<the obligatory lavender mists billow forth, emitting Lurker, Hikaru,
Ushio, and Tora, still wearing that gas mask.>

Lurker: Okay, here we are once again, with another chapter of Flashman's
TRIO. Let's get to business...

				 TRIO:
			     THE HOME FRONT:
			      DRAGON ALONG

All: <wince>

Lurker: *bad* pun. And coming from me, that *means* something.

	Piccolo, his arms folded across his chest, stood with his classic 
frown on his face as he waited for the last two Dragon Balls to be 
gathered.  He didn't turn as the two little children landed behind 
him and he asked, "Did you get it?"

	The two boys nodded in perfect unison and said as one, "You bet we 
did!"

Lurker: Is it just me, or does anyone else noticed that the two people who
have the *least* trouble getting hold of the Dragonballs are Goten and
Chibi Trunks?

	The boy on the left, who could have been no older then eight, was 
attired in a orange karate gi.  His hair was black and spiky, his 
black colored eyes sparkled with the same thrill for life that had 
been in his fathers and in fact, many said that he was a dead ringer 
for Goku when he had been the same age.  The boy turned to his 
companion and asked, "It was easy, wasn't it Trunks?"

	The other boy who was named Trunks nodded and smiled, the same age 
at his friend, he wore a blue tank top with blue sweat pants and his 
short, bowl style, purplish grey hairdo bobbed as he regarded his 
friend and replied, "You said it Goten."

Hikaru: You know, you're right, Lurker. They *always* find them. 

Lurker: <nod> Especially when they don't actually *need* them.

	"Now," Piccolo continued as the two youths handed him the little 
orange ball with three stars on it, "all we have to wait for is...."

	"AHEM!"

	Piccolo simply held up a hand at the sound of the throat clearing 
and he caught the Four Star Dragon Ball as it fell.  Still without 
turning around, Piccolo said, "Good work Vegita."

Hikaru, Lurker: O_O

Lurker: *VEJITA* was helping!? Whoa.

	Vegita, in his own, larger version of Trunks outfit, his jet black 

Hikaru: Anou, which of Trunks' outfits? Remember, Mirai Trunks wore a black
tank top and a purple Capsule Corp. jacket more frequently than anything
else. Vejita almost always wears his Saiyajin combat suit and armor.

Lurker: <nod>

hair sticking straight up and having one of the largest widows peak 
in the galaxy, simply nodded once and replied as he floated down, "I 
am only doing this because my son asked nicely.  Besides, that wife 
of Kakarotos..." Vegita shuddered.

Lurker: <snicker> *NOW* I see why he's helping...

	"She can be pretty scary when she wants to be," Goten added.

	Vegita glared at the small boy.

Lurker: <ROFL>

Hikaru: <giggle> 

	Piccolo sighed in annoyance as he placed the Four Star Dragon Ball 
into the circle with the other Dragon Balls and when all seven of 
them glowed, Piccolo shouted to the sky, "SHENRON!  COME FORTH!"

	A golden pillar of light exploded from the assembled Dragon Balls, 
blinding the sight of all who looked upon it.  The light rose from 
the Dragon Balls, eventually taking a long snake like shape as thick 
dark storm clouds filled the sky.  The light solidified into green 
scales and a long winding body, followed by a loud howl as the head 
of Shenron The Eternal Dragon, was fully formed.

Lurker: You know, that was impressive the first two or three times they did
it. After seeing it in half of the thirteen movies, it got old *real*
quick.

	There was a long pause and after two minutes, Vegita exclaimed, 
"Hey!  What's the damn hold up?!  Some of us have other things to 
do!"

	Shenron did his aprocimation of a frown and said, "IT IS NO GOOD.  I 
CAN NOT GRANT THE WISH YOU HAVE ASKED OF ME.  THE ONE YOU CALL SON 
GOHAN IS NOT DEAD.  HE IS MEARLY MISSING FROM THIS PORTION OF THE 
TIME STREAM."

	"So?" Vegita snarled, "Why not do your fancy hocus pocus and bring 
him back?"

	"THE ABILITY TO EFFECT TIME ITSELF IS BEYOND MY CAPABILITIES.  YOU 
WILL HAVE TO FIND ANOTHER WAY TO RETRIEVE YOUR FRIEND."

Hikaru: <frowns> Are you sure about that? I mean, I can see why he'd *need*
to be stuck, but we've *seen* evidence that Shenron has at least *some*
control over time.

Lurker: <grimace> Don't remind me. The entire initial plot premise of
Dragonball GT...<shudder>

	"Very well," Piccolo sighed, "leave if you wish to."

	Shenron bobbed his head once and in another bright burst of light, 
clearing the storm clouds away, he vanished.  Then the Dragon Balls 
lifted up into the air and were scattered across the globe, awaiting 
the next one who would try to seek them out and ask for a wish to be 
granted.

Lurker: Nitpick here. When Shenron can't grant a wish, he always prompts
the summoner for an alternate wish. Remember movie 12?

	"Big bother isn't coming back?" Goten asked worriedly.

Hikaru: I'm sure Gohan will be glad to know you think of him as a big
bother, Goten.

Lurker: <snicker>

	Piccolos frown deepened as he replied, "Not unless we can find a way 
to travel to the past."

	As if on cue, a multicolored vortex of light opened and a single 
form stepped out.  "If I may," the form said as the portal winked out 
of existence, "I can be of some assistance to you."

	The four people looked at the new comer and Vegita rudely asked, 
"And just who the hell are you?"

	The woman in the sailor uniform with black highlights replied, "Ask 
Piccolo, the part of him that is Kami knows."

Lurker: It figures.

Hikaru: It'd make more sense if Bulma was involved, but...dragging Pluto
that far out?

	Piccolo replied, "It has been a while..." then he grinned an evil 
smirk, "...Settie."

Lurker: <busts out laughing> SETTIE!?

Hikaru: <giggle>

	Vegita suddenly cut in with, "If you two plan to reminisce on old 
times, I'll be leaving," before he suited action to words.

	Goten walked over to Pluto and asked, "Can you get my brother back?
"

	Pluto looked down at the small child and smiled softly as she said, 
"Yes, but to do so, I'll need to use your Room of Spirit and Time."

Lurker: <blink> What the heck does she need *that* for....? <shrug> Ah
well.

	Piccolo nodded and before anymore questions could be asked, the time 
traveling Senshi walked past them and into the palace.

Hikaru, Lurker: <share a glance> Anou, what palace?

Lurker: Capsule Corp is big, granted, but...I'd hardly call it a
*palace*...

	Piccolo said, "She is attempting to use her Time Rods powers, along 
with the powers of the Room of Spirit and Time to form a very special 
kind of Time Vortex.  The kind that can bridge different Time Streams.
"

Lurker, Hikaru: Aaaaaaaaaaah.

	"Okay lady," the person behind her said as he adjusted his large 
backpack and sword, "can you tell me why I'm back here again, instead 
of this past you need my help to save?"

	Piccolo let out a small grin as he saw who the person was and Goten 
whispered to his friend, "Trunks, his hair's a lot longer... but 
doesn't he look like an older version of you?"

	"As a matter of fact," Future Trunks said, as he had overheard the 
boys whispered comment, "I am."

	"Wow!" Trunks exclaimed, "You're me?"

	"Sort of," Future Trunks replied, "Except I'm from an alternate time 
line."

Lurker: <grin> Alright! The return of Mirai Trunks!

	"See ya around kid," Future Trunks said as he walked into the portal 
that Sailor Pluto had formed.

	"Bye!" The little Trunks called out as he waved.

Hikaru: That was a cute little scene.

	Pluto landed in the alley on her feet.  Trunks landed in a pile of 
garbage, on his head.  The time traveling Senshi looked at her 
companion as he got back up to his feet, shrugged and said, "So I'm 
not used to your way of traveling.  Sue me."

Lurker: <snicker>

	Sailor Pluto powered down and became Setsuna again as she said, 
"Come along, we have much to do.  And to answer your earlier question,
 it was necessary to exit the Room of Spirit and Time to reach this 
particular past."

	"Huh?"

	"Did you not ask before about..."

	"Oh, that."

Lurker: Eh? Oh well, we'll probably find out...

	The two of them walked out of the alley and across the New York City 
street to the antique shop.  "This is our cover," Setsuna explained 
as she lead Trunks to the back and to the computer that sat on the 
desk, "We will wait here for our friends to arrive.  First, we will 
need alternate identities.  For that, we will need to... hack, I 
believe the term is, our way into the City Records."

Hikaru: Ah, I see. This is shortly before the Trio met up with these two
back at the beginning of the series.

	"Let me guess," Trunks said with a smile, "You need me to do that 
because you're computer illiterate."

	Setsuna actually became flustered as she replied, "Yes.  Please do 
not bring that up again."

Lurker: MAJOR nitpick here. Pluto has lived thousands of years, and has had
cover jobs involving high-end computer transactions. She is, by no stretch
of any imagination, computer illiterate.

	"You," Trunks said, "are Susan Michelson."

	"Susan," Setsuan thought, "why does that sound so... apt?"

Lurker, Hikaru: <chuckle>

	Trunks smiled, "I also added a report to the Police Department that 
all our credit cards, drivers licenses and just about all our other 
major forms of ID were stolen when we met a group of muggers in 
Central Park.  We can expect 'replacements' in about a week.  I hope 
you like Visa."

Lurker: Visa, it's everywhere you want to be. Everywhen too.

	"Ranma Saotome is a highly skilled martial artist who, while lacking 
Gohans Saya-jin birthright powers, is equal to or perhaps even 
greater than your friend in pure fighting ability.  He has the 
ability to learn fast and it is quite possible that he will be able 
to hold his own against even your father one day."

	"A normal human?  Holding their own against VEGITA?" Trunks asked 
with a soft chuckle, "I might want to see that someday."

Lurker: FFML Royal Rumble reference here anyone?

Hikaru: <scowls> Damn Flashman...I still haven't forgiven him for that...

	"Perhaps you will.  Now, please check to see the equipment we have 
is in working order.  They will come tommorow night."

	"TOMMOROW?!!  That's one heck of a deadline Setsuna."

	"I believe in punctuality."

	Trunks grumbled under his breath, "Figures."

Lurker: <chuckle>

	Trunks went through the contents of the bag.  Seeing if all the 
equipment that the female time traveler had asked Bulma to pack was 
in there.

	Two compression rings?  Check.
	A pouch of Senzu beans?  Check.
	The Dragon Radar?  Check.

Lurker: O_O The Dragon Radar? Do I even *dare* wonder why they'll need
that?

Hikaru: <frowns> That's a bit disturbing...

	He looked up and noticed the little note that read <This room is 
yours> taped to one of the doors.

	"Oh great," he grumbled, "I'm working with a blasted know it all."

Lurker: <snicker>

Next: Okay, for the grand 30th chapter celebration of TRIO, we go 
back to our main heros.

Lurker, Hikaru: <cheer>

Usagi and Ranma go out on their first date, but a bunch of terrorists 
and Gohans coming down with the flu puts a crimp in their plans to 
say the least.

Hikaru: Poor Usagi and Ranma. They deserve a little peace and quiet...

Lurker: Good chapter, Flashman. Looking forward to chapter 30...

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Another Not Gonna Do It production...

"Senshi....Sailorize!"
"Anima-mates...Terrorize!"

Transformers: Sailor Wars
Not gonna do it...wouldn't be prudent.

---
The Eternal Lost Lurker
EternalLostLurker@worldnet.att.net

"Ore wa bakemono? Che...ore wa akuma da."
-------------------------------------------------------------------