Woot New chapter of Days of our Future. Enjoy!
Previously on Days of our Future
After successfully bringing back all the people killed by the Androids, Kiwi returns to the future and discovers that Gohan, the only man she's ever loved, now has a girlfriend. Meanwhile, Sumiko struggles with being a woman in a child's body.
When Videl disappears and no one can find her, Kiwi is more than thrilled. She decides to use this chance to try and win Gohan back. One morning she decides to scavenge for scrap metal and blue prints in Dr. Giro's old lab. Reaching the lab Kiwi is attacked. Who is the mysterious attacker?
Pain was Kiwi's only emotion and feeling for the next five minutes. Then an image of a scowling Vegeta filled her mind and the pain was almost replaced by humiliation. The Saiyan Prince would be ashamed of how she was acting right now. A true daughter of his wouldn't be laying there crying about something like a broken arm; she would have gotten up and tried to fight the bastard that did this to her. Gritting her teeth Kiwi sat up and bit back a cry as her broken arm moved.
Damn the person that did this to her. Looking around Kiwi saw that she was now alone; whoever did this moved fast. Slowly she got to her feet. They may have moved fast but there had to be some sort of indication of which way they had gone. Nothing. Anger filled Kiwi and she yelled, "Come back and fight me you bastard!"
There was no answer. Touching her side Kiwi was disappointed to realize that in her eagerness to leave Gohan she had left her capsule container on her dresser. Cursing under her breath she saw some shrubbery in the distance. Slowly she floated over to it. The shrub wasn't too large but the branches coming from it seemed sturdy. Gingerly Kiwi tore off the bottom part of her shirt and she used it in conjunction with torn off branches from the shrub to create a make shift splint for her arm.
It was sloppy, but for the time being it would serve to keep her arm steady. Taking a deep breath Kiwi turned in the direction of Giro's lab. Whoever had attacked her had mentioned the androids…maybe they were using the dead villain's laboratory to create their own devices.
As Sumiko and Trunks flew towards the direction of Kiwi's chi, Trunks said worriedly, "I should probably get in touch with Gohan. Maybe the person who attacked Kiwi did something to Videl. It is in the same area."
Sumiko gave a thoughtful nod, "You're right. Is there a phone in the capsule house?"
"Ah…no." Trunks replied. "I don't want to let Mom know that something's happened…she'll freak out and get Ve…Dad involved."
If Sumiko noticed Trunks' slight slip up with Vegeta's name she gave no notice. Instead, after a few more minutes of flying in silence, she stopped abruptly. "I got it!" she cried out. "When we were younger Gohan and I made up a way to signal each other in case there was trouble." Without waiting for a reply Sumiko charged her chi. Trunks flew back several feet to avoid getting hit by the energy she was releasing.
Sumiko did this three times in fast succession before saying smugly, "There. I'll wait for him here and you go on ahead." She scowled when Trunks reached out and rubbed her hair affectionately.
"Thanks. I'll see you two soon." Trunks sped off and Sumiko lowered herself to the ground to wait.
The area was shaded, Praise Kami. Sumiko bit her bottom lip worriedly. The Androids were supposed to be gone. Kiwi may have been human but she was still strong; whoever had injured her had to be stronger and that thought was troubling. Sumiko was so deep in her thoughts that when her father suddenly appeared in front of her she didn't notice.
It wasn't until Goku leaned over and peered in her face that Sumiko realized her father was there. The young girl let out a shriek and fell off of the root she had been sitting on. Scrambling to her feet she cried out, "Dad what are you doing here? You scared me!"
Goku smiled cheerfully. "I felt your chi spike a few times and thought you were in trouble." He looked around and seeing no trouble asked innocently, and with just a hint of disappointment, "Did you just want to spend some time with me?"
"Dad…no." Sumiko said with a shake of her head. Quickly she explained the situation to him and Goku's cheerful features quickly melted into more serious ones.
Putting his fingers to his forehead Goku said sternly, "You wait here for your brother. I'm going to go ahead and join Trunks."
He was gone before Sumiko could blink.
The absence of warmth was what woke Gohan up. With sleepy disappointment he slid out of Kiwi's bed and padded off to the bathroom, completely unaware of his state of undress. It wasn't until he was rinsing his face that the young man was hit with embarrassment. How could he have spent the entire night with Kiwi? He reached out briefly and was surprised and disappointed to realize she was gone. She must have been angry when she woke up to find him there.
Sighing Gohan noticed his clothes lying in a heap on top of a basket. As he redressed he froze. When they had been children he and Sumiko had often called out to each other using their chi. He could feel his sister calling to him now and immediately worry rippled through him. Sumiko might have been "older" but stuck in child's body there were still things that could be dangerous for her.
Forcing Kiwi from his mind, Gohan left the capsule home and flew towards Sumiko. He soon found her pacing impatiently beneath a tree. When she saw him, the expression on her face became one of relief. Landing beside her Gohan tensed and put his arm around her. "What happened," he demanded.
"Kiwi's in trouble," Sumiko started before explaining to him what happened. She lifted off the ground and nodded towards the direction that Trunks and their father had gone. "They went this way."
Gohan's stomach clenched as he and his sister sped through the air. Videl had disappeared in that area. If whoever had attacked Kiwi was behind his former girlfriend's disappearance…
Cold sweat dripped down Kiwi's face despite the sun shining down on her. Trying not alert anyone in the area she had masked her chi and walked the distance from where she had been attacked to where she remembered Giro's lab to be. As she reached the spot memories of the last time she had been there hit her. Kiwi shivered as she remembered 17 and 18 killing Gero and then Trunks destroying the lab. If the androids were back…she pushed the memories away as the lab came into view. To her surprise it was there, right down to the door.
Kiwi had expected Trunks to have destroyed it after he returned from the future and had been coming to salvage scrap metal and anything else that may have withstood destruction. But for the entire lab to be standing was a different situation entirely. Feeling weak Kiwi slid down to the ground and leaned her back against a large rock. If the person that attacked her was there in the lab she wouldn't be able to break in. they'd just finish the job. Feeling frustrated, Kiwi was wondering what to do next when Goku suddenly appeared in front of her.
"I thought I'd never find you!" Goku said cheerfully, ignoring her shocked gasp. "You do a pretty good job at masking your chi."
Feeling amazed Kiwi stuttered out, "H…How'd you find me? What are you doing here?"
Goku knelt beside her. "I found Sumiko and she told me what was going on. Your brother should be here soon. How's your arm?"
"It's broken." Kiwi replied with a wince as he probed it. "I think it was a clean break."
Nodding Goku said wisely, "Sure looks that way. I've broken my arm plenty of times so I should know. Ready to go home?" He touched his fingers to his forehead and reached for her.
Kiwi moved so that his hand hit the rock behind her. "Of course not!" she snapped. "Look behind you." She waited for the confused saiyan to turn around before continuing. "That's Gero's lab back there…whoever jumped me is probably in there. I want…no I need to check it out."
"I don't think your brother or dad would be too happy about that," Goku replied skeptically. "Or your mom." He finished with a shudder. "She's pretty scary when she's mad."
A sudden smile touched Kiwi's mouth and she held out her hand for him to help her up. As she stood she said, "I'm with the strongest man in the universe. If you can't keep me safe then who can?"
A few moments later Goku, holding Kiwi, landed in front of the entrance of Gero's lab. Glancing around Kiwi spotted a camera and pointed to it. "Looks like someone's here after all," she said grimly as Goku set her down.
"I wonder if they're really strong," Goku said dreamily. "It feels like a lifetime since I had a decent battle." Without waiting for a response he punched the door and sent it flying inward.
The door clattered to the ground and Kiwi winced, expecting attackers to come flooding out. Nothing happened so she and Goku walked over the door and into Giro's Lab. It was exactly as Kiwi remembered it. Several containers lined the wall along with a massive computer station. Staring at the containers Kiwi felt her heart speed up. Touching Goku's arm she said hoarsely, "That's were Giro kept the androids. If…if there are androids in there we have to destroy them."
She didn't realize she was shaking until Goku put a reassuring arm around her. "We won't let the world be destroyed again. We learned from last time." Pushing Kiwi towards a chair he continued, "You go ahead and sit while I check the containers."
Goku walked confidently over to the container and after peering in them he said, with a hint of disappointment, "Nope, no androids."
"Don't sound too disappointed," Kiwi snapped. Rolling her eyes she stood up from her chair and was walking towards him when she spotted one last container that was being used as a table of sorts. "There's one more," Kiwi wheezed out and pointed.
Sweeping the papers off of the container, Goku peered in the window. There were several long beats of silence "There's someone in here," he finally said. "A man…with red hair."
"That has to be Android 16," Trunks said from the entrance of the laboratory. Both Goku and Kiwi looked at him startled. Ignoring the surprise on their faces the young man explained,"In the past Giro had him hidden away because he was too unstable. But in reality he just couldn't make 16 into the killer that he turned 17 and 18 into."
"Trunks!" Kiwi ran over to her brother and threw herself into his arms. Her injured arm screamed out in pain as he caught her and hugged her tightly but she didn't care. Tears dripped down her face and she buried her face against his chest. "Thank you for coming after me."
Although they generally didn't do grand displays of affection Trunks held her tightly for several moments before brushing his mouth against the top of her head. "Of course I came. But you shouldn't have come here alone. Tell me everything that happened."
As Kiwi opened her mouth to speak there was a hissing sound and she spun around to see the top of the container holding 16 pop open. Fear slammed into the young girl and she grabbed onto Trunks to keep from falling over. The sound of Trunks' yells faded away as Kiwi watched the green clad behemoth rose up from the box. The android stood there for a few moments, studying his surroundings. Then, his eyes landed on Goku.
Goku smiled and reached his hand out. "Hey there!" he said amicably. "My name's Goku and I—" The saiyan's words were cut off by 16 punching him in the mouth. The saiyan was sent flying into the empty containers and through the wall.
"It is time to die," was 16's simple reply as he launched himself after Goku.
Trunks and Kiwi followed and watched as Goku grabbed onto 16 from behind. Sheepishly he called out, "I'll, uh, take care of this somewhere else." Before the siblings could speak, Goku and the Android blinked out of existence.
"I know I wished him back but I think I might kill him again," Kiwi said furiously, turning around to survey the damage the saiyan had caused. When Trunks didn't reply Kiwi turned to her brother and found him staring through the opening in the wall. "Trunks? What is it?"
"A nightmare," was her brother's soft response.
Gohan and Sumiko were nearly to the area of Videl's appearance when their father blipped into existence before them fighting someone in green. The two siblings were flung backwards into a semi large rock formation as a blast from their father's fight hit htem. As the dust and rubble cleared Sumiko sat up and snapped, "What the hell was that?"
"Looks like dad found someone to battle against," Gohan replied with a wince. "C'mon." the two of them flew upwards and saw their father send the other person flying.
Spotting them, Goku came over and said brightly, "I didn't expect to see you two here."
"Who is that dad?" sumiko asked, watching the rocks were the other person had landed begin to shift.
Looking embarrassed Goku rubbed the back of his head before admitting,, "I may have woken up an Android…Android 16. He's, pretty strong for someone who's been a box for all these years!" He turned his back on his children and eagerly watched as Android 16 flew up and towards them.
The words chilled Sumiko and Gohan as they exchanged look, remembering the moments of their deaths at the hands of 17 and 18. Touching his sister's shoulder Gohan said softly, "You go and find Kiwi and Trunks…I'll stay here with dad."
"But…" Sumiko's voice trailed off as Gohan cut in sternly. "I'm not going to lose you a second time. Get out of here."
As Android 16 reached them, Sumiko nodded and flew away a lump in her throat.
Looking at his father Gohan asked dryly, "Wanna tell me why you woke up an Android? After everything that's happened?"
"It's not my fault," Goku protested innocently. "Trunks said he wasn't a killer."
No more could be said as 16 reached them. Looking at Goku the android said solemnly, "My software indicates that Saiyans increase in power as time goes on; yet your power levels are similar to what they were many years ago."
Goku rubbed the back of his head. "Well I was dead for a long time," he explained. "I missed out on a lot of training."
Ignoring the pounding of his heart Gohan moved forward and said firmly, "Even if my father isn't strong by your standards he's not alone. We'll beat you."
The android fixed his gaze on Gohan. "My fight is not with you." Turning back to Goku he continued evenly, "It is my life's mission to kill you. But to do so when you are not at optimal strength is weak and cowardly." He paused to blink at a butterfly that floated by. "I will give you six months to train and increase your power level."
"That sounds fair," Goku replied with a grin. The grin faded slightly. "Do you promise not to hurt anyone during that time?"
The Android sighed softly. "As I said…my fight is with you and you only."
The grin returned and Goku exclaimed, "You've got yourself a deal!" As the Android flew away he turned to Gohan and continued happily, "What till I tell Vegeta! He's going to be jealous."
Sumiko landed outside Giro's lab and could only gape in awe. She could remember the lab at Capsule Corps looking similar to this before the Androids had attacked and destroyed everything. Stepping gingerly over the door she followed Trunks' and Kiwi's chi through a hole in the wall on the opposite side of the lab and found then standing over a table. The room looked similar to an operating room in a hospital; the only difference being the rock walls.
The greeting in her throat died as she saw what lay on the table. It was a man, his chest cracked open. Stepping closer she could see that part of his insides had been scooped out and replaced by electrical parts and wiring. But that wasn't the terrible part. What was worse was the breathing mask over the man's face showing that he was still alive.
"Kami," she breathed the word out in horror causing her two friends to flinch.
Trunks cleared his throat and said, "I knew that the doctor had kidnapped humans but I never knew…" his voice trailed off. "Whoever did this is sick."
When Kiwi turned to look at her friend Sumiko let out a curse all thoughts of androids flung from her mind. "Kiwi, you look like crap!" Kiwi's face was white as sheet and covered in sweat. Dried blood covered the arm cradled in a sling and there was a visible tremor running through her body. "We need to get you home...now."
"I can't leave yet." Kiwi replied weakly. "Not until we deal with this." She nodded over at the body on the table.
There was silence and Trunks finally said, "You guys head home…I'll…take care of it."
Sumiko shook her head and stepped up to her friend, her hand reaching for his. "No," she said firmly. "I'll help you."
Kiwi made a noise of agreement and rounded the table to look at some papers that were on a cart filled with tools. "I'm going to poke around on the computer," she said grabbing the papers. "There might be data on there about whoever's doing this."
She disappeared back into the main room leaving Trunks and Sumiko standing over the body of the man. Trunks watched the man breathe, his breath dampening the clear plastic of the breathing mask. Sumiko squeezed his hand. "We're setting him free; saving him only means making another android and we can't let that happen." She raised her free hand and powered up.
Trunks looked down at the small girl beside him, the expression on her face betraying her true age. The last time he had seen someone look so strong had been Gohan before he had gone and been killed by the androids. Trunks felt a brief moment of pleasure to have someone like that beside him and raised his hand.
It was quiet when Kiwi opened her eyes. Confused she looked around and found that she was laying her bed, her arm properly bandaged and her mom sleeping in the chair beside her. Clearing her throat she said hoarsely, "Mom? What happened?"
Bulma stayed sleeping and it was Vegeta's curt voice from the door way that responded, "The woman has exhausted herself with worry."
Kiwi's eyes widened at the sight of her 'father' standing in the doorway. He glowered at her and Kiwi felt nothing but shame; all those weeks of training for nothing. She looked down. "I let you down," she said miserably.
"If you start with a pity speech I will break your other arm." Vegeta snapped as he entered the bedroom. He walked up to her mother and gently lifted the sleeping woman into his arms. "Get some rest. Tomorrow we continue with your training." He left the room with a glare.
Left alone in her room, the last thing Kiwi wanted to do was rest. She needed answers. Kiwi reached out and felt Trunks' chi in the room besides hers. Groaning she got out of bed and made her way to his room. Trunks lay on his bed, eyes closed but when she crossed into the room he said, "Shouldn't you be in bed resting?"
"I can't," Kiwi replied flatly. With no hesitation she slid into the bed so that her uninjured side are was beside him and leaned against her brother. "How can I rest when we've got Android 16 running around and some psycho path making new androids? And what the hell happened anyways?"
Sliding his arm around his sister Trunks replied, "After taking care of that crazy operation room, Sumiko and I found you passed out in front of the computer. But don't worry; I got the hard drive off of the computer for you and mom to check out." He paused before continuing hesitantly, " Also…about the man we found….don't mention him."
"Why not?"
Trunks sighed impatiently. "Think about it Kiwi! Videl disappeared near that area; after what we saw what the hell do you think could have happened?"
The implications behind Trunks' words hit Kiwi hard. A wave of nausea rose up in her. "Oh Kami," she whispered. "I hated her for being with Gohan but I never would have wanted something like this to happen…you think she's been turned?"
Her brother nodded. "Sumiko thinks so. She doesn't want Gohan to find out about it. It'll drive him crazy with guilt."
Kiwi bit her bottom lip as she thought about Gohan. How would he react to news like this? And if she were in his position would she even want to know? Rubbing her eyes Kiwi said, "I don't know, it doesn't feel right keeping something like this from him. He…he has the right to know what could have happened to her. Especially if it's true. One of these days Videl might show up and then what?"
"I dunno Kiwi," Trunks replied tiredly. "If Sumiko wants to tell him then she will. If that's all then I need to get to sleep. Tomorrow Goku's starts training for his fight with 16."
"Aren't you more than strong enough to defeat 16 on your own?" Kiwi asked as she slid of the bed. "You defeated 17 and 18 and they were much stronger than he was."
Trunks grinned widely. "Of course I can beat 16 but he only wants to fight Goku. I'm not going to step in the way of that."
Kiwi waved her brother good night and instead of returning to her room she left Capsule Corps and went to her capsule house. After the events of the day there was no way she would be sleeping without some type of nightmare. Feeling thoroughly exhausted she entered the small bedroom and stopped short when she found Gohan standing inside, looking out the window.
"Gohan? What are you doing here?"
The older man turned around and smiled tiredly. "I was thinking about your nightmares…you didn't have any when I spent the night last night so I figured why not try it again?"
Kiwi felt her eyes smart and she blinked back tears. "Are you sure?"
A few minutes later the two of them were on the bed and Kiwi, for the first time in weeks, found herself falling into a deep and untroubled sleep.
Dr. Giro surveyed the damage done to his lab and sneered. The imbeciles. Since the moment he had been revived he had been steadily moving all the things from the current location to a newer, more secretive one. He had been on his way to the old lab earlier when he had come across the girl adopted by the infamous Bulma. Unable to resist he had attacked her, hoping to send a message to the rest of them.
Walking into the destroyed operating room, Dr. Giro viewed the charred spot where the table had once stood. Such a pity he had not be able to remove his latest android in the making before the fools had arrived. Kicking a small rock out of the way the doctor walked over to the wall and touched a stone. There was a rumble and the wall came out revealing a hidden nook. Carefully removing several important papers, Giro smiled. It mattered not that they had destroyed his latest project. He had several new androids completed and there was no shortage of people to create new ones. Let Goku and his foolish friends waste their times on the pathetic Android 16. It would give Giro all the time he needed to complete his plans.
Woot so much drama :D I hope that makes up for the time that it took to update! In the meantime if you're fans of Avatar the Last Airbender then feel free to check out my other fanfic "Tea Time Love Affair".
