“Whats wrong?” Trunks cried, running shirtless into his son’s room
“He took her.” the little boy whimpered rubbing his sleepy eyes
“Took who?” Trunks questioned feeling fear stab at the pit of his stomach when he noticed the open window nearby
“Mommy.” came the dreaded answer
Trunks felt his blood literally freeze in his veins, he felt that cold. “That’s silly son.” he heard himself whisper faintly “Mommy’s in my room, I’m sure.”
Spinning on his heel, trying not to frighten his son, Trunks made a mad dash back to his room. He found the bed he and his wife, Maron, shared empty. The outline of where her body once was, was still barely visible.
“Boxers!!” Trunks called to his 6-year old son as he reentered the room “Who took Mommy?”
“A man.” Boxers said simply, playing with a red rubber ball in his bed “Snatched her up when she brought me some water.”
“What did this man look like?” Trunks asked patiently, eyeing the shattered glass lying in a pile of water on the floor.
“He looked like..” Boxers trailed off in thought “Uncle 17!!”
Trunks’s heart leapt into his throat and stayed there. “Uncle 17!?” he squealed to himself “Why would he want Maron?”
“He said something about what was his.” Boxers answered even though Trunks hadn’t expected him to respond
Trunks’s eyes widened with realization. “17 was always in love with her.” his mind told him “Maybe he finally snapped.”
“When is she coming home?” Boxers whined throwing the ball into Trunks’s forehead by accident “I miss her.”
“Soon.” Trunks muttered the wheels in his head turning like mad “Soon, go back to sleep.”
“But what about Mommy!!” Boxers squeaked looking truly frightened “Uncle 17 just came barging in and pulled her out my window!!”
“Oh he was just playing a game.” Trunks lied quickly “Kind of like hide and go seek.”
“I wanna play!!” Boxers demanded jumping up and down on his bed
“Its late.” Trunks snapped firmly “You can play in the morning.”
Boxers gave Trunks a defying look with pale blue eyes he’d inherited from his Mother. His long straight purple hair fell into his eyes. Reluctantly he lied back down on his bed and pulled his Bubbles doll closer. “Nighty night Daddy.” he cooed sweetly
“Good night Boxers.” Trunks whispered backing out of the room. As soon as the door clicked closed he made a mad dash for the kitchen phone.
“Hello Dad!?” he cried into the phone
“Do you have any idea what time it is boy?” Vegeta demanded, half awake and angry
“Dad this is an emergency!!” Trunks hissed, trying to keep his voice down so Boxers wouldn’t hear
“What kind of emergency?”
“17 took Maron!!”
“Consider yourself lucky.” Vegeta spat “Tell him if he wants a squeaky green haired bitch, to come and get Bluma!!”
“Vegeta!!” a female voice in the background exploded “What did you just say!?”
“Uhhh.. How much I love you Bluma dear.” Vegeta murmured quickly to save his skin
“Dad can you come over and watch Boxers for me?” Trunks asked, growing impatient with his Father
“That kid!!” Vegeta shouted “The last time I watched him he caused me to throw my back out!!”
“He fixed it like ten minutes later didn’t he?” Trunks heard Bluma tease, obviously catching on to the conversation
“Yes, but it still hurt at the time.” Vegeta grumbled
“Vegeta if Trunks needs you to baby-sit you get that hairy black ass of yours over there and do it!!” Bluma ordered
“Yes dear.” Vegeta sighed “I’ll be there in five minutes, boy.”
“Thanks Dad and please hurry.” Trunks begged hanging up the phone
“That thing still sleeping?” Vegeta asked as he entered the house nearly twenty minutes later
“That thing is my son, and yes.” Trunks snapped angrily
“What do I have to do?”
“Just keep an eye on him.” Trunks replied, grabbing his sword
“I saw that 17 on the way here.” Vegeta declared, flopping onto Trunks’s sofa
“You did!?” Trunks shouted not caring if Boxers heard or not “Why didn’t you stop him!!”
“I’m to old to be fighting.” Vegeta responded with a smirk
“That’s not why.” Trunks snarled balling his hands into fists “You were just to tired to do anything!!”
“That’s another way of putting it, yes.” Vegeta replied with a yawn
“FATHER!!” Trunks roared stepping towards him menacingly
“Hey hey!!” Vegeta cried sitting upright “Don’t get any ideas, what would your kid think?”
Trunks stopped in his tracks, how did his Dad always manage to find a way out of everything!! “What was 17 doing?” he managed to ask, still shaking with anger
“He was carrying that wife of yours over his shoulder, looked like he was heading towards that old lighthouse near the ocean.”
“At least your good for some things Dad.” Trunks commented “I wouldn’t be able to find Maron so fast without you.”
“What can I say?” Vegeta replied lying back down “Now go away, your wasting valuable sleeping time....”
The air outside the lighthouse felt cold and stinging as Trunks approached the old structure. All the glass windows had long been broken, and the tiny wooden balcony overlooking the ocean was half gone. Even the roof looked like it was going to collapse in on itself.
“Your one screwed up SOB, 17.” Trunks muttered to himself as he pried the last of the wooden beams away from the doorframe.
As soon as he stepped into the room and huge rat scurried over his foot. Trunks looked at it with disgust, feeling sorry for Maron if she was indeed here. She had always been afraid of rats.
“Stop!!” a familiar voice above him squealed “Leave me alone!!”
“Maron!!” Trunks brain shouted as he ran for the creaky stairs. Being as silent as he was capable of, Trunks crept up the staircase.
“17 leave me alone!! I’m not like you anymore!!” Maron protested trying to ward her former friend away from her
“Were both human now, silly.” 17 purred backing her towards the balcony Trunks had seen outside before.
“You don’t even have a human name.” Maron pointed out
“Whats wrong with 17?” he asked innocently reaching for her hand
“Stay away from me!!” Maron ordered backing up further
“That balcony probably can’t hold much weight.” Trunks told himself “You can’t let Maron stand on it!!”
“Come here Maron.” 17 urged grabbing her by the waist
“Leave her alone!!” Trunks thundered emerging from his hiding place, sword drawn
“Trunks.” an amused 17 greeted, pushing Maron away from him and the balcony “I figured you’d be coming.”
“Well Maron is my wife.” Trunks pointed out, following 17’s every movement closely
“That’s not the way it should of been.” 17 snarled, hate feeling his scary ice-blue eyes “Her and I were created for each other.”
“Your insane!!” Maron screamed from her place on the floor “I’ve never been in love with you, not even for a second!!”
17 winced in obvious pain, but recovered quickly. “nonsense my love.” he cooed “Trunks has just clouded your mind.”
“Maron’s coming home with me!!” Trunks interrupted raising his sword threateningly
“We’ll see.” 17 sneered grabbing a sharp piece of wood from the cluttered floor
Trunks side-stepped as 17 lunged and planted a swift quick into his back. 17 stumbled but regained his balance and managed to slice open the top of Trunks’s hand in the process.
“Trunks no!!” a frightened Maron shouted from the floor
Trunks made the mistake of looking over at her to tell her it was ok, and had 17 charge into him. Maron’s screams resounded throughout the lighthouse as the two went crashing through the weak doors and collapsed onto the balcony.
Both afraid to move the two lay motionless for several minutes. Trunks could sense that 17 was right next to him. He looked up in time to see the former android try to impale him with his own sword.
Catching the blade right between his hands, Trunks could feel his blood running over the blade. 17’s eyes glowed red, like candles were lit behind them. He applied more and more pressure, trying to cut Trunk’s hands in half.
Slowly raising to his feet, holding the blade the entire time, Trunks swung his foot straight into 17’s stomach. Losing his balance, 17 stumbled to the side, his right foot swinging out over the edge.
Trying to regain his balance he dropped Trunks’s sword, and stepped backward. But he hadn’t counted on Maron who was waiting in the broken doorway.
“Maron don’t!!” 17 screamed as she shoved him with all her might, sending him tumbling down onto the jagged rocks below.
Trunks looked to the side as a “Splat!!” came roaring up at them
“Oh my God.” he heard Maron gasp a few moments later
Daring to look down he saw how the tips of the waves were stained crimson. The eager rocks below looked painted with blood.
“Trunks.” Maron sobbed as they reentered the lighthouse and embraced quickly “I knew you’d save me.”
“Of course Baby, I love you.” Trunks admitted “But you did the hard part.”
Maron gave a small laugh and kissed him full on the lips. “Whose taking care of Boxers?” she asked a few seconds later when everything seemed alright
“Oh my God Vegeta!!” Trunks cried, having completely forgotten....
“One more time Grandpa!!” Boxers little voice squealed as Trunks and Maron entered their house
“I didn’t want you to do it the first time.” Vegeta, looking rather worn, spat “And don’t call me Grandpa!!”
“Hi Dad, how’d it go?” Maron questioned, holding back a laugh
“Terrific.” Vegeta muttered sarcastically trying to fix his hair that looked full of a combination of honey, peanut butter, and chocolate syrup
“Grandpa let me shampoo his hair!!” Boxers declared happily, running to hug his mother
“I did not!!” Vegeta shouted “Your little brat snuck up on me while I was sleeping and dumped all this shit in my hair!!”
“Dad!!” Maron scolded “Watch your language.”
“Damn women.” Vegeta snarled as he hurried towards the door “Gonna be the death of me....”
