Two pairs of eyes slowly fluttered open as the liquid drained from their pods. The room, filled with dozens of scientists, remained unsettlingly quiet. Amanda stepped forward toward the two—one boy and one girl, both small and dressed in water-resistant hospital gowns.
They seemed to be waking up. "Vitals are stable," Dr. Morrow announced, keeping his eyes on the readings as Amanda closed in. The two children had jet-black, unruly hair and striking blue eyes. Suddenly, they winced, clutching their chests in pain.
"That's bad!" Dr. Morrow blurted, alarmed. Amanda spun around, eyes narrowed.
"It had better not be, Doctor," she warned, her voice cold.
"Administering the specialized Krypto—" the doctor started, but then stopped. The readings had stabilized on their own. Amanda's jaw tensed, but she eased as the children began to relax.
The surrounding scientists were visibly shaken. Soon, the boy and girl opened their eyes again.
"My children…" Amanda said softly, drawing their gaze.
"W-who… are…"
"…you?" the girl began to ask, but the boy finished it. Their voices were hoarse, as if this was the first time they'd ever spoken.
"Yes… I am your mother," Amanda said, her smile kind, though there was something unsettling about it.
"M-mother?" the boy mumbled, blinking as he looked around. "My eyes… feel weird." He tried to rub them but found his arms bound by green restraints.
"Momma?" he asked, confused, as his eyes began to glow red. "My face is… hot."
Without warning, twin beams of heat shot from his eyes, narrowly missing Amanda and incinerating a nearby scientist, leaving only his boots behind. The room erupted into chaos.
Amanda, however, remained calm, stepping toward her son, who was now trembling with fear. "I-I didn't mean to—" he stammered.
"It's alright, sweetheart. You'll be free soon. We just need to run a few more tests," Amanda reassured him, her hand gently resting on his. His eyes dimmed, and his heart rate slowly returned to normal.
"Okay… momma," he whispered.
"C-can everyone shoot those colors from their eyes?" he asked, his voice shaky. Amanda chuckled, shaking her head.
"No, darling," she replied, glancing at the girl as well. "You two are special. Very special. Protectors of justice, of your momma, and of Earth."
The children blinked in unison. "Special?" the girl asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.
"Very special," Amanda said. "I loved you both so much, I found a way to bring you into this world." The twins exchanged glances, nodding together.
"Their heart rates are spiking," Dr. Morrow informed Amanda with concern.
"Momma… love?" they asked in unison, glowing faintly as their energies began to rise.
"Yes… my darlings," Amanda cooed, her voice soft and warm, though her eyes betrayed a sense of urgency. The glow intensified.
"Their energy levels are surging in response to their heart rates," Dr. Morrow warned.
"You have to stay calm," Amanda cautioned, her tone firm. "If you don't, you might hurt someone, or worse… momma." She gestured to the pile of ashes behind her, a grim reminder of what had just happened. "There are bad people who might want to use you because you're special, and because you're mine."
The children stared at her, wide-eyed. "Breathe deeply… slowly," she advised, and they obeyed. Dr. Morrow let out a sigh of relief as the readings returned to normal.
The twins smiled up at her, innocence returning to their eyes. "We'll need to do more tests, but I promise the doctors will be gentle. If anyone hurts you without reason, you call for momma, and I'll take care of them," Amanda said with a dangerous edge to her voice. The children nodded eagerly.
Far off in the cosmos, Karaen came to a stop, glancing back. 'What was that?' she wondered, her Ki holding together three galaxies. 'I swear I sensed Gohan, Clark, and something evil but warm...two of them? No, that can't be right…' Her brow furrowed.
'My senses must still be adjusting… or…' She released the galaxies, scattering the energy. Without another moment's hesitation, she took off at blinding speed. 'It's vanished… But I need to report this to the League. Whatever it was, it's powerful enough to warrant concern.'
Merno smirked at both Ramton and Chronoa. "Really? You're surprised? Did you honestly think you could back me into a corner? Chronoa, maybe. But you?" He cast a condescending glance at the Destroyer, not even bothering to hide his lack of respect.
"Rammy boy?" Merno teased, his grin widening. Ramton growled but calmed himself with a deep breath.
"Don't call me that. I'm not the naive candidate you once knew," Ramton warned, his body igniting with a fierce, burning energy.
Merno raised an eyebrow, seemingly impressed. "Ah, so you've mastered Ultra Instinct? Very impressive, I must say."
Ramton's eyes narrowed. "You don't get to patronize me, Merno." In the blink of an eye, Ramton was behind the angel, aiming for a strike. Merno dodged with ease, but a second Chronoa appeared right behind him.
"Chrono Eternis Restraint!" Silver chains, glowing with ancient runes, wrapped tightly around Merno, locking him in place. Time itself seemed to warp around the angel, distorting the space as afterimages of him flickered in and out of reality.
The first Chronoa clone crumbled into hourglass sand, dissolving into nothing as the true one activated her spell.
"This isn't just any technique, Merno," Chronoa said, her expression fierce. "This is my ultimate authority over time itself. Not even you can break free from this—it's anchored in the very essence of creation."
Ramton wasted no time. He slammed his fist into Merno's face four times in quick succession. "That's for all the Destroyers and their attendants!"
"Now," Ramton growled, readying for another blow, "you'll be judged for your sins—"
But before he could finish, a surge of immense power caught their attention.
"That power… Lord Gohan?" Chronoa's eyes widened in recognition.
Merno, despite the chains tightening around him, let out a strained laugh. "You... really didn't see it coming, did you? This is all part of my plan."
Ramton's fists tightened as he glared at the angel.
Merno continued, even as the spell closed in on him. "You've got a choice now... stick around and babysit this... clone," he chuckled weakly, "or run off to save your precious youngling. I have to admit, he's got potential."
"Enough!" Chronoa snapped. "Trunks! Go help Gohan!"
Without a moment's hesitation, Trunks powered up, his aura flaring as he rocketed into the sky. "I'm on it!"