Against the Androids (Quarter Time Series #1)

Prologue

by Contrail

Disclaimer: Dragonball Z was created by Akira Toriyama. The American translation is done by Funimation. I am not either one of them.

Early February, 767 - East 439 Mountain Area

Winter's chill still held in amongst the peaks and valleys of this mountainous region. Smoke curled up lazily from the chimneys of a cozy whitewashed wooden frame house. A light dusting of snow covered the dwelling and the small clearing that surrounded it. Some tens of miles away as the crow flies, loud cries and sounds of exertion from two of the house's inhabitants filled the cold, dry air. As they had for most days of the nearly 3 years since Trunks' visit from the future, Son Goku and his son Gohan were training together with Piccolo in preparation for the androids' arrival. As the time for their arrival drew near, the three of them could only hope that their current strength, plus whatever gains remained to be made in the next few months, would be enough.

Currently, Piccolo and Gohan were teamed up against Goku, who was managing to block every punch or kick either of them made. Fists and feet were flying with incredible speed. If an ordinary person had been watching their midair sparring, the most they would have seen of the combatants were blurs, if they could see them at all. As the sparring continued, however, Piccolo noticed something that disturbed him. Goku was beginning to seem tired, his breathing becoming somewhat labored. There was no way he should be tiring this quickly, though. He had lasted far longer without any noticeable strain previously. Something just wasn't right.

He was about to call a halt to the training session, when Goku finally mistimed one of his blocks. Gohan's punch hit Goku in the side of his face, and set him hurtling towards the snow-covered ground below. "Dad?" Gohan asked quietly, shocked by the fact that he actually got a punch through, and by the result. When he saw that his father hit the ground and did not immediately get back up, he shouted, "Daddy!", and quickly flew towards where his father had landed. Piccolo followed only somewhat more slowly.

Goku was kneeling in the small indentation caused by his landing, with one arm helping to support his weight while his other hand clutched at the fabric of his gi right above the middle of his chest, a pained look on his face. His chest... Of course! "The heart virus," Piccolo realized aloud. He turned towards Gohan, who was now kneeling next to his father in concern. "Go back to your house and tell your mother to prepare a bed for Goku to rest in. Have her find the medicine Trunks gave your father as well."

Gohan's eyes widen for a moment as what was happening sunk in, then a determined look settled across his features as he answered, "Right." He gave his father one last worried glance before blasting off towards home.

Piccolo bent down and helped Goku to his feet, letting Goku lean on him for support. Goku gave him a strained smile and said, "Thanks, Piccolo."

"Don't mention it. Do you think you can manage to get back to your house?"

"With your help, yes."

"Fine, then let's go. The sooner you get that medicine, the better." They took off together, with Piccolo half-carrying Goku. As they flew at a slower than normal pace, the Namek's eyes narrowed a bit in thought. They'd spent most of the last year wondering when, or even if, Goku would fall ill due to the heart virus. It looked like Trunks' prediction had been true after all, although from what he had said they'd all thought it would happen earlier. Piccolo hoped the rest of the boy's predictions were at least as accurate.

Chi-Chi and Gohan were waiting for them when they touched down in front of Goku's house. "Oh, Goku," Chi-Chi sighed, her eyes and voice full of concern, before gently taking Goku from Piccolo and whisking him away into the house.

Gohan stopped Piccolo before he went into the house and asked, "Do you think my Dad will be okay?" He was trying to put a brave face on, but his voice betrayed his worry for his father.

"I hope so, kid. I hope so."

Author's Note

Welcome to the start of a new alternate timeline series, which examines what might have happened if Cell had not traveled back in time in search of Android 17 and 18. The existence of such a timeline can actually be inferred from the time travel mechanics and sequence of events shown in DBZ. [I'll spare you all the detailed explanation of why that is the case for now.] I've labeled this series 'Quarter Time' because we're shown three different timelines in the DBZ series (the main one, Cell's timeline, and Future Trunks' timeline); This timeline would therefore be the fourth one. Not that my version of how things might have turned out without Cell is any more canon than anyone else's. :^)

I will be sticking rather close to canon in spots, in this story and others, though. Part of the goal of this little (or not so little, depending on how long I can manage to keep it up) series is to try to make it feel like it might've been canon. Thus, if things end up seeming like an episode rehashing at times, that's why, and I'll try to keep things entertaining nonetheless.

As you may be able to tell from this prologue, this timeline corresponds to what Future Trunks knows of his past a bit more closely than the main DBZ timeline did. That's because Future Trunks' brief presence caused less changes to occur than Cell's 4 years of skulking around did. (Don't you just love chaos theory? :^) )

Anyway, I'd love to hear any feedback about this story, either through FF.net's review system or e-mail. I'll probably keep posting this thing even if you don't, though. ;^)