The story begins with Android 18 buying a new outfit while exchanging banter with a store clerk. She steals the clothing and escapes in her car.
Meanwhile, Trunks and Gohan are searching for a Time Machine. They meet up with Bulma, who helps them examine the Time Machine. They discover a mysterious egg and a mutant creature that hatched from it.
At Kame House, Krillin and Roshi discuss a mysterious event in Ginger Town, where people have vanished, leaving behind only their clothes. A news report shows a reporter, Flash, trying to investigate the scene, but he is suddenly attacked by an unseen force.
At the Lookout, Piccolo and Kami argue about fusing their bodies to become stronger. Piccolo eventually convinces Kami to fuse, and they become one being. However, this fusion comes with a cost, and the Dragon Balls are rendered useless.
Trunks decides to investigate the events in Ginger Town, and Vegeta reflects on his past mistakes. The story ends with a mysterious, reptilian creature humming a rendition of "Mr. Sandman" as it approaches the scene, setting the stage for further events.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The scene starts with a character named Android 18 in a store.
2. Android 18 steals items from the store and escapes in a van.
3. The store clerk chases after her but is unable to catch up.
4. The scene cuts to Trunks and Gohan in a different location, near a time machine.
5. Trunks explains to Gohan that he has traveled back in time and that Gohan was his mentor in the future.
6. Gohan asks Trunks about his adult self and Trunks replies that he is the strongest, bravest warrior on the planet.
7. Bulma arrives and examines the time machine, noticing that it has the word "Hope" written on the side.
8. Trunks explains that Bulma had called him their last hope, which is why the time machine has that name.
9. Gohan finds a mysterious egg and a molt, which Trunks believes may be connected to the creature that came out of the egg.
10. The scene cuts to Krillin and Roshi discussing a mysterious event in Ginger Town.
11. A news report shows a town being evacuated, with people screaming and running away.
12. Piccolo and Kami are shown arguing about fusing their bodies to become stronger.
13. Kami explains that he has been the Guardian of the planet for over 300 years and is reluctant to give up his free will.
14. Piccolo convinces Kami to fuse with him, and they merge into a single body.
15. The scene cuts to Gohan, Trunks, and Bulma investigating the mysterious event in Ginger Town.
16. They find a large number of people's clothes scattered around the town, with no signs of the people themselves.
17. Trunks decides to go down to the town to investigate further, despite Yamcha's warnings.
18. Vegeta is shown talking to himself, blaming someone named "the boy" for his problems.
19. The scene ends with a mysterious, reptilian creature appearing and singing a rendition of "Mr. Sandman".