Chapter: 11

:A Grudge Match

:Future Gohan vs Android 17

Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Dragon Ball Z. All rights are owned by their respective owners,Toei, Toriyama, etc. This is purely a fanfictional work done by a simple fan done for fun. I do no get profit from this in any way.

The crowds and the announcer were still speechless as the end of the mindbending match was over and the two Gohans stood victoriously panting with their arms still extended. "Uh... Um... The match is over! The match is over! What a brilliant and spectacular battle that was. And what a way to start to the tournament!" exclaimed the announcer and the crowd cheered in response. The victorious Gohans retracted their hands and then fused back into one. Gohan was left panting after the hard fought battle, powering down from Super Saiyan. Piccolo regained consciousness pretty fast and pulled himself up and walked up to his former student. "That was an incredible maneuver Gohan. You really caught me with that last move. It was an ingenious move. What do you call it?" questioned Piccolo. "I honestly don't know. It's something I just sorta came up with in the heat of the moment. You know? Necessity is the mother of invention? I guess I'll name it the Double Doppelganger Kamehameha technique?" said Gohan, feeling really bashful about his new technique. "I guess you finally learned the multiform from me did you? Well anyway it was well played. You really outsmarted me today. Kid, I guess that you've finally surpassed me in all areas. There's nothing more for me to teach you." said Piccolo fondly said as he put his hand on Gohan's head of hair. "Gee, Thanks Piccolo... But I could never have done it without your training. But you'll always be my teacher and no matter what I feel that I'll always be able to learn from you." said Gohan, tears welling in his eyes in happiness. "Hmph, well you got that right kid." said Piccolo as they then made to make their way to walk out.

"Man, I can't believe Gohan managed to win by actually witting Piccolo like that with that brilliant maneuver." said an amazed Yamcha, back in the Fighter's Lounge. "Yeah, I know what you mean. I mean we all knew that Gohan was pretty intelligent for a kid and all, but to put one over on Piccolo, that's just crazy. I mean the guy is so sharp and all. That was great use of the Multiform maneuver coupled with the Kamehameha." agreed Tien. Goku for his part was just chuckling. "Yeah, well it doesn't surprise me really. I always had faith in Gohan that he could fight pretty smartly and win. But I know what you mean. I didn't quite think that Gohan would win like that." said Goku looking proudly.

But just as Piccolo and Gohan were little over halfway across the ring, the announcer ran up and stuck a microphone in their face. "That was a spectacular battle guys! Care to give us a little interview about the fight? Or better yet tell us about that thing you did back there where you transformed and turned your hair blond and emitted yellow flame-like lights. I'm sure the audience and I would appreciate it if you'd tell us what's up with that." asked the announcer, the crowd cheering in agreement. Gohan was speechless, he didn't know what to say, either to lie, to ignore it and say no comment or to tell the truth and expose them. But just then Piccolo put a reassuring hand on Gohan's shoulder and nodded. :{Don't worry kid. I'll help you along using our mental link.}: telepathically spoke Piccolo and Gohan nodded affirmative in return.

"Well, I can tell you that it's a very special technique and that we call it 'Super Saiyan'. It's a very powerful power up that increases the energy levels, speed and power of the user several times over. It's sorta like a 'super-self' in a way. But only a select few with a special bloodline can unlock this special power through training." explained Gohan. Many of the audience went with Oooos and Aaaahs while many of Gohan's friends, especially in the audience were slapping their hands on their foreheads in dismay. "You said 'we', you mean that there are others like you? And can you elaborate on what a 'Saiyan' is?" asked the announcer. "Well yeah, there are others like me and in fact you'll probably get to see a few of them here later on in the tournament. But there are only a few of us, only about a half dozen or so. And I'm sorry but I can't say what a Saiyan is exactly, at least not yet. But rest assured that it's not something to worry about." further elaborated Gohan. The general public seemed satisfied with that answer. "Well that's good to hear. But thanks for the interview and the elaboration. But if you'll move on we'll continue with the next match. But anyway thanks for the spectacular match! We really appreciate it." the announcer said, ending the interview and letting Piccolo and Gohan move on back to the locker rooms with the cheer of the crowds at their backs.

Once Piccolo and Gohan made their way back to the lounge they found themselves being given a standing ovation by the rest of the Z-Fighters. "Way to go guys, that was a great fight!" congratulated Goku, standing at the forefront of the group clapping. Meanwhile, the 'normal' fighters just looked slack jawed and the 'other' fighters just seemed to either ignore them or seethe at them. Congratulations seemed to be going all round except for one individual, Tien. "Yes, yes it was an awesome fight and all but I was surprised that not only did Gohan transform into a Super Saiyan in the first match but he also actually told them about the Super Saiyan? Isn't that jumping the gun a little too early?" asked out loud Tien, looking strict with his arms crossed. Piccolo immediately came up to Gohan's defence. "I'm the one who messaged Gohan and told him what to say. Besides, didn't we agree at the start not to hold back the Super Saiyan transformation? The transformation would've reared its ugly head eventually with all of us competing. May as well get it over with at the start as it would be as good as anywhere else. At least this way the crowds will know what to look for without being scared of it in the rest of the matches. That and plus that bloodline explanation should cover it's true nature. I don't think the public is ready for that yet." explained Piccolo rather gruffly. "I-I didn't see it that way, sorry. That's pretty smart Piccolo, thanks for looking ahead." apologised Tien. Piccolo just waved him off, as if to say 'don't mind it'.

Meanwhile, while the others were talking and the stadium crew were replacing tiles and repairing the ring, Gohan noticed his older future self was watching and glaring at the two androids who were busy just hanging out by themselves. "You keeping an eye on the androids?" asked little Gohan. Future Gohan looked behind himself to see his younger self standing there looking serious at him. "Hmph, Yeah. I guess after everything I've gone through against those two I can't help but keep my eyes on them. Nobody else seems to really mind them. So if no one else will keep an eye on them then I will. After thirteen years of fighting them, I know all too well how twisted their minds can work." said Future Gohan, going back to glaring at the two androids as he said so. "Everyone knows about what you had to go through in your world and why you must feel the way you feel. But this is a different world and these aren't the same androids you fought. They're different..." said young Gohan.

"Not in the ways that count! YOU didn't have to see all our friends being killed off one by one by those two. You didn't see them reduce the world around you piece by piece for years. You didn't almost lose your life against them. As far as I'm concerned, YOU KNOW NOTHING!" angrily said Future Gohan, snapping at his younger self. And although he didn't actually shout it out, he might as well have. Young Gohan was taken aback and gasped. And then he looked down shamefully. "Sorry, your right, I didn't live through your experiences and I can only imagine what it must've been like." said Young Gohan, almost looking like he was about to cry. Future Gohan felt like a heel after catching up with what he'd done. "No, I'm sorry. It just came out. Look, whenever I see them, all I see is all the bad things I've seen them or their counterparts do. But maybe you're right, maybe they are different. Maybe I guess I'll have to remind myself of that when I fight them in the ring." said Future Gohan, loking more relaxed and optimistic. "Hey! That's right! Your fighting Android 17 in the next match. Well good luck with that. Just try not to kill him. This is still a tournament and I don't think you want to get disqualified." said Young Gohan cheerfully. They then shook hands and went their seperate ways.

"AAAAAAAAAALLLLLRight ladies and gentlemen! With the stadium ring now repaired we can get on with the next match!" declared the announcer as the crowd cheered. At that, both Android 17 and Future Gohan made their way to the entrance but a hand stopped Future Gohan by grabbing his shoulder. He looked back the see his father Goku looking at him with a worried expression. "Listen son. I know what this must mean to you with what happened in your world. But please, don't lose yourself and do anything 'extreme'. You've already gotten revenge on the Android 17 of you're world. You don't need to seek it out a second time." adviced Goku, the message being clear. "I know dad, I'll try to keep myself contained. But however, when I'm out there I can't garantee how I'll feel. But I devinitely won't disqualify myself if that's what your worried about. But there are some things that I just have to find out for myself." said Future Gohan as he then walked off with determination in his eyes.

Future Gohan made his way past the entrance and found himself standing in front of the kanji sign with the hated android next to him. "Took you long enough. Are you ready to do this thing?... You know, I was hoping to fight Goku in the tournament but I guess that you'll do. You look enough alike that I can hardly tell the difference." cockily joked Android 17. "You... Don't talk." practically snarled Future Gohan. "Ooooh, touchy guy. I'll have to keep that in mind." again bantered the android. They then both began making their way to the ring while keeping a constant look at each other with Android 17 constantly smirking cockily like he did and Future Gohan constantly frowning. The ring announcer began announcing them as they walked along the pathway.

"Though these two fighters are both newcomers to the ring they both registered 200+ on the the punching machine earlier today so you know that these two possess incredible fighting strength so that means incredible action is at a premium. We know very little about one of these fighters and even less about his opponent. Mr. Anonymous has chosen to withhold his name due to personal reasons but he has confided in me that he is in fact a member of the Son family. He is a member of a proud dynesty of championship gold as I'm sure I don't need to tell you audience. And though we don't know the exact nature of his relation to the Son family, judging by the family resemblance and familiar outfit we can guess that he's inherited the family fighting strength and I'm sure he's wanting to display that here today. His opponent Number 17 is in contrast a complete mystery. Other than his abnormal name and streetwise appearance we know nothing at all from this competitor. But, that does not hide the fact that he's a formidable looking opponent and as like with anything that's a mystery I'm sure surprises lay in store for his competition. Stay glued to your eyes for this one folks because anything is possible with this match!" excitedly introduced the announcer shortly before he chose to made himself scarce before announcing the start of the match.

"AAAAnnnd BEGIN!" the announcer shouted while chopping his hand down the middle to signal the official start of the match. But neither fighter seemed to move at this as they just continued to stare at one another. Android 17 then crossed his arms and blinked. "(Sigh) Honestly, despite what that foolish human said, both you and I both know that Goku doesn't have any relatives, either living or of this planet. So why don't you just save us all some trouble and just admit who you really are?" remarked 17. "Sorry, but if I wanted you to know that, I wouldn't've kept it from you would I? But I garantee that I'll make sure that YOU remember who I am by the end of this match, Android." addressed Future Gohan with an angry tone that wasn't lost on Android 17. "What's that?... Well, it looks like I've got something to look forward to then. But in all honesty, I don't really care about who you are or aren't. I told you I want Goku and to have some fun at this tournament. But you look like you could be a decent test subject before I face Goku." said the ever confident android. "And just what makes you think you'll even get the chance to face Goku?" said Future Gohan cryptically in a dark manner that promised for dark things to come for the android. "Huuuh, guys? You can start now?" said the announcer deadpanned. But just as he talked, the two fighters got into their stances and then a shockwave erupted as they engaged and cutting off and jolting the surprised announcer.

Android 17 was the first to go on the offensive and swung his arm in a slow pitch like motion to launch a small yellow baseball sized ball of energy that Future Gohan tucked his legs in and leaped over to let it detonate harmlesssly on the ring floor. Future Gohan then rose into the air and quickly transformed into a Super Saiyan. "WHAT!? THAT technique?" exclaimed a surprised and flabbergasted Android 17. "And WOAAAH! It looks like we have yet another "Super Saiyan" in our midst as our anonymous fighter just transformed into one right before our very eyes right at the outset of this match. It looks like he very much might be a member of the Son family clan." called out the excited announcer. 'HE can turn into that "Super Saiyan" thing too? How can that be possible? Don't tell me he's actually a relative of Goku's? No! That's impossible!. . . Oh well, but that still doesn't mean I can't beat him.' thought 17 as he then determinedly jumped into the air and pursued his Super Saiyan opponent.

Future Gohan blocked a forearm from 17 with a chop of his own, that created a small shockwave and thereafter they started matching each other move for move and before they knew it they ended up fighting at a blistering pace in the air. Finally, Future Gohan connected with an uppercut kick to the chin that sent Android 17 flying backwards. As he fell through the air, Future Gohan went to pursue the downwards sailing android, but before he could reach him the slippery android fazed out. Future Gohan stopped in mid-rush and scanned the surroundings for his elusive prey. Suddenly, as he looked to his right a startled look of surprise adorned his face, and just before he could bring his arms up to block, a kick hit him straight in the side of the neck and he went sailing downwards. He disappeared in the clouds and shortly thereafter three successive shockwave ripples echoed among the clouds. And then Future Gohan and Android 17 both reappeared with the epicenter of their last shockwave dissipating in between them.

"Man, that last attack was stronger and faster then the last time you pulled it. You're definitely much stronger then I remember you to be. I guess what they said about you was true after all." complimented Future Gohan, although not noticing his slip up while they hung in the air. "What's that? How could you remember me? We've never met before! And how could you know about that attack? I've never even used it on anyone before! JUST WHO ARE YOU?" screamed a now very confused and frustrated Android 17. Future Gohan cursed under his breath at his little slip up, but then got back to the task at hand. "You wanna know who I am!? Fine I'll show you just soon enough. And then you'll realise just why you need to suffer android." said Future Gohan with as much contempt and anger as he could muster. That response chilled Android 17 to the bone, and although he didn't know why, he still braced himself for the worst.

Author's Final Thoughts: I apologize to my reviewer for my previous rude comments last chapter. I realize now that I probably shouldn't have said it in those terms, "Sit down and shut up". Heck, I even said sorry right afterwards already didn't I? But that was just my aggravation and annoyance acting up. I respect you guys a lot for even taking an interest in my stories. I just don't take criticism too well. And can you blame me? This is the first time doing this sort of thing. And plus I'm a very low-confident shut-in of a person in real life, but that's just me. I would make a lousy politician. Even if there aren't too many of good ones going around these days anyway. But my point still stands.

I realize that power levels are an important part of DBZ. It's a powerful gauge that helps us define who's stronger and who's weaker. But at some point I feel that just assigning someone a number to his or her fighting ability is just asking for trouble. At some point, I feel that it de-values the fight a bit. There's more to fighting than just numbers. I'm sure one character who was the father of a certain main protagonist we all know from the series would've said, or something or other like it... Or do you think that Dr. Gero's pitfalls isn't example enough? And I realize that Return of Cooler isn't actual Canon. But I was just using it as an example to illustrate part of my point. And it sure is faaaaar closer to Canon than any fanfic, sorry to say.

So like I said, it's just a moot point for me. I just don't want to have to argue the point again and again. I just don't want to hear it. I love Dragonball Z as much as any of you, if not more than some. That's why I'm writing this fic! But like I illustrated before, I feel that assigning numbers to the fighters just somehow losses some of the magic, the mystery of who's going the win in a fight. I find that the fights are just better when you don't automatically know who's stronger or the other. There's just more drama to the fights that way. That's why I don't bother. I just wanted to make fun exciting fights that I would've loved to have seen on the screen myself! I saw a few of the fights from Bleach, and I follow a whole lot of Naruto. And I just thought of bringing a bit of that emotionality, and counter-smarts and moves, back to the fights. Give the fights a bit of that old time magic back again. Or, at least I tried to, anyway. I'm just trying to capture the spirit of the series at the time with a little of my own added flavour. But like I said, all this is just my personal opinion.

And BTW, I already wrote all this months and even years ago. I have them all stored up and ready to go at a moments notice. I'm just touching up and editing them a bit before uploading. I could have the entire thing uploaded within a day if I really wanted to. I made sure to have had everything written up even before I started uploading. So don't tell me about changing a story that's already written. I just limit myself to a pair of chapters each day to gauge you guys, the readers, reactions as they come up. I'm sorry if you feel that I'm a jerk for it if you want to. But if you want me to upload them all in one go, you'll just have to ask me for it. Just say so!

Well, anyway, on with the chapter itself. That's the end of the fighting between Piccolo and Gohan. That whole explanation at the end was really unavoidable, they had to do something. The whole reason why I had the guys not agree to totally disband the Super Saiyan transformations at the start was to let myself give you the absolute best fights while still maintaining the guys' integrity. But really it would've eventually led to some sort of explanation, and where better than at the start. I hope you like the way I dodged the fact of the Super Saiyans being aliens. Now for my money, I think that the public wouldn't mind it if the transformations were just techniques, I think that their actual alien nature would be truly controversial among the populous. I mean don't get me wrong, I think that the DBZ universe Earth would be one of the most tolerate worlds to the idea, given that they're populated by anthropomorphic animals and all. Heck, they're not even adverse too much to the idea of aliens given the idea of the Intergalactic Tournament in movie Bojack Unbound. But I think that them accepting that there are aliens that look like humans and they can transform like that would be still highly controversial even for them. So this way it's at least a stopgap to letting the audience enjoy the fights with at least knowing about that what they're seeing is super powerful without the taboo of it being aliens.

Anyway I hope you enjoy the fight between Future Gohan and Android 17. I think that the dialogue and the dilemma of Future Gohan's character in this fight is truly natural and what I think would've happened had the situation really turned out this way. So I hope you enjoyed.