Post-VT PSL, Trunks

[nutkrusher]

It's been a year since they left the train. She's missed him a lot - and everyone close to her damn well knows it. But she hasn't just sit around pining for him in the intervening months. She's trained to further master the use of her new gifts - and to pass as many of them onto others as she can. Earthrealm will continue to need defenders, after all, both in the Special Forces and outside of them.

Mind, the debriefing after her return was a bitch and a half. They had a hard enough time accepting the whole being-able-to-fly-just-by-learning-how bit.

But things had gotten a lot better after that. She'd made Commander, for one. She'd also led a mission to take out the Great Cathedral of the Netherrealm without suffering a single casualty. Meanwhile, Jacqui and her fine band of misfits and nerds in the Tech Unit claimed to be making progress in the field of interrealm communication and transport.

She should've figured the peace wouldn't last. Turns out Kronika had a problem with how unbalanced things had gotten. And when the Mistress of Time has a problem, everyone has a problem. Now past and present have collided, old folks are running into their younger selves, and old baddies who should've stayed dead are back alive again.

It's easy for the being who sculpted the sands of time to stay one step ahead of her enemies. But Cassie's newfound power hadn't been part of her design. The fight has been long, and not without losses, but they've gutted it out - victory is in sight. Kronika is now cornered, surrounded within her Hourglass Chamber by the realms' greatest heroes, who now have her all-important crown in their possession. But Kronika and her daughter Cetrion are not beaten yet - and defeating the former is more easily talked about than accomplished.

Cassie's body erupts with green light as she looses a Shadow Kick against the corrupted nature goddess. It's now or never - this one's for all the realms.

Comments

[light_of_willpower]

Fortunately, she's not alone. Her team isn't alone.

It had taken some doing to find her. She might also be too distracted to really parse what she might've been sensing. It's blindingly obvious now.

Because as she looses that shadow-kick, she's not alone. There's a streak of golden halo-corona, and a very familiar person under that golden energy. Slashing out with his sword, to help drive the opponent back if he couldn't cut her through.

[nutkrusher]

Cassie's eyes widen. Even in the split second before she sees him, there's no mistaking him for anyone else.

"...Trunks!?"

For a moment she's immobilized with shock. Needless to say, she hadn't exactly been expecting him to show up at this particular moment. But his sword cuts through her brief reverie - that and Cetrion's torso.

Cetrion gapes in horror, grasping at her sides as though still trying to hold them together. "Mother...I...I am sorry."

Cassie's expression resumes its usual determined glint as she sends a barrage of fireballs at the goddess's top half. Green sinews of muscle and vine peel away as she topples back and leaves her legs behind.

The Hourglass Chamber falls into a still, tense silence - with the gasping off the still-immortal (and still-crawling) Elder Goddess the only sound to fill the void. The Titan of Time stands horrified and dumbstruck. Cassie's allies, meanwhile, mostly just look confused.

Naturally, being a Cage, it's Cassie who breaks the silence.

"Hiya, hon. Kinda caught me at an awkward time - long story short, we gotta kill this bald bitch."

Kronika's expression swiftly darkens. Her eyes glow with fury as she raises her hands. Terrible winds swirl around her, beginning first from the bisected body of her daughter Cetrion. The Elder God dissolves into hot, glowing sand, which flies into Kronika's fingertips as she surges with absorbed power.

"Upstart mortals! Vile, delusional automatons! Who do you presume yourselves to be that you DARE to conspire to make history!? I am the one who makes history! I crafted your destiny, foresaw the whole of your transient existence! A mistake I now wholly intend to correct!"

A rippling wave emerges from her fingertips. It seems that all of existence shudders around her - and all motion stops, for Cassie and all of the assembled warriors of her universe. They are now frozen in time!

"I shall not suffer such intransigents as you in my New Era! The strands of your lives shall be unwoven, here and now!"

[light_of_willpower]

Those left behind legs were soon just as dead as Trunks dropped one hand from his sword and blasted. He wasn't playing around--in these kind of situations he never did. Green-eyes scanned the surroundings, and half a smirk came to Trunks' mouth with Cassie's comment.

"You done?" Trunks asked, tilting his head to the side. "I get it, types like you love to hear themselves talk." He looked bored--alert, but bored.

[nutkrusher]

Kronika holds her hand palm out toward Trunks, glaring intensely. The wave of energy extends from her arm again, seemingly more powerful this time. And then she tries it a third time.

Her expression turns to one of desperate frustration. How is this mortal still moving?

"You...who are you? WHAT are you!? How do I not know your face? How can you exist and not have been part of my design!?"

[light_of_willpower]

"You really do like to talk." Trunks snorts, flourishing his sword slightly before resuming his two-handed grip, and a ready stance. "I'm the one who kills you."

Before Trunks charged forward to do just that. Slicing with his sword, and if needed, using hand-to-hand to back it up as well as short-ranged ki blasts. Whatever it took to leave her in pieces and then to obliterate those pieces into nothingness.

[nutkrusher]

Kronika is on her back feet from the very start. Trunks comes so quickly that all she can do is attempt to teleport behind him, jumping short distances to try to avoid him. She sends blasts of sand and balls of energy in wild directions in front of her - these aren't the intentional actions of a fighter in control of herself. Indeed, it's clear that she isn't used to being at a disadvantage.

The cosmos she had envisioned had never produced a warrior such as this. It won't take much - just a single solid blow that she fails to dodge.

As Kronika's focus drifts, Cassie's eyes are open - she can hear, and more importantly, sense what's happening. As her control slips further, she even starts to gain enough control of her muscles to smile.

He's gotten stronger.

At Home

[nutkrusher]

Conveniently, there's a big enough garage behind Cassie's pad to hide the time machine. Not that it needs to thanks to capsule technology. Still helps as a place to store birthday presents. Well, birthday presents besides the place itself.

Her parents are there to do whatever moving and settling in they need to do. They'll be having a nice family/"meet the folks" dinner together - already things are being set in motion in the kitchen.

In the meantime, though, they've got a moment, as Cassie sits next to Trunks on the edge of the bed.

[light_of_willpower]

It was a lot to process; new world--similar and yet not. Less advanced in some ways, almost on par in others. And full of so. much. life! Trunks had gawked like a tourist at times, unable to help himself. Feeling very unprepared.

As he'd said, he'd come equipped. Besides updated armor in a new style, he had an upgraded capsule case. Two were empty, as the case held 9 all together. Time machine, small house, motorcycle, mini-fridge, capsule wardrobe and two capsules of training drones. One of which was given to Sonya with an "I trust you, and trust you to know who it's safe to share these with."

He really hadn't needed much, honestly. Her friends and team had questions. He'd answered some, and kept quiet mostly. Private. Very much aware he was a stranger and outsider; it wasn't the first time though. Except these were people whom he hadn't grown up on stories of.

Showered, changed, and now sitting next to Cassie, Trunks took a deep breath. Trying to relax.

[nutkrusher]

Through it all, Cassie's there to hold his hand, both literally and figuratively. Dinner with the folks is stressful enough even when you're not being introduced to a new universe full of unfamiliar people and things. She smiles at the parts he's impressed by and helps him through the introductions. She'd been especially eager to have him meet Jacqui.

But right now, she's just twining her fingers with his.

"Hell of a busy day," she says quietly.

Then, smiling gently: "At least we didn't have to deal with traffic. The freeways can be parking lots out there."

[light_of_willpower]

"Considering how crowded everything is? I'm not surprised." Trunks said with a small laugh, giving their joined hands a squeeze. "Seriously this place is so full of PEOPLE."

[nutkrusher]

"That's L.A. for you," Cassie says. "Though really, you should see Tokyo. Makes us look roomy and underpopulated over here."

She squeezes his hand back in turn.

"Luckily we've still got some quiet places."

[light_of_willpower]

"I got more used to 'quiet' again back home. It was a change from the train. Guess I'll have to adjust back now." Musing, thinking aloud.

"Other than a family dinner, what else is on the agenda?" Reaching up, Trunks rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "I came prepared for trouble, but didn't expect. I felt your ki up really high though, so figured I'd better go and help."

On the Town

[nutkrusher]

They have a couple of quiet days first - private ones, staying in and ordering in, with only each other to do. In addition to how much catching up to do, it just makes sense for Trunks to get a little rest first.

But today is their day out, and as always, it's a sunny day in Southern California. Cassie, naturally, is dressed for it. Trunks, a little less so - so the first thing they'll be doing is some shopping.

She smiles and turns to him as they enter the center together.

"Not too nervous, I hope?"

Re: On the Town

[light_of_willpower]

"I mean, I'm not..." Trunks started, hands linked as they entered. "I'm not that nervous. It's just still a little overwhelming, to be around so many people."

She really didn't have to buy him clothes--but it was an argument he couldn't win. And Trunks knew it. He'd very much appreciated the quiet days, and in between catching up, he'd asked her for more info on her world. What were the usual customs? How should he act?

Most of all he'd taken solace just laying with her in his arms again.

[nutkrusher]

It had been like the days on the train, where she'd been able to wake up next to him every morning - except better. They had more privacy, more space. And now, more things to see. Which, for a social person, like Cassie, is important.

She holds his hand just a little more firmly.

"Well, you don't have to worry about it. I'm the shopping master, so you won't need to say anything to anybody else unless you feel like it. It'll be just like the shop on Irivar. Only with a lot more money to throw around, and about 700 more years of scientific advancement."

[light_of_willpower]

"So I get to just play 'doll' then?" Trunks raised an eyebrow, with a slow smile. He was teasing her.

[nutkrusher]

"Yup," Cassie says. "Unless you object to me playing dressup with you."

[light_of_willpower]

"I'll let you know when it gets to be too much." With that smile remaining, and another squeeze of their joined hands. "Lead on Cassie."

Cafe

[nutkrusher]

They get a good seat out on the patio - owing mostly to Cassie's quickness in getting there and her way with the waitstaff. The view of the ocean is stunning, with the bright California sun glimmering off the water. But they're well shaded here that there's no glare.

She makes a quick order of a pitcher of light, summery beer and a sizable plate of nachos for appetizers. Then she turns her eyes back at Trunks as the waiter walks away.

"So, I'd say we're off to a good start today."

On and Above the Ocean

[nutkrusher]

Really, the biggest issue is looking for the right place to take off from without causing too big of a scene. They do want privacy, after all. Eventually they settle up to the side of a rocky mole, with only one fisherman within a normal stone's throw.

She winks at Trunks and takes him by the hand, hovering just above the ground as they pull away from the shore.

Cassie winks at the fisherman as they pass by.

"They'll never believe you!"

Re: On and Above the Ocean

[light_of_willpower]

"Cass..." Trunks says, but he's laughing with the scolding. Seems he'd get some use out of his capsule supplies after all. But time away with just Cassie would be nice. Not that he didn't like her father, or Blade (even if it wasn't the General Blade he knew)...

But now that he'd been there a few days he definitely was ready for a break with just Cassie. Hand firmly in hand, fingers twined, he flew beside her. "Got a destination in mind, or are we just exploring?"

[nutkrusher]

"Sure do!"

Cassie reaches into her pocket with her other hand (not letting go of Trunks, of course) to grab her satellite phone.

"There's an island off the coast of Baja due south of here that no one lives on. I've touched down there before, and there's a beach with our name on it."

She smirks.

"And no one else around for at least 50 miles."

[light_of_willpower]

Trunks lets himself move closer, so he can bring her hand up and kiss it. "Sounds perfect, Cassie. How fast do you want to get there?" Not that they weren't making good time already...

[nutkrusher]

"Hmmm..."

Cassie smirks and lifts her gaze in mock thought as her hand is kissed.

"I would like to get there fast. But you're faster than I am. You might have to take me in your arms and carry me there."

She flutters her eyes at him, still smirking.

Plans and Cuddling

[nutkrusher]

The next couple hours pass in a blur of island heat and passion. Touching and grasping, rolling in the sand, with only the spray of the sea to keep them from burning up. Literal sex on the beach - a first for both of them.

After a few more one-more-times Cassie finally lets it spill that she's brought a somewhat more comfortable thing to lie down on. They rise together - still not letting go - as Cassie fetches the hammock, setting it up between the two palms they'd landed by.

She places a hand on his hip and leans into him. They'd be sharing it, coming down together.

"How's about we take a load off, handsome?"