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

[nutkrusher]

"Hmm...almost. Do you mind?"

Cassie doesn't wait for an answer as she walks over to the nightstand and quickly grabs her Second Emergency Brush from the drawer.

She'll be on him in a second, steadily brushing his hair and setting his bangs into the best possible place. It won't take her long.

She beams as she sets the brush aside and takes a close look at him.

"There. Perfect."

And then, because she can't resist, she leans in for a kiss.

[light_of_willpower]

Trunks blinks, but stayed still. An amused smile came to his face when she proceeded to brush his hair properly. Her kiss was met with a small laugh, before she was kissed in turn. Her hand being sought as he moved to twine their fingers.

He could do this. He'd seen Johnny's movies, and heard Cassie's stories. Sonya and he had worked on the train together and gotten along. She'd even stopped calling him ridiculous nicknames by the end. Mostly.

[nutkrusher]

Trunks can certainly smell the pork roast before they even come out together. It's a sizable one - though whether it's big enough, even Cassie has her doubts.

At any rate, Johnny Cage, dressed in a truly ridiculous chef's hat and apron and still wearing his trademark sunglasses, has just taken it out of the oven.

"Oh, hey, look who's right on time! Hope this is big enough for the two of you - Cass tells me you're some kind of space alien."

[light_of_willpower]

"Sort of. Half-saiyan." Trunks replied. "Although I was born on Earth." Trunks had also clearly been taught his manners, as he helped Cassie to her seat. "From what I've learned, they're basically not too different from humans in some ways, but very different in another. Heightened senses and high metabolisms being one of those differences."

Only taking his own once Cassie was seated, with an affectionate brush of his hand against her shoulder.

[nutkrusher]

Johnny turns his attention to the stovetop, stirring with his spoon.

"Well, not to worry, if it's not enough, we've got the super-secret Carlton family gravy recipe to keep you goin'."

Beat.

"At least, I'm pretty sure I made it right."

Sonya smiles drily at Trunks. "If all else fails there is a pizza place down the road."

"Hey! Are you expressing a lack of confidence in my cooking prowess?"

Cassie chimes in. "No, we just remember the Meatloaf Incident."

"That was three years ago! I've gotten WAY better at not burnin' stuff since then!"

Cassie turns to Trunks and smiles. She hopes the family banter is at least something he can get used to, if he isn't used to it already.

[light_of_willpower]

Trunks just stayed quiet, but it was a good quiet. A small smile on his face, as he listened. It felt 'right', so to speak. Yes, he was the outsider, but the mood between them all was the right kind of mood.

"Thank you for cooking, Mr. Cage."

[nutkrusher]

"Hey, don't be giving me all this 'Mr. Cage' stuff right now."

Beat.

"'Cause right now it's CHEF Cage."

Cassie and Sonya both groan chuckle.

[light_of_willpower]

"Thanks for cooking, Chef Cage." Trunks replied, still with an easy smile. "General Blade dragged me into the kitchen on the train to learn how a few times, but I'm still not up for cooking for other people for fun."

[nutkrusher]

"See, this is a young man who respects the craft," Johnny says, as he turns off the stove heat and begins to slice up the roast. "You're earnin' points with me already, Trunks."

Sonya rolls her eyes and snorts before turning her attention to Trunks.

"It's a little funny how these timelines work - you having met me without me having met you. That does sound like something I'd do, though."

[light_of_willpower]

"I'll be honest, I was glad when you stopped with the ridiculous nicknames, General Blade." Trunks replied. "I don't know what Cassie's told you, but I trusted you. I actually have something I would trust only you or Cassie with, brought with me."

[nutkrusher]

Sonya raises an eyebrow. "Really? Well, color me intrigued."

She takes a sip of water.

"Truth be told, we'd love to get our hands on some of the tech you've got. Especially whatever you used to cross universes and get here. Us, the Defense Department, and the rest of the world, probably."

[light_of_willpower]

"I'm not sure that might not involve taking the time Machine apart, which...I'm a little reluctant to see done, thanks all the same." Trunks replied, voice firm. "But I do have a capsule of training drones for you."

[nutkrusher]

"Fair enough," Sonya says. "We certainly owe you more than you owe us. On the off chance that we can help you out with anything technical, the Special Forces have your back."

She smiles.

"And thank you for the gift. I go through a lot of drones - in training and everywhere else."

Johnny now approaches the table, carefully carrying the roast.

"She tried to use one to clean the gutters once."

Cassie smirks. "And only once."

[light_of_willpower]

"Well, these are designed for purely training. Try and keep at least one or two unbroken so you can make more if you need to." Trunks said. "We don't have gutters at home, on most buildings."

[nutkrusher]

"Well, I bet that drone wishes it lived in your world," Johnny says, as he sets the roast down and prepares to begin serving.

"Or at least it would, if it weren't dead."

Cassie pipes in. "Jacqui should be able to reverse-engineer the drones you've provided, though."

Sonya nods. "Yeah, I'll have Specialist Briggs on it as soon as possible. They'll be in good hands."

[light_of_willpower]

"That's part of why I brought the ones I did. They're older models, but we did our best to upgrade what we could. They're like what Father and Goku used to use in the gravity room too, so they can stand up to a lot."

[nutkrusher]

Sonya nods. "We'll definitely be putting them to good use, then."

Meanwhile, Johnny has already begun serving.

"Speaking of putting awesome things to good use, be sure to help yourself to as much as you want. That goes for the gravy and the potatoes, too."

He turns to Trunks specifically.

"Now, I don't know if sayin' grace is a thing in your universe, but we've never been too formal in this household, and most of the gods we've known are kinda jerks anyway."

[light_of_willpower]

Saying grace?

"Um, no usually we just thank the chef for the meal. To appreciate the cooking and the trouble of it." Trunks put his hands together and paused over his food, murmuring a soft "Thank you for the meal." If any of them were familiar with Japanese culture, it could've been distantly related.

Then again, Cassie had likely seen other times when Trunks had done things that might've been influenced by the Japanese, or Chinese.

[nutkrusher]

Sonya chooses to elaborate. "It was always something my side of the family did more than his. Praying over the food, pretty much. Not every culture does it. In fact, I'm pretty sure most of 'em don't. I know a few that sound a bit similar to what you described."

With the plates now filled with meat, and the potatoes and gravy set beside it as well, Johnny scoots into his own seat.

"Not that I don't appreciate the gratitude, but I'd rather start diggin' in, if you don't mind. Let's go to town."

[light_of_willpower]

"Which is why we also keep it short, Mr. Cage." Trunks said with a grin. Before digging in himself. Manners--he never took seconds until everyone had firsts. And never took thirds until everyone had seconds. It did become clear he wasn't joking about a high metabolism, however

[nutkrusher]

Thankfully, the roast came out right. Seasoned well enough, and not burnt. Whether it'll be enough for Trunks is anyone's guess, but he won't need to wait for anybody else to have thirds.

The conversation starts to pick up again once everyone has begun to get some food in them.

Surprisingly, it's Sonya who speaks first.

"So, was it your mother who invented these drones? I've heard she's an inventor."

[light_of_willpower]

Trunks had manners at least. It was still a 'light' meal as far as he was used to, but he wouldn't be saying so. It'd be rude.

"It was. She and my grandfather were inventors, especially of the capsule tech we use, among other things."

[nutkrusher]

"It's the reason he was able to pack so light," Cassie says. "He can hold a whole house or a car in a capsule the size of a pill bottle."

Johnny whistles. "Dang, seriously?"

Sonya nods, similarly impressed. "Honestly, as much as the DoD would pay for interdimensional travel, I'm pretty sure Secretary Blake would give his firstborn son for that. I know it'd get rid of about 90% of the supply headaches I've gotta deal with."

[light_of_willpower]

"I can show you if you want. I do have a small house with me, along with the time-machine, a motorcycle, and some supplies." Trunks said with a hint of proud smile. He was proud of his family. "They weren't the only manufacturers, but they were the superior ones. And Mom invented the time machine, too."

[nutkrusher]

"Well, your family must be loaded if they invented all that," Johnny says. "And if they're not, they should be."

Sonya cuts in. "Or at least were, before all that unpleasant business Cassie told us about."

Johnny winces, his expression turning about as apologetic as it ever gets.

"Oh...yeah. That. Well...we don't have to talk about that unless you want to."