video

[waitingforhope]

The screen flickers on to find two faces staring back. The first, a young woman who appears to be in her late 20s, appears to be smiling warmly. Attempting a pleasant enough first impression, regardless of any inner personal feelings regarding her current situation. The second, a young man roughly the same age, with a serious expression that otherwise says nothing about his current feelings aside from a weariness in his eyes.]

[It's the woman who speaks first:]

To whomever may end up seeing this...I'm Mai. And this is Trunks.

This isn't exactly the situation we were expecting—but that's probably a common reaction here.

We reviewed as much of the information provided to us as possible, but I'm afraid we still have a few questions. The first... [Here, Mai hesitates, as if still attempting to process the best way to phrase her words.] ...we were wondering about any local military organizations...or, at the very least, law enforcement...that may or may not be stationed here.

[And then, as if realizing how such a request might be interpreted, she made a point to add:]

I was told we were supposed to get jobs here, and wanted to inquire because we have many years of experience with combat and are willing to offer our aid. If it's wanted.

[With that, she turns the screen over to Trunks.]

We were also wondering if any is familiar with Capsule Corporation. It was a prominent and well known business in our world.

[Nodding to herself at his words, Mai turned back just long enough to end the broadcast with a light bow of her head and:]

Thank you in advance for your time. Anything that can be provided would be greatly appreciated.

Comments

video.

[beamsmagicalgirls]

[Well well well, color him surprise.]

There are Guardians here elected among us for each city. As for military personal, I think there's one in Fayren. The regular citizens here doesn't mind too much who applies too much, I guess you could work as a law enforcer on the spot.

Jolly Eddy's isn't bad either. It's an escort service for Everglade. And wasn't your hair purple last time?

[light_of_willpower]

[Oh yes, that is a scowl. BUT...thankfully he's met the alternate 18. And her daughter. And found out she was married to Krillin. Which...is still a little hard to wrap his head around.]

You like your sister, with the family and changed and stuff?

[This is him being tense, but polite, okay?]

[waitingforhope]

[Memories of years ago flashed before her, and though she had also met and heard about the Android 18 of the past...along with Trunks saying something about family and change...none of that registered quickly enough to stop a knee-jerk reaction:]

Android 17?

[beamsmagicalgirls]

[Thank goodness 18 filled him in on some stuff. Not a whole lot but enough.]

Relax. I'm not from that future. Yeah, I have a family and I work as a park ranger, back in my world.

[This feels almost confusing as he scratches his head, but whatever.]

Son Goku, my sister and two unwanted are here. And that other guy too.

[beamsmagicalgirls]

[Seventeen doesn't phase too much about it. He hasn't seen people in terror in a long time though.]

Yes, but I'm not that Seventeen from your time.

[Making it crystal clear.]

[light_of_willpower]

[Okay, the scowl is....lessening. Honestly, Trunks is probably not going to relax for a while. But there is a bit of startlement at the idea of a family and-- A park ranger? Seriously?

That might be the part that surprises him the most.]

If you could give us their names, 17. Not just unwanted or the other guy.

[It's dry, but less brusque at least. Then there's a head-tilt.]

A park ranger?

[WHY?! HOW?]

[waitingforhope]

[There was a lengthy pause on her end. Considering his claim, if only because the 17 she had once known would never have bothered to lie about something like that. What would have been the point? He wasn't there in person to attack should she let her guard down, and to the best of Mai's knowledge, the broadcast was public.]

[...still, she remained tense. Wary.]

Then what time are you from?

[beamsmagicalgirls]

[He just sighs, he actually almost rolls his eyes.]

Cell and Freiza.

[He simply states dryly. Right back at ya, with out the worry of the world.]

And there's a guy who resembles Son Goku, that's about it.

[He never really interacted with Bardock, opps.]

Park ranger.

[Right back at ya.]

[light_of_willpower]

[Okay, that scowl is back, as is the tension.]

......a guy who resembles Son Goku? How much? Any identifying marks?

[Sorry 17, gonna focus on that for the moment.]

[beamsmagicalgirls]

778

[He responds dryly. He doesn't seem to worry one bit about it, such a chill android.]

My sister and I get our own families and life almost happily ever after. Besides, I heard you guys beat our alter selves.

[beamsmagicalgirls]

Besides his hair and temper?

[He didn't realize he opened a can of worms.]

He has a red bandanna and yells at Freiza. Is it really something to worry about?

[waitingforhope]

[She did the math in her head. A little quick, perhaps, but if she was right...then that would mean he was almost certainly from the Past. The timeline she and Trunks had just come from.]

Not me. [She knew that betraying such information could have worked against her in certain situations, but she also knew better than to bluff a falsehood.] That was Trunks. Before we met.

[That she knew of]

But...if you and Android 18 both changed...then good. That's...good to hear.

[She probably should have felt more relieved by the news than she did. Considering her past, however, it was...at least understandable. To a degree.]

What made you change? If...it's alright to ask.

[light_of_willpower]

[Okay it doesn't...seem like him--so Trunks is taking a deep breath. Then another one.]

...hopefully not. It's a bit of a long story.

[Still on business mode, but trying to be calmer.]

How are Cell and Frieza behaving?

[Aka ARE they behaving?]

[beamsmagicalgirls]

[He doesn't get the terror they went through.]

I see. [He goes quiet. Just looking at both replies. He may have tug a smile.] It's about damn time.

[Now what could he possibly talking about! Now that question, he goes quiet, thinking about it clearly.]

I guess the events that lead up to it? I mean, there was no point chasing a dead guy.

[And maybe he's a little touchy about it, but at least he answers.]

video!

[slightlysaggy]

[ While Bulma has been monitoring the network, she hadn't really interacted much with anyone over the past couple of months. She'd blame work, if asked, but maybe it was something more emotional. When she sees the two of them in this particular video though, and actually hears their voices, she drops her phone and her coffee. She probably ruined something important for work, but it doesn't matter. She rescues her phone from the impending coffee flood, and replies. ]

Trunks! Mai!

[ Some of her room is visible in the video. It looks like she's been holed up in there for a while... And maybe neglected to clean. Not that it's particularly out of the ordinary. ]

Are you still in Genessia City? I can be right there!

[ She is, in fact, already pulling a sweater on and rushing out of her room. ]

Re: video!

[light_of_willpower]

[There's brief moment of surprise, before a smile blossoms on his face.]

Hi Mom we're still in--I guess that's the main city. We haven't gone through any of the archways yet, if that's what you're asking.

[Never mind he just left a version of her and Father--it is SO GOOD to see her. Alive and well.]

video!

[waitingforhope]

[Not unlike 17, there were a wash of emotions at the sight of a familiar face.]

[The difference with Bulma, however, was that most of them were positive. 95%. Approximately.]

You're here too, Bulma?

[Her eyes were wide with surprise, and the gears in her head were turning. That made a minimum of two other individuals from the Past who had been brought here as well. She was starting to wonder if she and Trunks had actually been captured before the Time Machine had truly disappeared into the time stream, rather than in the midst of their travels like she originally believed.]

Ah...yes. We're still in the City. I haven't had much time to scout the area yet.

[beamsmagicalgirls]

Here's a better idea. A couple blocks from where you should be a bar. They offer free drinks to new arrivals.

[Cause really, you kids need it! Another sigh cause, yeaaaah.]

Cell is actually behaving, surprise. Frieza, depends on your definition. How about, not yet.

[He doesn't seem too concerned about it either.]

[waitingforhope]

[How...vague, really. And not just the first part--although it would have been a lie to say his reaction wasn't far from what she would have expected. One more proof of his change, perhaps. It also left her wondering exactly what he meant.]

[But not nearly as much as the latter statement.]

I'm...not sure I understand.

[What dead guy?]

[light_of_willpower]

[The information about a bar and a drink has Trunks making a quiet sound to himself. If's not QUITE like his father's derisive snort, but it's close. One side of his mouth is actually quirking up though.]

Not Yet, huh?

[And Cell behaving--that's a new one.]

So why a park ranger?

[beamsmagicalgirls]

[Yes, he was cause. He's not used to these conversations, okay?]

Originally Eighteen and I were programmed to kill Son Goku. That was the only reason we were on a mission. Later on, he died before my sister and I could do it. So with that order out of the way, we decided to live our lives as humans.

[And it's the least he can do after given a second chance and what Krillin did for them.]

And it was a nice change.

[waitingforhope]

[And it was a nice change.]

[That much, at least, Mai couldn't argue. It was the rest that left her...actually, she wasn't sure. Confusion swept over her features for a moment, as he mind continued to review what she knew of the two timelines. Past and Future. Each of them a Present to someone. Except...no...there was something that didn't quite match up.]

Your Goku is...dead?

That can't be. I just...we just saw him. He helped us.

[beamsmagicalgirls]

Try not to go after him. Even if you do manage to kill him, he will jump back to life in a week.

[There you go Trunks! More information!]

Better pay.

[Very convenient.]

It's enough to support the family.

[That said.]

So...

When are you starting yours?

[light_of_willpower]

[It is good information, and also is getting an eyebrow raise. Then Seventeen is giving him more reasons, and Trunks wants to ask about the family ahd why and then...

that question. What?

Standing up straighter in surprise, communicator clutched with both hands, and trying hard not to blush.]

Wha--what? IT's NOT LIKE THAT!

[Mai can probably easily guess things, based on his response.]

[beamsmagicalgirls]

He manages to come back to life.

[He waves a hand. Thank goodness his sister really does keep up and tells him stuff like dragonballs and revives. Then more stuff pops in like... Gods. But that's another story.]

Later on.

[He adds that tidbit.]