hands on his shoulders.
"Promise me you'll be careful, alright? I know you're a good fighter and all that, but you can't let your guard down when dealing with those Red Ribbon guys," she said, almost like a mother would say to her son.
Trunks didn't know if it was simply a coincidence, but Bulma's words stirred a warm feeling in his heart as he recalled his true mother from his original timeline, and how she would give similar kind of pep talks to him when he'd often leave home.
"I promise... I'll come back," Trunks said stoically, doing his best to keep his emotions from getting the better of him again.
Bulma smiles at Trunks before giving him another hug, the two of them embracing each other for several moments before they break apart.
There was a clear connection between them, a familial sense that overrided the logical side of their brief friendship. It was as if even through timelines, the bond between mother and son was stronger than ever.
"Well, I'm probably gonna sit down for a while. Let me know if you need anything, this is your home now as much as it is ours," Bulma said thoughtfully, Trunks smiling his thanks once again as Bulma then leaves the room as well.
Trunks remained in the workshop for a while in silence, the background noises of the air conditioning and beeping of computers being the only company as he was left to deliberate on a course of action.
He only had a few hours to prepare for a meeting that could very well decide the fate of this timeline.
Six hours later, Trunks was hovering over the city streets below, watching as the occasional car drove past the line of shops and other buildings, the street lamps illuminating the empty sidewalk where his attention lay.
Nestled between an appliance store and furniture warehouse was a small unassuming bar with a bright red neon sign, the image of a well dressed man with red hair and an eye patch painted on the facade giving it a somewhat dated appearance.
It was where his supposed meeting with the Red Ribbon Army was to be held, and from the outward appearance of the building and lack of light inside, Trunks accurately guessed that the bar was well shut at this time of night.
"Must have closed up shop for our little chat," Trunks thought with begrudging acknowledgment, recognising the smarts of his opponents in choosing a sufficiently quiet spot.
Trunks pulled back his shirt sleeve to check his wristwatch again, watching as the seconds counted down to midnight, a mere minute away now.
He had been waiting for almost half an hour at this point, having gotten impatient and figuring that going earlier would allow him to scope out the place where the meeting was being held, and on the off chance potentially spying any movements of the Red Ribbon Army inside.
He had been quite disappointed when it appeared that no-one had arrived or was waiting for him, a disconcerting thought for him as he watched the seconds tick down.
"30 seconds now," Trunks thought impatiently, realising that he'd have to go in blind, unwilling to risk any fault being given to him when so much was at stake.
Trunks took in a deep breath as he knew there was little point in delaying the inevitable, and he swiftly moves down through the air to the building entrance.
With little more than a tap of his shoes on the sidewalk, Trunks sets down in front of the bar doors, a serious expression on his face as he stepped forwards to grasp the handle.
To his slight surprise the door opened easily, with no lock or any other security to speak of as he stepped into the dark and dingy main room, the only light from inside coming from the glass door of a small fridge over the bar counter.
Trunks glanced around cautiously as it appeared that the whole building was completely empty, his energy sensing failing to pick up any ki signatures within, a chill going down his spine as he got a bad feeling about this.
He nearly jumped when the sound of quiet whirring came from the room somewhere, and Trunks hastily looked around before finding to his shock that a security camera with a red light was trained on him, almost as if it was watching him specifically.
Trunks warily approached the camera, watching with interest as it followed his movements. Before he has time to ponder the bizarre security system further, a ringing sound comes from the bar, the landline on the bar top buzzing with a blinking yellow light.
Trunks squints in suspicion as he then walks around to the phone, waiting for a few moments before picking up the old corded phone, placing it hesitantly up to his ear, waiting tensely for whoever had rung.
"Hello Trunks, I'm glad that you decided to attend this little meeting," came a man's voice through the line, Trunk's instantly recognising it as the man from the video tape message.
"You," Trunks said aloud, saying it less like a question and more like a statement, disgust obvious in the tone used.
"Yes. A pleasure to finally speak with you," the man said smugly, causing Trunks to scowl in irritation.
"I thought you were supposed to meet me here! I didn't agree to speak through a phone!" Trunks spat angrily, infuriated that he'd been outplayed again.
"Did you really expect me to be so foolish as to confront you in person?" the man scoffed. "I know very well of your capabilities Trunks. This suits me much better I think."
Trunks growls angrily, "Enough of these games! Tell me where Mai, Lapis and Lazuli are!" he snapped with barely restrained anger, the air around him taking on a slight electrified aspect as the lights flickered behind him.
"Now, now! Let's not get ahead of ourselves just yet. There are certain formalities in order, I'm sure you want to know who I am and why I wanted to speak to you," the man said quickly, Trunks narrowing his eyes at him, before dropping the energy field reluctantly.
"Yeah, you're right, in fact that's the only reason why I decided to come here," Trunks stated, seeming fed up with all of the antics and manoeuvring.
"So let's get straight to the point," Trunks seethed. "You can start by telling me who you are and why I should even hear you out at all? As far as I'm concerned the only thing we have to 'negotiate' is the release of my friends from you and Dr. Gero!"
"Because Trunks, I am your only hope of seeing your friend Mai again," he said ominously.
"You may have already heard my name, but just in case, I am known as Orange, former officer of the Red Ribbon Army and currently the partner of our mutual friend Dr. Gero," Orange said, Trunks not deigning to answer as Orange cleared his throat.
"Look Trunks, I know how you despise me for what I have done to you, however I must confess that your anger is quite misplaced! We do not have to be enemies here!" he said quickly, Trunks cocking an eyebrow incredulously at that.
"Really? As far as I'm concerned you're the muscle behind Gero's entire operation. That makes you responsible for the capture of my friends, not to mention the attempted murder of Bulma!" he said accusingly.
"Well you'd be surprised at just how little I was involved in both of those situations!" Orange said assuredly, Trunks just snorting in impatience, prompting Orange to get to the point.
"Gero is the one behind all of this, I had no part to play in the capture of your friends, that was he and Tao!" Orange explained "The attempt on Bulma's life was in fact a rogue action taken by one of my hirelings! A situation that I admit was unfortunate!"
"I assure you that all I ordered was simply for the retrieval of the equipment and the Dragon Radar, nothing more. The decision to shoot Bulma was theirs alone," he finished.
Trunks glowered suspiciously at the explanation, unsure of whether what he was hearing was the truth or nothing but a string of lies to cover the lieutenant's hide.
"What difference does it make? You're still responsible for the actions of those you choose to work with!" Trunks retorted fiercely. "In my mind you're no better than Gero!"
"That is exactly why I wish to negotiate! I am better than Gero, and in fact me simply talking to you here demonstrates this!" Orange said confidently.
Trunks didn't trust Orange even a little, but even he could admit that he was right. Gero would have never negotiated, he would have sooner given up on his plans to kill Goku.
"Then why are you talking to me then? I'm telling you now that unless you're here to hand over my friends then there's nothing to discuss," Trunks said bluntly.
"Ah, well you see I can only help with one of your friends, that being Mai. The twins unfortunately are not up for negotiating," Orange said, almost sounding apologetic.
"You see Gero will never give up those twins, they are his next project, and I'm afraid he has already begun their conversion into androids," Orange continued, Trunk's eyes going wide.
"What? You're telling me that the bastard has already started working on them!" Trunks shouted in outrage, his fists gripped tightly at his sides as his face contorted in fury.
"Yes, and as such I can only guarantee the safe handing of Mai over to you," Orange replied, Trunks scoffing in response.
"You seriously can't expect me to just give up on them? I'm not letting Gero turn them into killing machines!" Trunks yelled, a fierce determination in his eyes.
"I cannot change Gero's course. He may be my partner in this matter, but he is a dangerous man who harbours no goodwill towards me," Orange admitted. "That being said, I also harbour no loyalty to him."
Trunks adopts a confused look at that, not fully understanding what Orange was implying.
"Allow me to explain. Gero is a dangerous man, brilliant of course, but utterly consumed by vengeance. He holds a burning anger towards this entire world that would lead to its certain destruction," Orange stated, causing Trunks to become even more perplexed with each word.
"I do not want this world destroyed, far from it. And I'll bet that you are of the same mind no? I am willing to negotiate with you in order to get what both of us want," Orange said, sounding genuine.
Trunks shakes his head at that. "And what do you want exactly?"
"Put simply I want power. I want to reform the Red Ribbon Army, but this time avoiding the mistakes that Commander Red made," Orange stated with enthusiasm.
"I want to influence this world to meet my ends, however that requires a means to control it. The androids that Gero is making will be the means of that control, as well as the source of my power," he finished, a hint of mania in his tone.
Trunks just snorts in disbelief. "World domination, I've heard that plenty of times before. Do you seriously think I'll just sit by and let that happen?" he sneered, having had enough of idiots vying for world domination at this point.
"Not really. But the way I see things you have two options before you," Orange said, pausing for effect.
"The first option is you take my offer. I will return Mai to you tonight, and in exchange you shall cease your activities against myself, Gero and my men, until such time as when Android's 17 and 18 are operational," Orange stated.
"At that point, I will defy Gero and take control of his operation. You will have your revenge against him should you wish."
"Then we part ways, you do not interfere in my business and I will refrain from utilising the Androids against you and your allies," Orange finished, Trunks shaking his head in disbelief.
"Yeah right, and the other option?" Trunks asked condescendingly, feeling like this entire talk was nothing but a waste of time.
"The second option is you refuse to agree to my terms, you choose to walk away and abandon Mai to her fate," Orange stated in a serious tone.
"I can assure you that Mai will meet her end tonight if that is the case. You will also be no closer to finding your other friends, and Gero will continue to construct his world destroyers, who he will no doubt use to horrific effect once they're finished," Orange stated bluntly, leaving Trunks glowering.
"So no choice at all then?" Trunks growled dismissively, figuring that this is what he had expected out of Orange.
"It's the best choice I can give you, considering the circumstances," Orange offered, Trunks just shaking his head again.
"How am I supposed to trust any of this? What's to stop you from stabbing me in the back as well? This smells like a trap to me!" he said fiercely.
"I suppose you can't fully trust me in this... a reasonable reaction given everything that's happened,"Orange admitted, "The question is, are you willing to give up Mai's life over the lack of trust between us?"
"We are both in positions to betray each other, I can just as easily continue to target your weaker allies as you can continue to search for Gero and my whereabouts," Orange added, before continuing with an intensity in his voice
"You know, whilst in our custody, Mai said that you knew everything about Gero, the Androids and his plans," Orange said carefully.
"If that's true, then you should know that at this point its too late to stop what's been put in motion," he continued. "You can still save Mai, don't throw her life away over this, you will not get another chance to save her."
Trunks just stares bitterly at the wall, wanting nothing more than to find the vile man on the other end of the line and throw a punch into his smarmy face.
Biting down on his anger however, Trunks glances down to ponder the real question he had to answer here.
To save Mai, or to let her die.
"What the hell am I supposed to do? Do I play along to get Mai back, but then what about the twins? I can't just let them become Androids, they don't deserve that!" Trunks thought to himself, desperately trying to figure a way out of this figurative checkmate.
"I can get Mai back by agreeing to his plan, but then if I renege on the deal then she'll just be in danger again, not to mention Bulma and the others! I can't protect them all the time, that much was obvious from what happened at the house!"
"Lapis and Lazuli... I know that they can survive their transformation, I can almost guarantee that. But at what cost? They'll be stripped of their humanity, forced into service of Orange or Gero," Trunks thought, his mind spiralling with a never ending cascade of concerns, worries, and doubts.
"So what will it be Trunks? Have you come to a decision?" Orange stated curiously, having been watching through the camera as Trunks waged a battle with himself mentally.
Trunks looks up again, a furious scowl on his face and hate in his eyes, fists clenched so tight at his sides that his knuckles were white, the weight of the world seemingly on his head.
A decision had to be made, and after a few tense moments, Trunks gives his answer.
Mai let out a groggy groan of pain as her eyes blinked open, the world around her spinning as she tried to sit up.
A hand carefully rests on her shoulder, Mai taking a moment to register the person at her bedside.
"Easy now, you've been through a lot," Bulma said cautiously, gently pushing Mai so that she rested her head back down on the pillow.
"Where am I? What's going on?" Mai mumbled in confusion, glancing around to see that it was a small medical ward.
Bulma sighs in response. "You're in the medical room at Capsule Corp, we only got you back a couple of hours ago," she said, watching Mai carefully for her response.
Mai frowns slightly at that before her eyes go wide in realisation.
"Capsule Corp?" she nearly shouted, her voice coming out like a strangled gasp.
Mai coughs a bit before, looking at Bulma in shock. "How? I was in Gero's base, I was... I was..." she muttered, a shudder hitting her as she recalled the horrible days she'd endured, starving and alone in the pitch black of her holding cell.
"It's okay, you're safe now," Bulma reassured soothingly, a pained smile on her face as she rubbed Mai's shoulder.
Mai allows herself to calm down, her breathing ragged as she falls back down on the bed, utterly exhausted from her ordeal.
"What happened?" Mai asked quietly, a concerned look on her face as she couldn't understand how she had gotten back to her friends.
Bulma pauses at that, looking unsure at how to best address the delicate situation.
"A lot has happened since you were captured. Trunks has had to make a really difficult call to get you back," Bulma admitted, Mai appearing confused at that.
"What do you mean?" Mai asked, an uncomfortable feeling forming within her.
"Um, well..." Bulma trailed off, glancing over to the other side of the room, Mai only just now seeing that Trunks was leaning up against the wall in the corner, his head hung and eyes to the ground.
"Trunks? What's happened?" Mai asked in a worried tone, not liking the look of this at all.
Trunks doesn't immediately respond as he is seemingly unable to look up at her, though after several drawn out seconds he glances up at her, an ashamed look on his face.
"I... I couldn't save them," Trunks said quietly, the emotion having all but left his voice.
Mai quickly shifts to sit upright again, Bulma aiding her up.
"What do you mean? Who are you talking about?" Mai asked, though she felt a pit of dread form in her stomach as she suspected who he meant.
Trunks just looks away again, unable to match her gaze or speak about it.
"Trunks..." Mai said as tears began to form, his mood telling her everything that she needed to know without anything being explained.
Mai just slumps back down onto her bed, her energy having completely left her as she choked back tears, Bulma looking upset as well as she helped wipe Mai's tears with a tissue.
"We were supposed to protect them," Mai whispered miserably, knowing that Trunks meant that Lapis and Lazuli were lost. He had been unable to get them back.
Trunk's body was shaking with emotion before he grimaces and walks out of the room abruptly, unable to bear the conversation anymore.
Mai didn't bother to call out to him, knowing how hard it was for him, and she simply lies back with a defeated expression, Bulma silently sitting by her side as a horrible silence took up the room.
"What have we done?" Mai thought bleakly to herself, closing her eyes as she felt herself slip into sleep once again.
A/N: Hey guys, another long wait for this chapter, well over a year to be exact. So sorry about that, but I've not really been into writing as much as I used to which has obviously made for very slow progress on this story.
I can't guarantee when the next chapter will come out for this story, and I can't give any confirmation that I'll be updating more frequently or anything. Life's been pretty busy and my interest has been drawn elsewhere for some time now. Honestly I think I'm simply just not as interested in writing this particular story at the moment, which sucks but New Future just doesn't have the same appeal it did to me way back in 2021 when I started it.
I don't know what the future is for this story but I refuse to say that it's on hold or hiatus. I might try to work on something else in the meantime to try and reinvigorate my desire to write again, but nothing is set in stone. It may be another long while yet before I return to writing this story.
Hopefully you all understand, and I genuinely thank you for taking the time to read my work, Literal.