Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon ball, Dragon Ball Z or Dragon Ball GT. All rights go to their respected owners.
Claimer: I own all original characters and plotlines.
Chapter 4
Overwhelmed
Two rivers flowing separately. The rivers flow smoothly apart, each with individual fragments and experiences on their forked roads. Slowly, they move with conviction towards a singular goal: win. Their streams now flow at the same speed, the same direction and with the same sound. The island between the rivers end and the two streams join together, forming a massive ocean.
"Yes! That's it! You're doing it boys! Keep it up!" Piccolo cheered on with hope as a familiar golden glow filled the Lookout. Goten and Trunks' power signatures shot up to tremendous levels, slowly morphing into one seemingly far more unstable and even more ferocious. Their bodies melded together cleanly, their muscles overlapping and hardening as their height received a small boost as well.
The Z-Fighters held back their tears as all looked on at the centre of the Lookout as pure power poured from its innards, a seemingly primal roar of anger erupting from the heavens themselves.
Finally, the light died down and there stood the long forgotten warrior: Gotenks. The fusion was no longer a short, hyperactive ball of bulk, now being far taller with leaner muscle mass and more pronounced facial features that yielded no sense of joy or childishness, his clothing and hair seemingly the only things that remained consistent with his last appearance.
"Perfect," Piccolo began, taking in the massive amount of power before him. "Now, Gotenks I'm sure you know the situation at hand. This isn't the time for games or-"
"Where is he?" Gotenks interrupted with his duplicated voice, a scowl causing Piccolo to back away. Seconds before the fusion, Trunks had sensed his father's passing and, ever the hypocrite, the man ignored his own advice and had become lost in a world of emotion. This had seemingly carried over to the fusion. Gotenks now carried not only Goten's rage but also Trunks' grief in equal measure, resulting in a sombre creation.
Piccolo was sweating bullets, the being before him seemingly ready to kill anyone no matter who they were. "He's a good deal south of where the tournament was held… near where Vegeta's power disappeared."
Knowing his time was short, Gotenks chose not to respond but simply kept his eyes forward and exited the dark room, light temporarily blinding his corneas as he stepped out and Piccolo moved aside. The Z-Fighters nearly gasped.
This was not the Gotenks they remembered. This incarnation of the being was far more serious, even bearing a glare on his face and seemed ready for action. Most of the group stepped back in shock, apart from Chi-Chi, Bulma and Pan. The three simply watched on in worry as the man walked forward toward the edge of the platform. Gotenks was, however, kind enough to send them a reassuring glance as a way of telling them, "I'll be back."
Pan suddenly beamed from ear to ear, figuring that her uncles together would surely be enough to finish the job that only one person at a time had tried to do. "Go get him Uncle Goten! Make him say sorry for hurting Grandpa and Daddy!"
The fusion didn't turn around or even smile, but gave a nod in return, ignoring his half-mothers' pleas to stop. The amalgamation suddenly noticed something, however: Bra.
She was far from the other groups, crying her eyes out. To the being's knowledge the girl couldn't sense energy so this confused him greatly since she probably wouldn't know half of what was going on.
Assuming she had found out about her father's brutal passing through some other means, the fusion went to stand next to her. It took the girl a few moments to notice his shadow and assumed the unfamiliar shape to be that of another monster. Turning around, she was about to scream when suddenly she noticed that this man reminded her of her brother.
As tears flooded her eyes, the girl barely made out the frown on his face as he kept it to the floor, his fists shaking, "Bra."
The girl gasped in shock at the eerie sound of both Goten and Trunks speaking in perfect unison. "Bi-big brother? Is that you?" the tyke questioned but Gotenks remained silent for a few more moments, holding back his emotions and trying to seem strong for her.
"Yeah, in a way. Don't cry anymore, K? Big brother's gonna go take care of the monster, but he'll only do it if you promise to be as strong as you can… if he can't do it." Bra looked up at the creation before her. It seemed to beam off her Uncle Goten's childishness and Trunks' arrogance at the same time, even through the sombre attitude. Oddly enough, she felt compelled to trust this man.
"Uh-huh. I-I promise. But I know you can do it!" Bra said through her sniffling, Gotenks finally revealing a smile.
And a smile was all she was left with. Gotenks suddenly moved into a crouching position and blasted off towards the horizon, a supersonic explosion knocking Bra off her feet and leaving a large rut on The Lookout's tiled floor.
In less than three seconds, Gotenks had vanished completely, leaving all on the platform in utter awe of his speed.
And so the final hope of the Earth had now been sent off, each person feeling a mixture of optimism and fear. If Gotenks could not stop this menace, then they had no one left to protect them and thus the planet from total annihilation.
"Hey!" Krillin suddenly spoke up, gaining everyone's attention. "Where are Tien and Chiaoutzu?"
Blood and lots of it. Once more the android's hands were tainted with the life-giving red liquid. 1 stood not far off of Vegeta's battered corpse, the machine merely staring at his hands in the middle of the vast wasteland, not even thinking, just staring.
The prince's body was in a horrid state. His face was a red, bulgy mess, his torso a mixture of crimson blood and black marks while his legs were bent at odd angles. Inside the corpse was a clutter of broken bones and organs, all still warm since the prince's death.
Seventy-seven times, 1 remembered. It took exactly seventy-seven repeated bashes of Vegeta's skull against the ground before his heart gave out, which seemed to be far less determined than the prince's will. But a body cannot run on will alone and Vegeta had known this all too well, having been killed before. His final thought was one of mediocre happiness and irony.
In the next life he would have all the time in eternity to fight and surpass his rival yet his time in this realm still felt unfulfilled somehow. Perhaps it was this last opponent. The machine bothered him as 1 reminded Vegeta of himself. Serving a villainous psychopath, among the last few of his kind, lost at what to do and always wanting control… if not of the universe then at least himself.
In an odd turn of events, 1 had allowed Vegeta to feel an emotion he had never truly felt in his life: sympathy. An odd parting gift from an emotionless machine, but it was the thought that counted.
1 of course knew none of this, thinking of himself as nothing more than a puppet and a murderer. The machine didn't dare move, he already knew his next target was on his way at an alarming speed. It was hard to miss the enormous energy spike. This was his last hope at a sweet release. If this new opponent didn't come to stop him, 1 would be seemingly unstoppable and live eternity in torment over his actions.
It wasn't long before the machine had company again, Gotenks suddenly appearing in the sky, his white aura around him and fire in his eyes as he hung in the air, staring at the monster. For a second time that day, 1 used his energy to burn off the blood that currently resided on his palms.
The liquid quickly took a gaseous form and the machine's hands were clean once more… physically at least.
Slowly, 1 floated up to meet his steely-eyed opponent while keeping his head down in contemplation. This was it. If this new fighter couldn't stop him here, the machine would practically have free reign to kill off the remainder of his targets… and he wasn't so sure he would lose.
Although this new opponent before him was clearly a winner in power, and seemed remarkably like those two boys from earlier, that had been the case with his last two fights and he had still won. What was strange though was this beings very composition. The atoms that made up this ferocious fighter seemed to be highly unstable and would remain bonded for only thirty minutes, possibly less.
"Forgive me sir, but I did not manage to catalogue your name as of recently," 1 spoke up, finally gathering the will to speak to his opponent.
"Gotenks. My name is Gotenks," the fusion answered, his face remaining stern. "And I already know who you are… Android #1," Gotenks spoke with venom in his voice, watching the machine for any sudden movements.
"I presume you are here to attempt to annihilate me permanently?" the machine questioned, receiving a glare.
"Yeah that's right. But you'd like that wouldn't you? Some long fight to the death, so you can gloat about my fathers' deaths?!" Gotenks spat, his power and fury rising.
"No. I would not receive joy from such an act," 1 answered in monotone, but his posture seemed to drop.
"What?" the fusion asked, taken by surprise.
"I would prefer my suffering ended," 1 replied, looking up again. "I do none of this of my own will. It is my programming. I wanted nothing more than to merely exist, but not in such a way… I have not earned your respect or aid, but I ask you to… promise, I believe the word is, me something."
"And what would that be?" Gotenks said, raising an eyebrow as his curiosity increased.
"Kill me."
"Huh?!" Gotenks backed away slightly, expecting some sort of trick, but the machine remained unmoving. This didn't make sense. An opponent who wanted to be murdered? This outcome was unexpected and was slowly forcing Gotenks to look the situation more deeply as 1 continued.
"No more. I wish for no more killing," 1 explained, looking at his hands in disgust. "I have killed but three people, and I feel like a warmonger. My father did not intend this of me… it is not what I want. What existence is there for me? If I indeed complete #20's plan, what then? I have no family, certainly no friends… I am an empty shell of data and programming… with no will and unable to defy an old man." The machine was now merely repeating Vegeta's words in his head, each syllable bringing him closer to beyond the edges of despair.
"Please…Gotenks." 1 looked up with his fists clenched and his posture normal once more. "Deactivate me. I do not care how, whether it be 'painful' and slow, or painless and quick, merely end it… do for me, what I cannot."
The fusion hung in the air, his eyes still unwavering and as condescending as ever as he looked upon the sullen creation. His objective was in line with 1's request, but now who was he really doing this for? For his fathers and their pride? For his two halves and their revenge? Or for this abomination before him?
It shouldn't have truly mattered, but the naivety of Goten and the always thinking part of Trunks were coming together, forming a glimpse of hope for the android. There was clearly goodness in him, he just needed help in getting control over himself.
It seemed as though 1's speech had had the opposite wanted affect, as now Gotenks was no longer fired up and ready to kill, but rather morally confused over what to do. Should he risk the fate of a planet and give this creature a chance, or just end it all and live with the guilt?
Coming to a decision, Gotenks finally answered. "I would like to give you a chance at redemption… it would be what Goku would do… but you've killed too many and all of them too close." Taking in a deep breath, the fusion prepared himself for something he hadn't done in a long time. "I promise you, I will kill you."
At those words, 1 felt a strange, new sensation throughout his body. Hope, perhaps?
"But remember," the fusion began as he entered a squatting position, his arms at his sides and his fists clenched. "You asked for it!" Gotenks closed his eyes momentarily, calming his mind and building up his energy slowly. Suddenly the creation's eyes sprang open along with his mouth as a terrific scream was released.
"HHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" The grey clouds above them were suddenly sent away in all directions as powerful ripples of energy encompassed the landscape, the planet receiving yet another gigantic earthquake as Gotenks' power skyrocketed to and passed unprecedented levels.
1 looked on at a familiar scene as Gotenks' hair suddenly turned golden and began to quickly lengthen as his muscles ballooned and then hardened at an incredible speed, Gotenks clearly not wanting to waste any time on reaching the new form, the energy already seeming to make his molecules even more unstable.
The screaming abruptly ended, Gotenks now fiercer looking than ever before, having undergone the same changes as Vegeta, except his power made the prince's seem like a candle in the wind.
Five minutes. As far as Gotenks could tell that was how long the fusion would be able to support this much power. He had to and would end it all before that. Although the fusion wanted to simply begin the fight, he couldn't help but get caught up in the all-encompassing power that was his.
He could see practically everything move in slow-motion, sense even the tiniest ants move about, hear the voices of all Earth's confused citizens and felt as though a mere flick of his fingers would level a mountain.
'Focus Gotenks.' The fusion scolded himself. 'You have a job to do and not a lot of time to do it in, don't get caught up in the moment!'
Looking forward, Gotenks found his opponent in a battle ready position, seemingly basic karate from the looks of it. Even if Gotenks hadn't known martial arts, this was going to end very soon.
Although the machine was prepared for any and every form of assault from this opponent, his processors just couldn't keep up with the fusion's insane speed. The being seemingly vanished from existence for a few tense moments before there was a thunderous crash that even left a long crater in the ground far below them, the shockwaves bellowing across the landscape.
In the air stood Super Saiyan 3 Gotenks, his fist outstretched next to half of Android 1's body, the other half where he hit currently white chunks hanging in the air.
"Un-unbelievable!" Piccolo said in awe as he looked upon the battle in his mind's eye. Krillin slowly walked up to him, holding his head in pain from all the energy that was being thrust upon him.
"What is it Piccolo?" The monk asked, the rest of those besides them who could sense energy currently lying on the ground in agony, holding their heads as those who couldn't sense energy attended to them.
"In one punch… Gotenks destroyed half of #1's body!" the Namekian declared loudly, earning either looks of disbelief or smirks from his allies in response as they lay on the floor.
"Really? I mean, I know he's strong and all, but that means if #1 was normal he would-"
"Have been killed, yes," Piccolo finished off for Krillin.
"To think there's someone strong enough to take out someone almost as powerful as a Super Saiyan 3 in one punch… I know Gotenks is our last hope, and its only temporary and all, but I'm a little scared," the monk admitted, shuddering.
"Don't worry Krillin, for once those boys seem to have the situation under control… let's just hope that Tien and Chiaoutzu aren't going to do something stupid." The Namek looked off into the distance, beginning to truly feel worry for his missing friends. Had they been captured? Worse perhaps? Only time would tell.
The machine's body quickly reformed into a singular, solid shape as Gotenks pulled back his arm, preventing 1 from taking any of his energy. The android abruptly raised his arm and prepared a white energy blast aimed at the fusion's face, only for said fusion to grab his hand, pull the machine's arm forward whereupon Gotenks nailed 1 in the elbow with his knee.
The limb was split in two in a shower of shockwaves and small blobs flew of white off the machine. Taking the initiative, Gotenks incinerated the portion on the arm he held and followed up with a brutal kick to 1's head, launching it off like golf ball on a tee.
1's head soared over the horizon as his body was suddenly pummeled from every angle, each blow ripping the machine into dozens of tiny white pieces. Gotenks remained focused as he went after every large chunk of magical flesh he could find.
The blows abruptly stopped, Gotenks realizing he was getting nowhere. The small white blobs that once made up Android 1 floated around the fusion as he eyed them with a scowl, the globules seemingly waiting to pounce on the being so as to soak up all of his massive stores of energy.
Before they could do so however, Gotenks flared his violent, golden aura with a yell, the heat obliterating even the tiniest white specs before they could so much as move.
The boy slowly breathed in and out as his aura returned to normal. His vision was blurry, his head ached and he felt like he was swimming through a pool of glue with each movement. Gotenks looked at the muscular palm of his hand before clenching it harshly, the movement feeling sluggish.
While the Super Saiyan 3 form gave massive power, its massive drawback of syphoning stamina made it somewhat of a bad idea to use. This was taken to a whole new level when a fusion did it.
The massive amount energy used accelerated the already rapid 'de-fusion' process, a cycle where the resulting creation could feel him/herself slowly split back into two people's, its memories, beliefs and fighting styles slowly becoming less and less clear and more contradictory.
Metamoran Fusion was sort of like weak glue between two planks, and each Super Saiyan form a running tap. Each new level of Super Saiyan forced the tap to pour out more water as the glue was forced to work harder, eventually breaking down.
In Super Saiyan 3, it wasn't just the form that used up time, it was every solitary movement and attack in the form. By his estimates, he had less than three minutes after only thirty seconds of fighting, and his opponent was now barreling back at him, 1's head having reformed his body.
"I… have no choice… but to end it all," Gotenks stated, panting as the strain of the form took its toll once more. Pushing past the pain, the fusion calmed his mind, taking deep breaths as he concentrated his energy.
Android #1 meanwhile was, unfortunately, very near his goal. Gotenks seemed to have gone into a trance-like state and his molecules were becoming more unstable by the second. 1 began to lose hope in this being before him. It appeared as though he would not die today after all.
Gotenks slowly gathered his remaining energy into his hands, splitting the amounts evenly and trying to maintain upmost concentration as two golden spheres of power appeared, one in each hand. The fusion's eyes suddenly sprang open and his hands were clasped together, Gotenks' fingers forming a sort of gun-like shape.
The spheres shrank and joined, coming together at the tip of Gotenks' index fingers. The volatile, concentrated energy sparked and flashed with the hopes of the Z-Fighters, eager that this would end it all.
"Come on Gotenks! You can do this!" Piccolo cheered on the fusion, sweating in pints.
"Victory Canon!" With a yell to the heavens, the planet shook one final time as an earthquake to end all earthquakes erupted below the bullet-shaped blast of energy that now seemingly took up the space of ten skyscrapers. The energy blast neared 1, gaining speed as it moved forward like a colossal train, ready to swallow up the dreaded monster.
If only it were aimed right.
In the final moments before firing, the toll of Super Saiyan 3 had been too much for Gotenks, his eyes seeing doubles, and he had pointed their final hope at the wrong double, one far below his true target. All was lost as the attack now loomed towards civilization, already having missed Android 1 by miles, to everyone's displeasure.
The android, against his will, barrelled forwards towards a resigned Gotenks, the being having lost any chance of victory and the fusion now in its last few moments, already having forced Gotenks back to his base form.
The machine reared back his fist, ready to deliver a final blow. Time stood still as his pale limb moved forward, ready to take off Gotenks' head, leaving nothing in his way. That was what he thought, at least until his energy scanners picked up another enormous spike.
"Tri-Beam HAH!"
The yell echoed throughout the landscape, its source seemingly unknown. 1 stopped in his tracks, but not out of his own will. The machine's body had been glued to the air as he felt an enormous heat behind him.
Turning around, the machine watched as the Tri-Beam smacked into Gotenks' seemingly failed attack, forcing it back up and directly at the constricted Android 1. Struggle as he might, the machine was trapped as the ball of pure, raw energy was forced towards him at an alarming speed, seeming more like the headlight of a giant locomotive.
Gotenks stared on in awe, not believing that they might have actually won.
"Move out of the way! Now!" the same voice from before yelled, bringing Gotenks back to reality as the fusion suddenly ran out.
Both Goten and Trunks took a moment to gather their senses before realizing the situation again. Not needing to be told twice, the two burst into their Super Saiyan forms and rocketed away at opposite directions, already feeling the heat of the attack.
1, meanwhile, was feeling the true hotness of the Victory Canon, the raw heat generated slowly melting away at his synthetic skin, his processors all bursting from overload, his head already ablaze from the attack's pure power alone.
1, in his short life, had nothing but regrets, yet embraced the fate before him, although his body still struggled. Perhaps, he thought, fate would be a tad kinder in the next world and give him a chance to properly apologize to his victims before his punishment began.
The blast finally struck, atom after atom being wiped away as 1 was stripped of his very being, only wishing he could smile at that moment. In the very centre of the attack however, 1 was overwhelmed by a feeling of dread.
He would never get to tell anyone, however, as the attack reached its max capacity and erupted in an enormous explosion that hung in the sky, its radius covering the span of the entire country, blocking out the sun's rays as the ground below split apart, tremors moving across the once ocean floor and causing buildings to crumble, cars to topple and forests to be split in half as all the planet's inhabitants cowered in fear and confusion.
For a full minute, the Earth endured what many thought would surpass its capabilities. But the planet was a tough old bird to say the least, enduring the stress and keeping casualties to a minimum, both human and animal.
Finally, the shaking ended and after a short time, the smoke in the sky gave way, letting the sun shine through.
It seemed as though a collective sigh was taken around the world by each and every person. The apocalypse was over.
The spirit of Android #1 could no longer be felt.
