Chapter Ten

Evil Trunks sat on the top of a car, his chin cupped in his hand. Evil Gohan sat on the hood of the same car, leaning back against the windshield.

"I'm bored," the lavender-haired demon sighed.

"They can't sense us so they'll never find us," Evil Gohan said.

"Then let's cause some damage."

Exchanging unpleasant smiles, they turned into Super Saiyans and took off in opposite directions. They began firing energy balls into anything in sight--including people.

#18 helped Chichi and Marron from the water. Videl and Bulma were on their feet, exploring their new hideout.

"How did you find this place?" Bulma asked, rubbing her wet hair. "It's beautiful."

#18 had taken them to an underwater cavern, its walls decorated with shiny shards of shell. They had to dive to get there, but there were towels and sheets, as well as a couple of food capsules. She tossed them some towels.

"Krilin took me here for our honeymoon," she answered, her hand touching the wall reverently as she thought of her husband. "He'd found it during one of his dives from Kame House. We come back every anniversary or whenever we just need time alone. It was a second home."

"It's beautiful, Mom," Marron said, taking #18's hand.

"We'll be safe here," Videl said.

"How about the rest of the world?" Chichi asked, hugging herself and shivering.

#18 handed her a dry shirt and a pair of shorts. Bulma turned on the small space heater tucked into one corner.

"The rest of the world will be fine," Videl said firmly. "They're going to win."

"They have to," Bulma said flatly. "Because if they die..."

"Don't say it, Bulma," Chichi warned. "I can't hear this right now."

Bulma nodded. She changed into the dry clothes #18 gave her and leaned against a wall, wrapping a blanket around herself. She closed her eyes and buried her face in her arms. The others followed he example, lapsing into a heavy silence.

Vegeta, Bura, Trunks....come back to me...

The flickering lights caught Bura's eye. She tapped Goten's arm and pointed. Eyes narrowing, he touched a hand to his ear and told the others the location of their prey. They had been guarding the line of people leaving the city. The city was in a state of emergency, had been since the explosion of Capsule Corp's tower and compound. But now, the people were leaving in droves, on foot, in cars, and on bikes.

The warriors landed in the middle of the street, or at least what used to be a street. Nothing but shattered glass and crushed concrete remained. Bodies littered the ground for there had been several apartment buildings. They stood in a circle, leaving no one's back open to attack.

"We're here," Goku said somberly.

"You didn't have to do this," Gohan said, gesturing with his arm.

"We never really have to do anything," Evil Gohan snapped.

"Boredom I suppose," Vegeta said smoothly, not bothering to hide his low opinion of this fact.

"You suppose right," Evil Trunks replied. "You know, I think I'm going to get rid of your first."

Vegeta crouched down into fighting stance. "If you hadn't chickened out on the last battle, I would have finished it."

Glaring at him, Evil Trunks unsheathed his sword. Bura stepped forward, ready to attack, but Vegeta held out a hand.

"No more of this fairness bullshit," she snarled, slapping his hand. "I'm not going to let you die, Daddy."

"You can't even turn Super Saiyan yet," he protested angrily.

Then, to his shock, Bura transformed with the blink of an eye. There were gasps of surprise all around save from Goten. He gave her an appreciative glance and winked.

"I was going to save this for your birthday, but I'll just think of something else," she said with a smirk identical to Vegeta's.

"How sweet," Evil Trunks said sarcastically.

Moving with lightning speed, he flew at them, sword pointed at Bura's heart. Bura sidestepped the sword, swinging her fist at Evil Trunks' face, but he moved too quickly and she merely grazed him. He kneed her in the stomach as Vegeta rushed in, his fist connecting neatly with Evil Trunks' jaw.

"Don't you ever hit my little girl again," Vegeta warned.

Bura came back with a swift kick in the torso, but Evil Trunks merely looked at her. He opened his hand to deliver the death blow, but Goten flew over and kicked his hand. The blast flew up into the sky instead.

"Three against one," Evil Trunks said, backing up and holding his sword at ready. "Now we have a fight."

Yelling, he swung his sword and charged.

At the other end of the street, Evil Gohan came flying at his counterpart, hand outstretched. Goku and Future Trunks flanked Gohan. In unison, Future Trunks and Gohan powered up to Super Saiyan, but Goku stayed in regular form. Gohan looked at him, alarmed, but he turned his attention back to Evil Gohan. Stepping in front of his father, Gohan took the blast that he saw was heading towards him. With a scream, he slammed into Evil Gohan, drawing him far from Goku.

"Transform, Goku!" Future Trunks yelled, his eyes round with panic.

But Goku looked even more panicked. Sweat stood out on his forehead and his breath came out in shallow gasps. "I can't!"

"Why not?"

"I don't know!"

"Shit," Future Trunks swore and unsheathed his sword. "Stay behind me."

Meanwhile, Vegeta, Goten, and Bura were getting worn out by Evil Trunks. He was out of breath, but otherwise showed no problem with fighting all three of them. However, Bura had blood dripping from the corner of her mouth, Goten's arm was badly cut, and Vegeta was scratched and bruised.

Impossible, he thought frantically. How does he do it?

Vegeta pulled back slightly and let the other two handle him. After watching Bura fight, he knew she must have been training behind his back. And judging by her fighting style, she'd trained with Goten. Vegeta tucked that piece of information in the back of his brain and handled the problem at hand. Squinting against the sword's glare, Vegeta stared at Evil Trunks, looking for anything he could use.

He handles that sword better than Trunks, he thought as he blocked a blow. Punches are controlled well even though he uses his maximum power.

Then, realization made him lose his concentration momentarily, but long enough for Evil Trunks to land a kick to his face. Vegeta flew backward, smashing into a wall. He laid back for a second to get his thoughts in order.

He's as old as I am...at least.

Jumping to his feet and a new power surging through him, Vegeta flew straight into Evil Trunks.