A/N: man, high review rates :P
A Different Future
Chapter 8 – School's In
"I know you were the mysterious rebel today."
Both Demi Saiyans looked at each other intently, trying to see what the other's reaction will be.
"What if I am?"
Another tensed silence. After it, Trunks merely shrugged and continued to lie down. Gohan raised an eyebrow.
"You don't care?"
Another shrug.
"If you want to fight, that's your business. Just as long as you keep my mom out of it."
"And yourself?"
It was as though meeting Gohan's gaze would mean Trunks's death. However, the refusal brought a spark of hope to Gohan.
"Trunks?"
"I don't know yet."
Doubt; Coming from someone who lived under the androids since age zero. Music to Gohan's ears.
"What made you doubt?"
"Doubt what? Things they teach you at school? Teenage nature, Gohan."
"Apparently, only yours."
Came the reply as Gohan leaned against the now closed door and crossed his arm. He winced momentarily in pain as his hand brushed against the wound, but remained calm.
"Well, not everyone's my parents' children."
It was true. While Bulma didn’t openly defy the Androids, she definitely planted seeds of doubt in her son's heart.
"So on whose side are you on?"
"I don't know yet."
Trunks sat up, and Gohan sat next to him. Even though Trunks knew, Gohan felt he could trust the boy.
"Gohan, what am I?"
The question surprised him.
"What do you mean?"
Standing up, the boy concentrated a bit. Then he floated about a foot above the floor. Trunks then turned back to his teacher.
"This. Normal people can't fly."
Gohan seemed rather impressed.
"A- they can, they just don't know how. B- you're not normal."
Trunks landed, and crossed his arms. Another resemblance Gohan found between father and son.
"Yeah, I guessed that. And I figure it's my dad's 'fault'."
"Right."
The boy was expecting answers, but when none came, he had to speak again.
"Why won't you tell me what I am, Gohan? I can take it!"
Gohan bit his lip in response.
"Not here. Let's go for a walk."
17 kicked his office chair.
"Man, I can't believe they gave us the slip again! Man, what a waste of time."
He stood there, hands on his hips. 18 looked out the window, lost in thought.
"And that new guy, damn, he's strong. I'd sure like to fight him one on one. Like I did that Vegeta guy… Before you helped me, of course… you and the pink elephants and small rabid bunnies. 18?"
"That's nice."
17 felt irritated.
"Oh what is it? A new dress on the shop across the street?"
No response.
"Or is it that Krillin guy again?"
She closed her eyes, then turned to glare at him.
"What do you care?"
"Humph. How rude. I honestly expected more out of you, 18."
"Tough."
Silence.
"16 reported back a while ago. Said while at the school he picked up a strong energy signal close to her. Maybe it is her. Neat, huh?"
"Yeah."
The blonde returned to gaze outside, and 17 got bored.
"Well, I'm going to torture a few rebels, er, excuse me, make them repent. Later."
"Bye…"
He left, and in an act totally out of herself, 18 placed her hand against the window and sighed sadly. "Marron…"
Bulma was busy with a new capsule design, when the phone rang.
"Ms. Briefs?"
"Yes?"
She sounded tired.
"This is from Androids Inc. We'd like a new shipment of chips by tomorrow."
The bluette's teeth gritted. Didn't they know her son was missing?!
"Right. I'll see to it immediately."
Bulma slammed the phone and cursed. She knew what the chips were for, even though she wasn't supposed to; having connections with the rebellion had its advantages. And its dangers.
'Those poor people… forgive me.'
Trunks stared at Gohan wide eyed. It was amazing what Gohan could do. So far he flew, fired blasts, and smashed rocks with his bare hands. But the part of the boy that was educated like so for 13 years told Trunks that if Gohan was this amazing, how come the Androids were still there?
'Well, can't blame 'em for trying, can I?'
Gohan landed and smiled at the boy.
"you can do that too, you know."
Trunks chuckled sarcastically.
"You're delusional."
"Come on. Can you do Ki blasts?"
"I… I donno"
"Don't know?"
Trunks scratched the back of his head. He remembered once he was depressed on his 5th birthday and some boy annoyed him, and then the tree nearby was on fire and his hands were glowing.
"Once, maybe."
Gohan nodded.
"Ok. Cup your hands like so, and concentrate."
Trunks placed his palms opposite to one another at a big distance.
"Like so?"
"A bit closer… ok. Now just try to channel your energy."
The younger raised an eyebrow.
"Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight."
Gohan shook his head. Maybe he should've told Trunks about his origin. Maybe then he'd have stopped seeing himself as just some other guy.
'Or, he could say I'm insane.'
"I can't do it."
"This was fast."
"You didn't even try."
"How can I do it?"
"Try and see."
"I can't do it."
Trunks pouted, causing Gohan, to laugh.
"You can fly, therefore you can form Ki blasts."
"Says who?"
Arms crossed again.
"Anyone who knows anything in the subject."
Trunks sighed and cupped his hands again. He was staring at his hands so intently Gohan was sure they'd burst into flames.
"Close your eyes. And try to visualize it. Just don't get frustrated, ok?"
Trunks nodded and closed his eyes. He tried it. He remembered what it looked like when Gohan tried it. Bright spheres of energy, between his palms. Don't get frustrated. Yeah, right.
"OH, DARN IT!" (A/N: I just felt like it fitted better than Damn in here ^.^;;; )
Getting pissed off, Trunks threw his arms about. Two spheres of energy smashed at rocks nearby, causing the boy to blink.
"Did I do that?"
"You sure did! Congrats, Trunks!"
The teacher was pleased. Trunks sure had a good start.
"Now just try to control it."
Trunks looked at his hands again, and with a slight frown, managed to get a new energy ball. He felt excited.
"I did it, I did it!"
"All right! Now, try to enlarge it!"
"How?"
It was quite an odd sight. Trunks looking utterly clueless with the energy sphere between his hands. "Concentrate on it, and pour more of your energy into it."
"Ok."
Gohan felt Trunks's Ki go up gradually as the small sphere grew.
"I'm doing it! I'm really doing it!"
"Don't lose your concentration now!"
But before anything could've been done, another Ki blast connected with the one Trunks made, causing a minor explosion. Trunks was thrown back a bit. Gohan rushed to his side.
"Trunks, are you all right?!"
No response. The boy laid there, unconscious.
"So. This is what you've been teaching my brat, Kakarot's spawn?"
Gohan turned to the new comer with a glare.
"Hello, Vegeta."
And the prince smirked in response.