Ch.10
At Capsule Corp, Bulma hung up the phone and squeezed her eyes tight. She hadn't told anyone except for Vegeta about her pregnancy, and at the moment she was feeling pretty nauseous. At the same time she was worried about Gohan. The stranger had told them that Goku died of that virus…she couldn't let Gohan suffer such a fate just because she wasn't feeling up to going over. Taking a few deep breaths, Bulma headed towards the door determined to help Gohan in any way she could.
…
Piccolo and Goku frowned at each other as the three fighters stood at a crossroads.
"I'll take the right and you two go left. We'll find these androids one way or another." Vegeta decided.
"If you find anything flash your energy. One of us will wait here for the others. They should be here any minute." Goku answered. Vegeta didn't reply as he took off towards Canopy Village. Goku and Piccolo watched him go a ways before Piccolo spoke up.
"I'll wait here, you go on ahead." Goku turned towards him.
"You sure?" Piccolo nodded.
"If we could just sense them." Goku said as he scanned the area.
"They can do quite a bit of damage in a short time. We might not be able to sense them, but they'll definitely leave a trail." Piccolo answered as he looked at the few remains of Coldwater Village.
"I just hope they don't destroy too many villages before we find them." Goku said feeling a pang of guilt as he thought of the people of Coldwater who'd died because he hadn't been quick enough to save them.
"Go on. I'm going to contact Kami and see if he can help." Piccolo replied. Goku nodded and flew off towards Harp Village.
'Kami can you hear me?' Piccolo concentrated hard, trying to create a connection with the guardian of the earth above.
'Yes Piccolo. I can hear you.' Kami replied telepathically. Piccolo wasted no time relaying his request.
'Good. I need you to do me a favour. We're looking for the androids who destroyed Coldwater Village. Can you tell us where they are?' Silence greeted him as Piccolo guessed that Kami was checking.
"I can't tell you for sure. There is a disturbance not far from where you are. It's a village called Harp. I'm not sure if it's them though. It started just a minute ago.'
'Thanks Kami.' Piccolo considered going after Goku but decided against it. Dende hadn't been sure. Better to wait for the others and see if either Goku or Vegeta would give the signal before then.
…
Bulma was startled as Chichi came rushing out of her home, just as Bulma was pocketing her capsule.
"Thank goodness you're here! It felt like it took you forever. Please hurry!" Bulma felt her heart race as she followed Chichi inside the house. Upon entering, she could hear Gohan's agonized cries, making her feel guilty for not having drove over at top speed.
Chichi stopped in front of Gohan's door and showed Bulma a small vial that she had grabbed from the kitchen counter.
"Is this it?" She asked breathlessly. Bulma grabbed the vial and began to inspect it.
"Whoa. This is really something." She muttered as she read the complicated ingredient list.
"Will it help?" Chichi asked hopefully.
"From what I can tell, it's definitely for cardiac viruses. The instructions are listed as being for adults though. It specifically says for adults. I'm no doctor Chichi so I can't say for certain that this will help or that it won't cause any other damage because Gohan isn't an adult, but based on what's listed here, I'd say give him a lessened dose and see what happens. It's what I would do if it were my son." Bulma handed the vial back to Chichi who seemed to be debating with herself. After a moment, she closed her eyes having made her decision.
"What dose do you suggest?" She asked as she opened the bottle.
"For an adult it says a teaspoon every 4 hours. Gohan is a saiyan but some of these ingredients are pretty hardcore… I'd say do half of that." Bulma replied.
"Okay." Chichi hurried into Gohan's room while Bulma followed. As soon as she saw Gohan, her heart went out to him. He was pale and shaking, hair drenched from sweat. His hands clutched at his chest as he thrashed back and forth in bed. Seeing the boy so sick, Bulma's hand unconsciously went to her slightly swollen belly; a gesture that Chichi didn't miss.
"It's so hard seeing them sick." She told Bulma once she'd given Gohan the medicine. Both women watched as Gohan settled and fell asleep.
"Scary…" Bulma muttered.
"When are you due?" Chichi asked nonchalantly as she relaxed and fixed Gohan's blankets.
"Me? Well I…umm…" Bulma was caught off-guard as Chichi gave her a small smile and motioned for her to follow her out of the room.
"Bulma I can keep it a secret. Probably better than you are right now." Chichi said as she closed Gohan's door behind her. Bulma sighed loudly.
"I'm just a little over three months along." Bulma conceded. Chichi gave her a hug.
"Congratulations. You and Yamcha must be so so excited." Bulma squirmed uncomfortably.
"Actually I'm really going to need you to keep a secret. Yamcha's not the father. We broke up a little while ago. Long story." Chichi looked at Bulma surprised, as she prepared some tea.
"Oh. I'm sorry Goku never mentioned it." Bulma blushed as she prepared to drop a pretty big bomb for the first time. She hadn't even told her parents yet.
"Vegeta's the father." Bulma blurted out. Chichi dropped the packet of sugar she'd been pouring into her cup.
"Vegeta?! The same Vegeta who attacked the earth? That Vegeta?" Bulma sat down and nodded.
"He's really not that bad once you get to know him. Goku giving him a second chance really changed him. We're not really together or anything, it was more of a one time thing…" Chichi gaped for a moment, then pulled herself together and removed the wet sugar packet from her tea.
"Well, that is a surprise. Another half saiyan huh? Get ready." Chichi told Bulma as she sat down to drink her tea.
"I don't know how. I'm terrified and excited and curious and nauseous all at the same time." Bulma sat down and stirred her tea without drinking it. Chichi chuckled.
"I remember that feeling. Don't worry, you'll be a great mother." Bulma smiled as she decided to try the tea. It helped to settle her nerves.
"So what happened with Gohan? And have you heard anything from Goku yet?" Bulma asked. At that, Chichi frowned.
"Nothing from Goku yet. Gohan started getting fevers that just wouldn't come down. Goku had to give him an ice bath…it was awful. It helped, but the fever just keeps coming back. The medicine I've been giving him has just been keeping it at bay. Then Goku left to go check out the situation in Coldwater Village, and after he left Gohan started screaming like you saw when you walked in. At first I thought he was having some sort of anxiety attack about the androids; he's been really upset about not being able to train…but then I saw him clutching his heart and I remembered what Goku had said about the heart virus…and I found the vial sitting on Gohan's nightstand. That's when I called you." Bulma frowned as she thought about what Piccolo had told them when the stranger had visited from the future.
"That's so odd…that saiyan's arrival has changed so much. I mean, everything he predicted happened but differently. The androids coming early, Gohan getting sick instead of Goku…It's like his coming to this time somehow manipulated the timeline." Bulma thought out loud as she took another sip of her tea.
"Well, if he hadn't come we wouldn't have the medicine from the future. I really hope it will help." Chichi answered as she finished her tea and got up to wash her cup.
"We definitely don't have anything like it available right now I can tell you that much. When you're done with the vial Chichi can I have it? I'd love to look into the ingredients further and learn more about this antidote." Chichi nodded.
"Great! By the way, do you mind if I use your phone? I want to call my parents and let them know I'm here in case the boys try to contact me."
"Go ahead. It's right over there." Chichi pointed to the hall and Bulma immediately got up and headed towards it. As Chichi grabbed Bulma's empty cup, she silently prayed that Goku would finish quickly with those androids so that he could return to their son.
…
"Now if I were an android, where would I be?" Goku asked himself as he scanned Harp Village. Nothing seemed amiss; the people below were laughing, talking, hurrying along with packages and phones and vehicles of all sorts. For a brief moment Goku wondered if he'd taken the wrong route, until he heard screams from up ahead of him. His gaze immediately snapped in the direction of the sound, but he wasn't able to react before a big explosion rocked the entire area, engulfing a large portion of the village in flames.
"Whoa!" Goku muttered as he surveyed the damage. His eyes quickly scanned for any sign of the androids, but he found nothing. Diving down towards the ground, Goku tried to search the smoky streets for the strange beings causing the commotion. As he stopped beside a charred building, Goku flashed his energy three times to warn the others.
…
Vegeta cursed as he felt Goku's energy increase briefly three consecutive times. He should have known that Kakarot would find the androids before him. He'd guessed as much when he'd arrived to find Canopy Village intact, with nothing suspicious going on. Angry, he sped off towards the other village hoping he wouldn't be too late for a fight.
…
Piccolo slowly flew towards Harp village, hoping the others would follow his energy. When he felt Krillin and Yamcha pull up behind him, he sighed with relief. Finally.
"Are they really here?" Yamcha asked nervously.
"I think so. Goku's already in the next Village where Kami says something is going on. I haven't felt his energy spike yet but I'm sure it will." Piccolo answered seriously.
"Tien and Chaoutzu are on their way. Master Roshi was able to contact Launch. She can always find those two." Krillin said.
"Good, we're going to need all the help we can get." Piccolo muttered. He kept thinking about how fast the androids had destroyed the previous village. Just then, the group felt Goku's energy spike.
"That's the signal. Let's move!" Piccolo said as the three sped up towards Harp Village.
…
Vegeta spotted the smoke and pushed himself harder as he approached another village not unlike the one he'd just visited. All he could hear were screams as the villagers scrambled to escape the flames that currently ran up several buildings right in the middle of town. Locating Goku's energy, he flew down low to where the other saiyan was searching on foot.
"What are you doing? Taking a stroll? Where are these androids?" Vegeta huffed as he landed beside Goku.
"I'm not sure. I haven't found them yet. I can't sense them at all and I couldn't see anything from above because of the smoke. They haven't striked again, so I'm thinking they know I'm here." Goku replied.
"Well this is ridiculous. The big bad androids are hiding? What is this a joke?" Vegeta spluttered as the two saiyans began walking down the street.
"Piccolo and the others are almost here. We'll split up and try to find them. I know they're still here." Goku answered. Vegeta shook his head.
"They can't be that strong if they're hiding from us." He reasoned. Goku shook his head.
"You're wrong Vegeta. They annihilated an entire village in the time it took me to instantly travel to Piccolo, give a brief explanation, and then travel instantly to you. They're quite powerful." Goku argued. Vegeta smirked.
"They can be powerful Kakarot, but that doesn't mean they are as powerful as us." Vegeta laughed.
"In fact, I highly doubt it. That kid was all wrong. He got the time wrong and he overestimated the power of these androids." Goku didn't answer. He didn't want to underestimate his opponent. Something was telling him not to.
"Speaking of brats, I'm surprised you didn't bring yours." Vegeta muttered as the saiyans both flew over an overturned car.
"Shut up Vegeta." Goku snapped. Vegeta couldn't hide his shock. Nothing usually ruffled his nemesis's feathers. Had something happened to the boy?
Before Vegeta could think of the right response, Krillin shouted at them from above. Goku immediately flew up to the three warriors with Vegeta in tow.
"What do they look like Goku?" Yamcha asked. Goku shrugged.
"No idea. Haven't found them yet." All five warriors looked at the pandemonium around them.
"Alright let's split up. If you see something, flash your energy three times. Don't try to take these things on yourselves. We don't know what were up against." Piccolo said. Everyone except Vegeta nodded their agreement and then the five each went in separate directions.
…
Krillin figured the best way to get information was to ask someone if they saw anything. He found the first person who wasn't screaming and landed in front of them.
"Excuse me sir. Did you see what caused that explosion back there?" The man was shaking but managed to nod as he continued to walk quickly down the road. Krillin flew beside him probing for more details.
"What did they look like?" Krillin asked desperately.
"Big pants, the old dude had a funny hat…look guy I gotta get out of here!" Krillin sighed as the man ran into the crowd.
'Well, I know one of them is old…not that that helps.' He thought to himself.
…
Gohan could feel nothing but pain. Every time he woke it was like a sudden burst of agony that started in his chest and radiated to the rest of his body. The pain was blinding, and he wasn't aware of anything going on around him so consumed was he by it. Jumbled thoughts occasionally entered his mind; Had the androids attacked? Was his dad back? How long had this been going on? Is this what it was to die?
When he did manage to fall asleep the torment continued. In his dreams he could see the faceless androids fighting the other Z fighters. One by one they would fall, unable to defeat the mysterious creatures. He usually had to watch, helpless, either clutching his head or his chest. Some part of him was so worried about what was going on in the outside world that he couldn't get a moment of peace, not even while he was asleep.
As the latest dream faded and the pain returned, Gohan briefly prayed for it all to end, before the pain consumed him once more.
….
Goku could feel his frustration mounting. These androids were taunting them and he usually wouldn't have let it bother him. But today was different. He could sense that something was very wrong. He didn't know what it was, but he had a feeling it had to do with his son. Something was urging him to go home even though he knew that he couldn't. His guilt made him impatient to find these mysterious, powerful creatures who were obviously in no hurry to fight. Why were they hiding? Could Trunks have been wrong about their power?
Suddenly he felt someone's energy drop dramatically. It wasn't Piccolo or Vegeta. Krillin? Yamcha maybe? Had one of them found the androids? Goku flashed his energy twice to alert the others and hurried in the direction where he'd sensed the drop. He arrived just in time to see an awful sight. Yamcha was being held up by what appeared to be an old man with bizarre clothing. The man held Yamcha's face in one hand, and his other hand had gone right through the Z fighter at chest level. Another being, who was much shorter and had white skin, stood behind the two and watched silently. Goku assumed that these must be the androids, and found it quite odd that he could feel nothing from them. No power level at all. That had never happened before.
Unable to tear his eyes away from Yamcha, Goku didn't move as the other Z fighters landed beside him. He heard their sharp intakes of breath as they took in the scene before them. Goku balled his hands into fists in frustration, praying that they could get him some sensu beans before it was too late. Yamcha was still alive, and he knew better than to attack and risk his friend's life out of anger. No he would have to calm himself. If they played it cool, Yamcha might make it.
Krillin wasn't able to stay so calm. He immediately dropped into stance and cried out Yamcha's name. Just as he was about to take off towards the androids, Goku put a hand on his shoulder to stop him. Krillin looked up at him in surprise.
"Are we just going to stand here while they kill him?" He asked Goku angrily. Goku shook his head.
"It's too late for that." The creature muttered as he removed his hand from Yamcha's torso. He stared at Goku as he tossed Yamaha's body aside to Krillin.
"Take him to Korin." Goku told Krillin without breaking eye contact with the android. Krillin nodded and flew off with Yamcha as fast as he could. Goku waited or the androids to try and stop them, but they made no move to do so.
"We know all about your sensu beans Goku." The older android said with a smile.
'He knows my name.' Goku thought surprised.
"Oh yes. I know you all. Piccolo, Vegeta, and little Krillin. You're missing a few friends no?" Goku ignored his question.
"What do you want?" He asked bluntly.
"To defeat you." The android replied simply.
"If you want to fight, I know a place. This place is too crowded." Goku said as he began to fly upwards.
"Lead the way." The android replied. Goku took off quickly hoping to lead the tyrants away from the city. Piccolo and Vegeta watched in apprehension as they followed the androids into the sky.
…
Bulma tried hard not to let the tears fall yet again. Every time the poor boy woke up screaming her heart went out to him. She tried to give Chichi a break once in a while but there seemed to be nothing that would soothe Gohan unless she was giving him his dose of the antidote. Even then, his sleep was troubled, and she was sure he was having nightmares. She felt so helpless.
"Bulma check it out!" Bulma left Gohan's room and found Chichi staring at the TV screen in the living room. They watched as an explosion rocked Harp Village, though the cause of the explosion couldn't be seen.
"Do you think Goku is there?" Chichi asked worriedly.
"They must be there. They've been gone a while now." Bulma answered. She watched as hundreds of people tried to escape, hoping that the Z fighters would catch the androids quickly before they could hurt anyone else.
"They haven't shown any monsters on here. Just footage of the explosions." Chichi remarked as she sad down wearily.
"I wish there was something we could do to help." Bulma muttered.
…