"Piccolo!" Gohan cried as he raced to his fallen mentor. He fell to his knees right beside his body, his hands gripping onto the Namek's shoulder.

"Piccolo, you can't die!" he shouted, shaking him as he fought the dread in his body. He had seen this before once, when the Namekian had jumped in front of an attack that was meant for him.

It was still a scene he still saw in his nightmares.

And like the last time, his mentor's killer, or in this case killers, approached him, stopping a short distance away. Both looked at him as he tried in vain to wake the Namek up.

"Well, that's one down. Who's next?" Eighteen asked, her remarks obviously meant for the young boy. A spark of anger flared a second later.

"I'm not too picky. How about the shrimp here?" Seventeen suggested. "He seems to be missing the green guy very much. We can do the community service we owe by helping him out."

The spark grew stronger.

The blonde android chuckled. "Sounds good to me. Hopefully he appreciates our efforts."

He couldn't help himself, it was too much to bear. In a flash, Gohan was on his feet, letting out a scream of anger and sorrow. A torrent of wind exploded from his body as his aura enveloped him along with his ki skyrocketing.

In response, the Androids and other Z warriors brought their arms up, offering minimal protection to their faces. The Son boy was pissed and retribution would be swift.

As his cry died out, he clenched his teeth, baring them as if he were a wild animal. Slowly, his pupils vanished into the whites of his eyes just before he gave out another scream, sending another rush of wind, this time throwing the Androids off their feet and sending them flying away.

Taping into the large pool of ki at his disposal, Gohan threw his hands our and began firing a barrage of ki blasts, his arms pumping back and forth as he fired each beam. The ki blasts raced after the Androids and exploded once they reached them. Flames covered the last place they had been seen even as Gohan sent more and more ki blasts into the blaze.

"Look at him go!" Tien shouted as he watched. He had no idea where this sudden burst of ki came from, but if it defeated the Androids then he was glad it decided to appear now instead of never.

"Keep it up, kiddo!" Yamcha yelled out. Needless to say, he was in agreement with his fellow bald comrade.

Slowly, Gohan's attack died down until the demi-saiyan stopped firing ki blasts, panting as his arms fell at his sides.

Smoke covered everything in front of the boy and his friends, rising into the air to slowly begin dispersing.

A few moments later, Krillen, Tien, and Yamcha approached the boy. None of them said a word, allowing the silence around them to continue. It would be Krillen who offered words of solace to the young boy as he put his hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry; we'll bring him back."

As the smoke cleared up, two silhouettes appeared. The four fighters' eyes widened as Seventeen and Eighteen emerged unharmed, blank stares on their faces.

"Th-that's impossible!" Yamcha exclaimed. "Gohan practically leveled half the city and there's not a scratch on them!"

"Sorry to ruin your little party there, but it seems this battle hasn't been concluded," Seventeen spoke up. "Would you gentlemen care to start it back up again?"

Fearful stutters left Gohan's mouth as he looked at the two nightmares. He hadn't been too aware of what he had done, only that it caused mass destruction around him. But these…things…they were unstoppable!

Krillen seemed to have the same thoughts as he took a nervous step back. "Wh-what are we gonna do guys? These things are walking nightmares!"

"We have to take them head on!" Tien declared.

"Do you have a death wish or something?" the monk replied.

Reining in his fear, Gohan gulped as he steeled his nerves. "Tien's right. We have to fight these things."

"Gohan, you too? Didn't you see what they did to Piccolo?"

"There's no use running. They'd just hunt us down and we'd have to fight anyways. Piccolo would rather die fighting than hiding."

"That's a good speech and all," Yamcha spoke up, "but how are we suppose to beat these androids?"

"Well, there are four of us. If we fight them all at once, we might get an advantage," Tien suggested.

"Great plan. I just wish you were more sure about it."

"We'll go in waves. Yamcha and I will go first; Krillen, you and Gohan back us up, alright?" the bald man said.

"Got it," Gohan replied.

With the affirmation, Tien took off, charging at the Androids with Yamcha following a second later.

None of them had expected, however, Seventeen using his superior speed to rush the incoming humans. With his arms crossed in front of him, he rammed into Tien, his forearms pressing against the man's chest, stopping the charge, and forcing the two of them to fly in the other direction.

All Gohan and Krillen saw was a blur pass right between them and a loud sound coming from behind them. Turning their heads, they saw the two fighters against a large piece of a broken building, Seventeen pressing his crossed arms higher up their bald companion's body until they were up against his neck, suffocating him. The warrior's hands gripped onto the dark-haired android's forearms in an attempt to remove them, failing as he began to gag.

"Tien!" Yamcha shouted as he stopped his own charge, looking at the man. He would pay for that drop in guard as Eighteen came in and smashed her fist into his face, sending him flying off.

Turning his head, Gohan saw the former desert bandit flying off. Taking action, he flew towards the blonde android, intent on stopping her attack.

With a small smile on her face, she watched as the Son boy closed in on her, raising her arms at the last second to being blocking the barrage of punches he began throwing at her. Each fist was rendered useless as Eighteen's forearms prevented them from landing on her.

As the young boy began to feel desperation in his attempt to hit her, Eighteen suddenly stiffened the fingers on one of her hands, curling them and baring her palm. A moment later, she slammed her palm into the side of Gohan's head, sending him flying in the opposite direction of Yamcha.

Meanwhile, Krillen went to go help Tien, drawing back a fist as he rushed in.

Turning his head to see the smaller bald man closing in, Seventeen swung his lower body off the ground, swinging a kick that nailed Krillen in the head with the back of his heel. The monk went flying until he crashed on the ground, bouncing off of it and landing back on it a few times just like a rock skipping over water.

"That was easy," the young man smirked.

Taking advantage of the android's decreased attention on him, Tien dropped one of his hands from the arms choking him. Pressing it against the slab of concrete he was against, he charged as much ki as his oxygen deprived body could and unleashed it, the building piece crumbling into pieces. Leaning his body backwards, he fell to the ground as Seventeen flew over him, surprised by the disappearance of his victim's body. Stopping a short distance away, the young man turned to look as Tien recovered, coughing harshly.

Landing on the ground, Seventeen strolled over to the bald man. "Ya know, for a man that once defeated Son Goku, you're a bit of a disappointment," he mocked.

Tien's eyes flashed in anger. A second later, he leapt from the ground, throwing a punch at the despicable machine.

Seventeen easily dodged the punch, ducking the blow. With his own fist, he slammed it into Tien's midsection, stopping his body's momentum instantly as immense pain wrote itself on his face.

Moving backwards, the android let the three-eyed man collapse to the ground, holding his torso as small gasps of pain left his mouth. With a small grin, he pulled back his leg and swung it forward, nailing the man in the face and sending him skidding on the ground.

After recovering from Eighteen's blows, Yamcha and Gohan had launched themselves at the blonde android, throwing an onslaught of punches and kicks at her. In response, Eighteen blocked and dodged the attacks, keeping up with their flurry of blows. It was frustrating how she could keep up with them, not to mention frightening.

Suddenly, her hands shot out and grabbed each by the side of their heads. With a jerk, she slammed their heads together, stunning them as they fell to the ground.

"Tell me boys, how embarrassed are you?" she asked then. "How much does it hurt that you're getting beat up by a girl?"

Holding her hand out then, she charged up her energy, an orb of it appearing in her palm. "I won't let you worry too much about it though. I'll be sure to end your humiliation quickly."

Acting quickly, Yamcha rolled on the ground until his body laid on top of Gohan's in order to act as a shield for it. The energy blast burned into his back a moment later, covering the two in flames as the force of the explosion threw them through the air.

Things were definitely not going their way.

Once they hit the ground, Yamcha rolled off of the young boy, hissing as his newly burned back touch the asphalt. Oh yeah, that was gonna sting in the morning.

"Yamcha, are you okay?" Gohan asked as he climbed onto his knees, looking at the man in alarm.

"Don't sweat it kiddo, I'll be okay," the former desert bandit replied.

"Not for long you won't be."

Both warriors looked up at the blonde nightmare, who was now standing a few feet away from them.

"Get away from him!" Gohan shouted as he lunged at the woman.

Eighteen easily dodged the dive and grabbed him by the white collar around his neck. With a swing of her arm, she threw the boy into a nearby building, Gohan breaking right through the wall of it.

Krillen watched as Seventeen towered over Tien's body, the young man enjoying the torment he put upon him.

The monk could barely stand it. He and his comrade threw everything they had at these two androids and yet they hadn't so much as made a scratch on them. It was insanity!

But he knew Goku wouldn't give up, even in a fight this bleak. He would just up the ante and give it everything he had, even if he was out of power.

Spreading his legs, Krillen cupped his hands and moved them to his right side. "Kaa…meee," he chanted, gathering his ki. "Haaa…meeeee…"

Slowly, a bright blue ball of ki appeared in his cupped hands. Keeping his eyes on Seventeen as the android aimed one of his hands at Tien.

Thrusting his cupped hands in front of him, he fired his attack as he shouted "Haaaaa!"

A large blue beam flew from his hands, racing towards its dark haired target. Seventeen didn't take notice of it until it rammed right into him, picking his feet off the ground and carrying him away from Tien's prone body. An explosion occurred when the beam hit a still standing building.

Well, that building wouldn't be standing anymore.

That explosion drew the attention of Eighteen, causing her to turn her head to look at it. That was unexpected she mused; but she had no worry that her partner in crime would be too harmed by it.

It was during this that Gohan had emerged from the building he had been thrown into. Seeing her attention diverted, the Son boy charged at her, his fists ready to attack.

Although it seemed she had been distracted, that assumption had been brutally killed as she turned around to look at him closing in. Eighteen twisted her body to the boy's left side, allowing the demi-saiyan to fly right past her.

However, the blonde android didn't just let him pass her by unharmed. Bringing one of her arms up and bending it, she slammed her elbow down on top of his shoulder.

A sickening crack was heard, followed by a scream of pain. The cry caught everyone's attention as Gohan crashed to the ground, holding his left arm as he writhed in pain. Trickles of blood soon slid down the appendage.

"That must've hurt," Eighteen commented as she looked at the boy. "I think I broke your shoulder with that one."

"Get away from him!" Krillen screamed, rushing at her.

Before he could get to her, however, Seventeen swooped in and nailed him in the head with his foot, sending him crashing to the ground.

It took a few moments, but Krillen slowly got back to his feet. These androids were unreal, unstoppable even. They needed to get out of here now or else they'd all die.

And leave the Earth at the mercy of these twisted machines.

Looking around, the monk saw no sign of the two, causing fear to well up in him. Where did they go? Did they leave? Or were they just waiting to gang up on him?

It wasn't until he heard a couple chuckles from above him that he looked up. Hovering in midair, Seventeen and Eighteen held out their hands, two of their fingers extended with their signature energy colors glowing around them.

A moment later, two small energy beams tore into his chest, exiting out his back. Krillen never had a chance to scream as blood rushed up his throat. He collapsed to the ground soon after, blood drooling out of his mouth and down his chin as his head turned to a side.

"Krillen!" Tien shouted as he managed to get to his feet. He dashed over to his comrade, just as Yamcha arrived, Gohan's body in his arms.

The bald man could hardly bear looking at the monk's body. Even though there were two holes in his chest, he was still breathing short, jagged breath. Slowly, he turned his head to look at his comrades, a faraway look in his eyes.

"They're…just too much…" he spoke softly. "There's…no way we can beat them…"

With one last breath, Krillen closed his eyes, never to open them again.

"This can't be happening," Yamcha whispered. "We…we have to get out of here."

Tien slowly nodded his head. Yamcha was right. They couldn't keep fighting this battle, not with two of their comrades dead in the dirt. One look at Gohan told him that the boy was barely holding onto consciousness, his face twisted into a mask of pain. It was time to retreat.

"Close your eyes," he ordered as he turned to look at the Androids, both of them landing on the ground a short distance away. Moving his hands to the side of his head, his fingers spread apart, he gathered his ki and unleashed it in a bright burst. "Solar Flare!"

The blinding light covered the area, once again burning the eyes of the Androids. Each let out a grunt of pain and irritation as they closed their eyes and held their arms in front of their faces.

Taking that opportunity, the two Z warriors, with Yamcha carrying Gohan, took off into the city ruins. They needed to find a place to hide out before they could get out of there or else those two walking nightmares would easily find them and finish them off just as quickly.

As they raced through the streets, taking turns every other street, the blinding light behind them began to die down. It was only a matter of time before the Androids were able to give chase; that is if they were in the mood to do so.

However, an explosion erupted a couple blocks behind him, causing fear to well up within them. Somehow, someway, those two androids had found them and only moments after being nearly blinded. How, neither warrior knew, but it was the worst thing that could've happen.

Immediately, Tien and Yamcha dashed into a half-dilapidated building. Upon entering it, they found training equipment sprawled about the place. Apparently, the place was some sort of dojo and was in use before the city was attacked.

"We've got to hide Gohan, Tien!" Yamcha spoke up, fear clearly in his voice.

"I know, Yamcha, I know," Tien agreed. Looking about the room they were in he noticed part of the roof had caved-in; broken wood paneling and boards mingled with pieces of concrete indicating a piece of the building next door had fallen on it.

"Put him on the floor, Yamcha," Tien said. "We'll hide him in the debris."

Quickly, the two laid Gohan's whimpering body on the floor next to the cave-in. Methodically, they buried him beneath it, hoping their efforts would save the boy.

Solemnly, the two turned to head out of the building when they saw the two androids land right in front of the doorway.

This just wasn't their day. They were mere feet away from Gohan, who they had hid in an attempt to keep these machines from finding him. They had to take this fight out of here before any more damage occurred here.

"I won't let you take another step forward!" Tien shouted as he charged at the two, a fist drawn back.

Eighteen took a step forward and brought her knee up, imbedding it into the three-eyed man's stomach. The blow stopped his momentum, his eyes widening in pain.

Moving his arms, Seventeen placed one hand towards the back of the bald man's head and the other on the side of his chin. With a jerk, he broke the man's neck, killing him instantly as his eyes rolled to the back of his skull. When Eighteen stepped backwards, Tien's body fell to the ground, lifeless.

"You monsters!" Yamcha cried out as he drew a fist back, ready to charge at them as well.

A second went by and blood exploded from his back, the Androids standing behind the man, both leaning forward and their arms bent at their sides. A moment later, Yamcha collapsed, the whites of his eyes showing. Blood leaked onto the ground, surrounding him.

Both androids just looked at the cave-in in front of them. Blood covered the rubble like a mural, dripping down towards the floor.

Slowly, the two stood up straight and looked about the room. "Looks like they were just a distraction," Seventeen commented. "I don't see the kid anywhere. Must've escaped while we killed his friends."

"Like it matters," Eighteen replied. "If he's like the others, he'll be back. We'll just get to kill him then."

"Another day of fun, huh?"

"I guess you can look at it that way."

Gohan laid under the debris for what felt like hours. He heard Tien and Yamcha's last stand, felt their bodies falling to the ground, then the Androids' chatter. He felt numb. He was the only one left; the one who failed to save his friends as they died all around him.

It was too much to bear.

Blood dripped on him, the droplets seeping between the cracks of his hiding spot. The blood of his friends. It crippled his mind just to think he could've prevented this.

As time drug on, he finally felt the need to move, to leave this place of death. Fortunately, Tien and Yamcha had given him some wiggle room when they buried him. Turning his body around until he was on his stomach, he used his only good arm to push up.

The debris fell off of him until fresh air hit his face. Stepping away from the spot, he moved to the door of the building he was in.

Sometime after the Androids had left, people had began to reappear in the city, specifically from a hole in the floor. Men in workout clothes stared at his blood soaked body, including the ones kneeling by the bodies of Tien and Yamcha.

He ignored them though. It was as if they didn't exist. He walked passed all of them, vaguely hearing some of them asking if he was hurt. Once he exited the building, along with some of the men trying to get his attention, he took off into the air to the cries of surprise.

He needed to get out of this city…this place of death.

He wanted to go home.

To A-man: Thanks.

For those of you who would like to see Gohan's return home, check out Dawning of a Dark Age. You can find it on my profile or search for it through ffn. I had written it a couple years ago, but I couldn't help but use some of its elements in the last couple of chapters.