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]

"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."

[light_of_willpower]

"It's okay." Trunks said, tone soft. "We're rebuilding. First thing I did when I got back to my proper time was take out the androids. Then I took out the other threat we found out about. I'm sure there will be more, so I can't....stay here. But I can help for a while."

An eyebrow raised and he grinned. "Time Machine, after all."

[nutkrusher]

Johnny's smirk returns to him as he looks toward Cassie. "Well, that's one way to make it work, right, Cass?"

Cassie blushes and begins to examine her potatoes a little more closely. "Heh heh..."

Sonya resists the urge to roll her eyes. "Well, you're welcome here any time. Hell, after the showing you made, I've got half a mind to get you on speed dial."

[light_of_willpower]

Trunks ducked his head, blushing a bit. But chuckling softly too, mostly in his chest.

"Saiyans were a warrior race, actually. I haven't confirmed that I'm not the only one yet, but I'm the only one I know for certain who has any saiyan blood left."

[nutkrusher]

Sonya nods sympathetically. "I'm sorry to hear that."

Johnny's brow furrows. "That reminds me, actually. Is that the reason behind the whole temporary bleach job thing you wound up doing?"

"'Super Saiyan,' Dad," Cassie says. "I'm pretty sure I brought it up at least once."

[light_of_willpower]

"It is. It's...a thing that happens, when that transformation is unlocked." Trunks replied. "It's not something just any saiyan can do, either." He wasn't bragging, more being informative.

"Like I said, they were a warrior race. Their home planet had ten-times Earth's gravity to start with. They're what you'd consider baseline superhuman compared to a normal human, with heightened senses, a high metabolism, and the ability to use ki more adeptly and easily. They were also enslaved by a galactic emperor to do his dirty work, then wiped out because he was afraid of them."

[nutkrusher]

Johnny's expression turns slightly grim. "Sounds like a couple of assholes we've known."

"Shao Kahn being the big one," Cassie adds. "Think I've told you that story, right, Trunks?"

[light_of_willpower]

"I think you did. The name sounds familiar enough." Trunks replied. "In any event, that galactic emperor no longer exists in my time either. He died before I was born, killed by our greatest hero."

[nutkrusher]

Johnny stops in the middle of lifting his fork to his mouth. "Wait, there's a bigger hero in your universe than you?"

"He's talking about a guy named Goku," Cassie says. "I actually met him on the train, too. Well, the alternate timeline version from where Trunks went back to prevent his death. He was actually even stronger."

"Well, if he wouldn't be alive without Trunks, I still think that puts him one up on this Goku guy."

[light_of_willpower]

Trunks ducked his head more, trying hard not to blush. "Goku saved the world more than I ever did, in so many ways." He murmured softly.

[nutkrusher]

Sonya smiles gently at him. "Maybe, but give yourself a little credit. Even what you've done for this world is amazing."

Cassie's own smile matches her mother's. "I keep trying to tell him that. Hopefully it takes one day."

Johnny's expression, meanwhile, is more of a cocky smirk. "It's not too often I'd recommend letting a bit of the Cage ego rub off on someone, but I think I'll make an exception here."

[light_of_willpower]

"It was the right thing to do." Trunks said softly. "I just want to protect everyone."

[nutkrusher]

"Well, you're doing a good job," Sonya says. "We'll always be happy to fight with you."

They let the words hang in the air for a moment in warm silence as they continue to eat.

Naturally, it's Johnny who spoils it.

"Not to change the subject too much, but who's up to go out for some ice cream after we do dishes?"

[light_of_willpower]

"Ice cream is good." Trunks agreed, and unducked his head. "I can help with dishes. It was one of my regular chores on the train, since I was one of those who contributed by having a big appetite."

[nutkrusher]

"If we're going to the one I'm thinking of, you'll definitely like this place," Sonya says. "The portions are huge."

"I love it when you're thinkin' what I'm thinkin', baby."

Cassie rolls her eyes and turns to Trunks with a kind of see-what-I-have-to-deal-with expression.

[light_of_willpower]

Trunks was, admittedly, just enjoying how normal this all was. Something he hadn't had in a very long time, except a few times on the train. He was content to sit and listen, and honestly more at ease than he thought he'd be.

When Cassie turned to him, he just reached out to take her hand, and squeeze affectionately.

[nutkrusher]

Cassie smiles back as they hold hands - a smile that grows a little wider as the thought arises of him managing one of the massive ice cream cones the parlor serves.

Yeah, it's been a good night. And it's gonna keep being one.