Reprogrammed

Talk and Tension

t seemed as if Trunks was serious about the last time being the last time. But 18 had expected that; he was almost as stubborn as she was. Though she did enjoy the challenge of seducing him, she did wish it wouldn't always come to that.

But it wasn't like he was ignoring her like he did in the past; he simple refused her advances. She allowed him to have his space for a while. He seemed to need it too. It was as if he had something on his mind that he was considering carefully. She wondered what it was.

Training sessions also went a little downhill. As demonstrated with Baby, his new tail came a terrible weakness, and Trunks was determined to get rid of it. He tried numerous of different ways that he thought would help, and when he found a few ones that he thought would be affective, he trained mercilessly. He always took his training seriously, and 18 was usually fine with that since she got to join in as well, but his 'tail training' as she called it, left her out.

"I wish he would find a way to get rid of his weakness soon." She commented to Bulma.

The blue-haired woman sighed. "Yeah, I hope so too. I don't like the idea of him having a weakness that will completely zap his strength. I know there is a way to do it; both Goku and Vegeta managed it, but neither of them ever said how. Then again, Vegeta would probably want Trunks to figure it out on his own."

18 glanced at Bulma. "Do you miss him? Vegeta?"

Smiling sadly, she nodded. "Everyday. I'd do anything to have him back. But the Dragon Balls were rendered useless until Dende came to Earth, so we couldn't bring him back." She tried not to think of the fact that 18 was one of the ones responsible for her saiyan lover's death. "But I'll see him again someday, along with Goku, Krillin, Yamcha, and everyone else."

18 felt the need to apologize. "I know it may not mean much coming from me, but I'm sorry for what my brother did to you. It really sickens me to think that my own twin killed so many people."

Bulma sighed. "I suppose it's not entirely 17's fault. It was Dr. Gero that forced the operation on the two of you, and the one who programmed you."

"Regardless," said 18, "17 still made the conscious decision to become a killer. He could have fought against the programming like I did, but he decided not to. I'm ashamed to call him my brother. No, as far as I'm concerned, I don't have a brother. I'm glad I can't remember him."

Hearing her say that, and knowing that she meant it, forced Bulma to admit to something she had been putting off for a long time. "You know what, I owe you an apology too."

18 raised an eyebrow. "For what?"

"For a long time, I haven't been very nice to you. I've behaved coldly, and I-"

18 held up a hand to silence her. "It's fine. I know how uneasy you felt about me. I'd probably be just as uncomfortable around my kind if I went through what you did."

Bulma shook her head. "Don't refer to yourself as a 'kind'. It's who we are that makes us human, not what we are."

Touched, 18 smiled. "Thanks, Bulma, that really means a lot to me." The smile suddenly left her face and she narrowed her eyes, glancing over her shoulder. "Don't you know it's wrong to eavesdrop?"

Busted, Trunks, who had been standing by the door in the next room, came in. "Sorry, I didn't mean to listen in. I just didn't want to interrupt."

"I'm sure." 18 muttered sarcastically. "I thought you were training to get rid of your weakness."

He nodded. "Yeah, I am. And I think I found something that works. It'll take some time, but I'm sure I can handle it."

His mother glanced at her son's tail curiously. "You know, we could just cut it off like we did when you were a baby."