"They've all left. It really does feel a lot lonelier now."
Watching as Yuujin and the others disappeared in the time machine, the older Bulma sighed.
"Mother…"
"Don't worry, Trunks, I'm fine."
Trunks looked concerned, but the older Bulma patted his head and smiled.
Seeing that her mother was just feeling a little sentimental and nothing more, Trunks relaxed. However, he soon thought of something else and spoke up again.
"Mother, now that the world is at peace and the cities are being rebuilt, Earth should be safe for a while. So, I'd like to take this opportunity to go out again."
"Where are you planning to go, Trunks?"
"Too many people died during the Android crisis. I want to go to Namek and find the Dragon Balls to bring Gohan and the others killed by the Androids back to life."
Trunks shared his thoughts, and Bulma nodded.
"I see."
"Although many people might not be able to come back, Gohan definitely can. Do what you think is right, Trunks. I'll take care of myself."
Knowing that Trunks had always felt guilty about Gohan's death, and with so few humans left on Earth, bringing some back would be a good thing. Bulma had no reason to stop him.
"But after you bring Gohan back, don't just focus on fighting all the time. You should think about inheriting the family business and finding a girlfriend soon so I can have a grandchild."
"M-Mother, why are you suddenly saying all this? You sound like Aunt Chi-Chi."
"You brat, what do you know? This is what mothers should care about!"
"Listen, Trunks, this is a serious matter. You're handsome and a hero who saved the world. I'm sure many great girls will like you."
"And…"
"Mother, I'm going to go help the others now!"
"Hey, Trunks, come back! Trunks!"
Watching Trunks run off, the older Bulma couldn't help but feel a little helpless.
Kids these days just don't understand their mothers' concerns.
But soon, a proud smile appeared on Bulma's face.
"Trunks, you've really grown into a fine young man…"
---
In another timeline, the time machine carrying Yuujin, Gokumi, and the others appeared above the Lookout.
"Chi-Chi, Tights, we're back!"
As soon as she jumped out of the time machine, Gokumi started shouting.
Tights seemed to have gone back to Earth, so only Chi-Chi and Celipa came out to greet them, along with a group of maidens.
But at the front were Goteno and Trunksia. The two little girls, each surrounded by a small aura, flew out of the hall and rushed into Yuujin's arms.
"Daddy, daddy!"
"Goteno, Trunksia, did you miss me?"
Holding his two little darlings, Yuujin asked.
"Yes, we did!"
Their big, watery eyes looked up at Yuujin as Goteno and Trunksia answered in their adorable, childish voices.
They were just too cute. Yuujin hugged them tightly, rubbing his face against their soft cheeks.
"Welcome back, Yuujin, Gokumi, Bulma, and everyone."
"Did you resolve everything in Trunks' world?"
Chi-Chi welcomed them back and then asked.
"Everything's been taken care of."
"See, they're the Androids 17 and 18 from that world."
Yuujin pointed to Android 17 and 18, who had been thrown out of the time machine by Vegea.
"You didn't destroy them?"
Chi-Chi was surprised.
From Trunks, she had heard a lot about the other world. She knew how crazy and cruel that world's Androids 17 and 18 were, destroying cities and killing humans, nearly pushing that world to the brink of destruction.
"They are indeed guilty of terrible crimes, but they still have value. Destroying them would be a waste and too easy for them, so I brought them back."
Yuujin answered, and Chi-Chi nodded.
She was just asking casually and didn't really care much about the other world's Androids 17 and 18. If Yuujin had decided, then so be it.
"Damn it!"
"Let us go! Let us go!"
Their hands and feet bound by energy rings created by Yuujin, Android 17 and 18 struggled on the ground. After handing Goteno and Trunksia over to Gokumi and Chi-Chi, Yuujin walked up to the two.
"You two really can't stay still for a moment, can you?"
"Listen, you're now my prisoners. From now on, you're not allowed to do any of the bad things you used to do. You'll follow my orders and work for me."
"To distinguish you from this world's Androids 17 and 18, you'll now be called Dark 17 and Dark 18."
"How does that sound? Fitting, right?"
Looking down at them, Yuujin spoke.
"Who's going to follow your orders?!"
"We'll kill you! We'll definitely kill you!"
Dark 17 and Dark 18 glared at Yuujin, showing no intention of cooperating.
"Hmph, it's not up to you. You don't have the right to refuse."
"I'll make some adjustments to you later, but for now, just stay quiet."
With a chop to the neck, Yuujin knocked out Dark 17 and Dark 18.
"Bulma, have someone remove the bombs inside them. We don't want them going crazy and trying to take us down with them."
"Also, they probably have some kind of switch in their bodies that controls their functions. Investigate it carefully and make a few controllers that can shut them down at any time."
Yuujin remembered that Dr. Gero had created controllers to shut down Androids 17 and 18, but they had been destroyed when Android 17 took them.
Dark 17 and Dark 18 were no pushovers. Dealing with them required absolute caution.
Yuujin wanted to control their power, not be betrayed by them later.
"Alright, I'll get to it."
Bulma nodded.
"18, do you have any objections to how I'm handling Dark 17 and Dark 18?"
Thinking of something, Yuujin turned to Android 18.
After all, they were the other world's Androids 17 and 18. Yuujin needed to consider 18's feelings when dealing with them.
"Do whatever you want."
"They're them, and we're us. Even if you kill them now, it has nothing to do with me."
Android 18 replied casually.
Although this world's Android 18 wasn't as dark and cruel as the other world's, that didn't mean she was particularly kind or empathetic.
In fact, Android 18 had a certain coldness in her nature and usually didn't care about things that didn't concern her.
"Since you don't mind, then it's settled!"
To be continued…
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