Bea stood in the downfall of rain. It pounded his normally wild hair flat with a dank oily texture. The puddles in which he stood ankle deep in splashed up as the murky drops hit, his grey jumpsuit was soaked through, his armor was drenched and heavily damaged. Bea grasped his blood soaked left arm with his right hand, and his eyes darted feverishly around him. What was left of Orange city on earth spread around him in all directions, melted stumps of buildings threw evil shadows in the pulsing lightning flashes, and rubble clogged the once busy streets.
Somewhere up ahead of him a scream could be heard through the curtain of rainfall. He snapped his eyes toward the sound, then painfully put his left foot in front of his right.
He tried to keep his sound muffled, but the footsteps sounded like an explosion with every stride. A tiny earth girl appeared in a the splintered frame of a broken out window. Her arm waved jerkily at him. He put two fingers to his forehead, and searched for her ki. He felt nothing.
"Trap." He said under his breath, He flexed his legs to leap into the air, but was cut off by a blinding energy blast flaring from the window.
An energy sphere burst from Bea and most of the blast was deflected. He launched himself towards the attack. Two dark menacing figures appeared, both taking haymaker swings at Bea. He ducked under the first but caught the second with his damaged arm. Pain flared through him, and he sunk to his knees. One of the figures drove and elbow towards the juncture of his neck and head. Bea dodged to the left, rolling to his feet, and extended his left arm, firing a energy bast into the creatures gut. It laughed, loud, deep, and mechanical. Bea tucked his tail around his waist. One of the mechanical monsters rushed him. Bea feinted to the left, then stepped to the right, taking to the air for a few yards. As he landed he nearly tripped over something, As he stumbled back one of the machines barely missed him with another haymaker. With the powerful arm filling one side of his peripheral vision, the other eye took in what had tripped him.
Laying there, eyes wide and blank, mouth deep in a puddle, was Angel. A large perfectly circular hole was ripped into her abdomen, and the puddle was tinged black with spilled blood.
He didn't remember her dying…
Suddenly his head thudded into her knee as his feet were thrown from under him. He was swung like a hammer, and his head crushed through a support column full of concrete and rebar. A foot caught him in the stomach and sent him flying into the air. He couldn't get his bearings though, and smashed down again into a pile of rubble.
Open eyes stared into his, rain bounced off of those eyes, which were far beyond noticing. Soggy black hair spilled around the face, which was twisted at an awkward angle past the right shoulder. The same shoulder ended in a bloody stump below the smashed elbow joint. Bea couldn't believe he hadn't noticed the painful passing of his oldest friend.
Pain racked his body as he struggled first to his knees, then shakily to his feet. He heard the noise of shifting rubble behind him, and he slowly turned to face it.
Both of the mechanical monstrosities had approached him. Brilliant lightning flashed behind them, obscuring their facial features, but lighting the surrounding devistation. He could see bodies through the rubble, most of total strangers, but some he knew. The three eyed human,Tien, the orange gi of the short bald man known as Krillin. The wild hair of Kakarot, and even the nearly obliterated armor of Prince Vegeta.
Apparently they had all fallen at the hands of the Androids, and now Bea faced this terror alone.
He screamed. First in anger, then as the realization sunk into his scarred mind, pure fear. His aura turned gold, blasting the falling rain away in a hiss of vapor. He sought out any feeling of life energy, and found none.
This world, once lush with life was dead. After seeing so much destruction, after causing so much of it himself, Bea found that he could take no more. He screamed again, his hands clenched at his side. His aura exploded again, the bodies of his fallen comrades and total strangers were lifted into the air and sent flying.
His hair radiated golden light, and blue lightning danced around him. His eyes went completely blank. His very soul burned with the pent up energies that his damaged body barely contained.
The Androids came steadily closer.
"No more. This is my final chapter. And yours." The fear subsided in his heart, replaced by the calm certainty of a warrior-poet who knew the words had been written, but accepted he'd never see the ink dry.
The mechanical voices spoke together in stereo. "You can not defeat us, Saiyan."
"I have no need to." Bea smiled and placed his hands to the ground. The terrible power coursed through his palms, and the world seemed to shake, like the universe's largest bell tolling its mournful call.
He felt his body tear itself apart, saw the streams of light penetrate the storm, the atmosphere boiled away.
The Androids finally stopped as the energy washed over them.
The Earth shattered beneath his feet."
Then Bea awoke in his bunk aboard the ship. Golden light reflected off of the bulkheads and Bea could feel his heart hammering in his chest. He sat up just a Pikada and Angel slid through his opening hatch. They both stared at him in confusion.
"Are you okay?" Asked Angel.
"Why are you powered up?" Asked Pikada immediately after.
"Damn. It was all a dream! Glad to see you two." He took a deep breath in through his nose and held it for a few seconds. As he released it through his mouth the golden hair relaxed and fell back across his shoulders in its natural red locks.
"Dream?" Angel tilted her head slightly.
"Yeah, Earth, Androids, it wasn't good."
"Premonition?" Pikada asked only half seriously.
"You know I don't put too much weight on that kind of thing." He shook his head. "No, it was just a bad dream. Lot of dying got done, all of it by us and the Earthlings. I think I blew up the planet, probably why I powered up. Glad I didn't dream blast." he chuckled ruefully.
"Well the good news is, we're getting close to the Earth, another couple of weeks, maybe one more planet side stop for fuel and supplies." Angel said, looking at a tablet.
"We'll be back with a couple of months to spare." Remarked Pikada.
"Good, I hope we make a difference when these Androids do show up."
"We will, we have to have." Replied Pikada with a nod.
The ship made planet fall a week later, food was hunted, supplies gathered, and a week of easy living under the stars of an alien sky was had by all. On the fifth night there was a full moon, and they took a good opportunity to practice in their Oozaru forms.
They left this small world behind, and returned to Earth.
May 12th, Island Chain, 9 miles southwest of south city. 9:00 A.M.
Bea, Pikada, and Angel stood in the shadow of a rocky outcropping, arms crossed, faces towards the sky. Bea and Pikada had their tails tucked firmly around the waist of the their armor, while Angel's swayed gently, as if in a breeze only it could feel.
Below them and some distance away, a major city bustled in its morning routine, unaware of the faces that over looked it.
Bea closed his eyes, for the tenth time in as many minutes. "I can't sense anything beyond the normal background levels."
"Same here, you don't think the guy from the future was full of shit do you?" Pikada asked while checking his sword's position again.
Angel's face swung away, staring far past the horizon. "There's something." She concentrated a little harder. "Goku, Piccolo, a few others."
"Tien, Yamcha." Bea said tersely, pointing in a different direction.
Tien and Yamcha landed first, followed shortly after by a Capsule Corp shuttle with Bulma and a baby. Yamcha seemed to be very uncomfortable with this development, much to Bea's bemusement.
Goku, Krillin, Piccolo, and Gohan arrived a few minutes later.
Goku lifted his hand in greeting. "Hey guys! Looks like everyone is here but Chiaoutzu and Vegeta."
"I left Chiaoutzu at Master Roshi's, this battle is probably going to be out of his league." Tien offered as an explanation.
"Vegeta will be here." Replied Goku knowingly.
"So, Bulma…" Krillin looked over at her slyly. "What's with the baby?"
"Is Yamcha the father?" Gohan asked excitedly.
Yamcha blushed. Bulma looked away.
"I bet Vegeta is the dad!" Blurted Goku, "And the baby's name is Trunks!"
Bulma blanched "How… How did you know that? I was trying to make it a surprise."
Everyone else, except Yamcha, stared in shock.
"Oh man, just a lucky guess, I guess." Goku chuckled as he put his hand behind his head. Then he turned serious. "Bulma it's going to become really dangerous here, you and Trunks should go."
"And miss the show? No way."
"Where is Vegeta anyway?" Asked Piccolo.
"I'm not really sure, he's been training, and moody. You know how Vegeta gets."
"Will he be here?" Angel asked sheepishly.
"He'll be here, for sure." Answered Goku
"He wouldn't miss this for anything." Finished Bulma. "Besides you guys, it's only 9:30 now, he still has thirty minutes."
Bea had stepped closer to look at the baby that the human female held. He was a chubby baby, with purple hair, and a decent power level. He'd be a middle or high class warrior back on Planet Vegeta. Baby trunks shot a hand out, and snatched Bea by his beard. The movement caught him completely off guard. He began to fall over but caught himself. He began to laugh, and the baby followed suit. Before long everyone there was laughing. Soon everyone was taking turns cooing and playing with the purple haired Prince.
Bea returned eventually to face the city. He reached out over and over with his mind and found no suitable power levels.
Krillin and Gohan joined him.
"Feel anything there big guy?" Krillin asked as he shielded his eyes from what little sun poured into their alcove.
"Nothing, there are thousands, hundreds of thousands minor power levels. But nothing nearly big enough to be a threat."
Gohan looked up. "Actually Mr. Bea, I've been thinking about that."
"Just Bea is fine Gohan, I really don't stand on rank or title much." He ruffled the kids hair. "What's your theory."
"Well, they're androids…" He gazed solemnly over the city. "There's a good chance they don't have real ki."
Bea's eyes widened. He turned to look at the half Saiyan child. "That's very good, Kid." He turned back to the city, and placed two fingers against his forehead. He then closed his eyes and tried to feel for abnormal energy sources.
After a few minutes he sighed and opened his eyes again. "Nothing."
"Well that's not surprising. Manufactured energy is easier to hide, the Androids could be shielded against searches."
"Damn, you're right. Glad you're on our side, Gohan."
The kid blushed slightly. "Thank you, Mr. Bea. I, uh, mean, Thank you, Bea."
In the distance a dot appeared in the blue sky, Pikada noticed it first. "What's that?" He asked, pointing.
Soon it became clear as a hover car lowered itself to the ground near the assembled friends.
A chubby long haired man in an orange robe hopped out and walked to them.
Goku waved, "Hey Yajirobe!"
"Hiya, Goku. Korrin wanted me to make sure to give you these." He held up a small burlap sack, tied at the end with a thin rope. "Senzu beans. Just in case."
Goku took the bag from him, and Yajirobe turned back around.
"You're not going to stay?" Bulma asked gruffly.
"What? No way toots, I'm going back to the lookout. I'm not trying to get killed."
"But you're a strong fighter! You could probably help."
"UhUhh," he said shaking his head, "I'm not risking it. You guys are on your own." He reached the hover car, and jumped in.
Pikada looked at Angel and Bea. "He did feel pretty strong for a human."
Bea nodded, watching the car float into the air then zoom across the ocean.
Where it exploded, and tumbled to the sea.
"Yajirobe!" A group of voices said together.
Picollo's voice broke through though, "I see two figures flying there! But I'm sensing no energy."
"Gohan was right." Bea said knowingly, "They don't have Ki."
"Bulma, catch!" Goku underhand tossed the sack of Senzu at her. "Gohan, try to find Yajirobe, and bring him back here."
He looked at the rest of the fighters. "Looks like we're up."
Energy auras appeared around them, and one by one they sprinted into the air, towards the city, and the Androids."
Bea, Pikada, and Angel all landed together at the junction of two main roadways. Humans stopped and stared in wonder at the three armored warriors, complete with prehensile tails that each currently had wrapped around their waist.
Bea turned to view the crowd, taking a few steps towards a man in a business suit. A closed umbrella and briefcase trembled in his left hand, while a small mobile phone was planted to his right ear, held up by his shaking right arm.
"Excuse me." Bea said.
"I'm going to have to call you back." He dropped the phone as he said this, and its screen shattered on the sidewalk. "Er, umm, yes. How may I help you."
"Have you seen anything odd around here in the past few minutes?"
The man gawked, mouth agape.
"Strange beings, weird powers, probably dangerous?" Bea pushed the question a bit further.
The man swallowed, shook his head, opened his mouth, closed his mouth, opened it again, held up a single finger, closed his mouth one more time, and then swallowed once more.
"Son, are you fucking with me right now? You come flying from the sky, with a goddamned monkey tail, and hair like my sons favorite rock idol, and you have the nerve to ask if I've seen anything odd? You three are the oddest thing I've ever seen!" He reddened as realized his mouth had betrayed him, and he'd spoken his mind aloud. He gulped again.
Bea though, found that the man had a solid argument. He was preparing to apologize when there was an explosion in the distance. Black rolling smoke rose high into the air and dissipated in the wind. He turned to look back at the human, but he had apparently scampered off in the moment of distraction. He turned back to the smoke, which had already settled down. Bea had seen much violence in his life, and this didn't look like an attack. he was preparing to comment on this when he noticed one of the larger power levels he'd been subconsciously tracking began to fade quickly.
"Yamcha…" Stated Angel matter of factly.
"Go!" Bea exploded towards where the human was dying, Angel and Pikada were right behind him.
They arrived at nearly the same time as Goku, Piccolo and Krillin. A very strangely dressed man held Yamcha aloft by his face. His hand extended through the human's chest. Yamcha's arms hung limply at his side, and Bea could feel just the slightest bit of power left in him.
The creature dumped him unceremoniously to the ground.
"Krillin, if we can get him a Senzu he might live. Take him and go." Goku concentrated on the assumptive androids.
"Right!" Krillin swept Yamcha up into his arms and lifted up into the sky.
"Angel, go with them, give Krillin cover." Bea spoke as he was trying to size up the pair.
She nodded, and flew behind Krillin and his wounded cargo.
"What do you think Kakarot?" Bea asked quietly.
"I think these are the monsters we were warned about." Goku answered.
"They're definitely androids." Remarked Piccolo. "But they don't seem that dangerous."
The one who had been holding Yamcha, turned to look at the Namekian. "It's interesting that you seem to have knowledge of us, where we would be, and that we are indeed androids." The android looked from face to face, settling on Piccolo. "How did you know that?"
Piccolo smiled, "You expect us to just tell you? No, you'll have to get that information out of us by force."
"Very well." He looked at his comrade, "Android 19 and I will do exactly that. You have no chance at defeating us as it is."
"Wait!" Goku spoke up. "This place is too crowded, let's go somewhere uninhabited."
"Too crowded? Ah yes, I can see how you might be remiss to fight under these circumstances. Still there is no true need to leave." The Android then began firing blast from its eyes in a continuos arc around them.
"Stop it!" Goku charged in, hammering his fist into the android's face. His head barely rocked, but his tall hat was thrown from his head, revealing a clear bubble, filled with a greenish liquid, and a very human brain.
"Leave these innocents out of this!" Goku jumped back, ready to go once more on the offensive.
"According to my scans Android 20, Goku's request has been fulfilled. There are no nearby innocents."
"No matter, if Goku wishes to chooses the location of his death, then I will not stop him."
"Follow me." Goku lifted into the air, followed by the others.
Angel cradled Yamcha's head in her lap, as Krillin placed a Senzu bean between his lips, and forced him to chew. For a moment it looked as though the bean would fail. Bulma held her baby and stood behind Angel, silently watching.
With a start Yamcha drew in a deep breath and sat upright, his hands went instinctively to the quickly healing hole in his chest.
"What?" He asked looking around. Seeing that the female Saiyan had been holding his head he blushes brightly and scrambled to his feet. "Hi! Uh, oh man." He noticed Bulma standing behind Angel and managed to blush even more. "Bulma! It's not, not…" He looked back at Angel, who tipped her head slightly to the right, "I mean, I appreciate, you know…"
Bulma said nothing.
Angel smiled in confusion.
The blush intensified again.
The city off in the distance exploded.
"Androids?" Angel asked gently.
"What? Oh right, right. Androids. There were two of them, the one was absorbing my energy.
In the distance a group could be seen rocketing into the air.
"Energy! I have to let Goku know they can absorb energy."
Krillin kept into the air. "Come on let's follow them."
"Okay, Krillin." Gohan lifted up, they both looked expectantly at Yamcha. The human was frozen from fear.
Angel reached out and took his shoulder in her hand. "We have to warn them, you've done more than your share, you'll be fine to sit this out. After we've warned them."
Yamcha nodded. He and Angel joined Krillin and Gohan and they flew off together.
Goku and the rest of the earth's defenders flew fast, followed closely by the two androids. The one known as 20 suddenly stopped in flight. "This is far enough, your stalling will do you no good."
Together, Goku, Piccolo, Pikada, Tien, and Bea stopped and turned. They where definitely in a desolate area of the souther continent. As a group they all settled to the ground.
"This will be a suitable place for you to meet your end, Goku." Android 20 stared coldly as he spoke.
Goku drew deep heavy breathes as he looked at them. "How do you know my name?"
Bea noticed the change in Goku's breathing. Wondering if he should say anything.
20 spoke again, "You've been monitored by the Red Ribbon Army's remote tracking device from your childhood up until your fight with the Alien Vegeta. We've studied your techniques, moves, weaknesses, and strengths, and we've been designed to destroy you."
"Just until the fight with Vegeta?"
"That is correct. After that we lost contact with you, after you apparently left Earth."
Goku grimaced in pain. "Well that's good news. That means your information is old and obsolete."
"Regardless, nothing on enough consequence could happen between that time and now that we are not designed to handle."
"Well, we'll see about that." Goku clenched his fist, and in a burst of energy he became a super Saiyan."
Android 20 took a single step back, then ran his data again. "This is interesting, but of no issue. 19 should be able to easily defeat you."
Android 19 stepped forward, his fat porcelain white face reflected brightly in the sunlight. "Yes, this shall prove no issue for me."
The android struck out, and there was a blur as Goku blocked the hit. Goku's elbow lashed backwards and 19 was hurtled into a nearby rock face which exploded and collapsed down on to him.
Bea whispered into Pikada's ear. "You notice anything odd about Kakarot?"
"He seems winded…"
"I don't like it."
Just then the debris pile exploded, and Android 19 rushed Goku, the mechanical monster attempted to head butt the golden Saiyan, but was stopped by Goku grabbing his forehead.
20 seemed taken aback, Bea noticed.
Goku continued to pummel the android. Soon Gohan, Krillin, Angel, and Yamcha arrived.
"Dad!" Gohan yelled out in despair.
Tien called out, "Don't worry Gohan, your dad has the upper hand."
Piccolo and Bea glanced at each other knowingly.
"Don't be so certain," said Piccolo, "he's maxed out, and he barely damaging the Android at this point.
Sure enough Goku looked tired. He fell to one knee and clutched his chest.
"It's the heart virus!" Gohan cried.
The android moved in. Smashing a fist into Goku's jaw. The Saiyan went flying. He landed in a rolling heap, before pushing himself up to one knee. And then to his feet. He placed his hands to one side.
"Kaaaaaaaa, Meeeeee, Haaaaaaaa, Meeeeeee…" A brilliant blue orb formed in his hands. "Haaaaaaaa!" The attack burst towards the android. It held out a hand, and the wave disappeared, absorbed into his body.
"Don't use energy attacks! He can absorb them!" Yelled Piccolo.
"KAMEHAMEHA!" Another blast. With the same results.
The android moved in a blur, knocking Goku high into the air, then appearing in his flight line. He struck down with a double ax handle, and Goku cratered the ground as he hit.
Krillin threw Goku a Senzu bean. "Goku, eat this."
20 shifted his head. "We know about the properties of this Senzu bean, we will not let him have the time needed to recover."
19 fired twin beams from his eyes. Goku somehow managed to avoid them. He was met again in mid air, and pummeled to the ground. This time he could barely stand up.
"The Senzus aren't working!" Cried Krillin.
"It is the Virus!" Replied Gohan.
Pikada felt his sword, Bea cracked his neck.
Android 19 smashed his head into Goku's kidneys, and the Saiyan slid to a halt on his back.
His golden hair lost its shine and fell back into its normal state.
Android 19 pummeled against the ground, then jumped onto his chest. The air rushed from his lungs. He wrapped a hand around Goku's throat. "Now I'll just take your energy."
Goku struggled, He strained against his attacker, but nothing happened.
"That's it, we've got to move." Piccolo yelled.
The rushed as a group. Android 20 suddenly appeared in their path. "No, if you are wise you will remain here, unless you wish to join him in death."
They stood and assessed the situation.
"Good, that's what I thought."
"Think again." Piccolo rushed the android.
Twin beams fired from the android's eyes, and pierced Piccolo's chest.
Pikada's sword whispered from its scabbard, He faded, appearing next to the android. 20 quickly punched Pikada in the solar plexus. The force was strong enough to cause the sword to slip from his hand. 20 snatched it from the air, and quickly swung it up and down towards the Saiyan. Pikada blocked with his left arm, the blade bit deep, slicing through the armored glove, and sticking into the bones of his forearm. Pikada winced with the overwhelming pain. Bea appeared next to him, grabbing his friend's long black hair and hurling him and his sword back towards the rest of their group. Angel immediately began to treat his wound.
Bea ducked under a wide swing. He punched upwards under the androids chest. Both of his fist collided but 20 barely noticed. Bea was sent sprawling.
Behind their fight, Goku lost his his grip on 19's arms.
Tien caught Bea. "We have to do something." He said.
Bea smiled slightly. "Something is happening right now."
Android 19 was sent flying.
Vegeta stood there. Arms crossed. "No one will kill Kakarot while I still live. That destiny belongs to me alone."
He turned his attention to Goku, "And you Kakarot, you fool. You were warned about the virus. You should have known better. And you knew becoming super Saiyan would only cause it to advance more quickly."
He pointed a finger at the Androids. "I will destroy these for you, but you are next." Vegeta suddenly kicked Goku in the ribs directly at Yamcha. "Get him out of here."
Yamcha made the catch, and turned to fly off. Bea looked between the shrinking figure and the Saiyan Prince. Then without warning he flew after Yamcha and Goku.
A few minutes passed as he caught up and flew in formation with them.
"That's far enough Yamcha!"
The human stopped in mid air, a look of surprised worry crossing his face.
"What is it, Bea?"
Behind them, a flash of golden light erupted. Bea smiled. "I thought so!" He grabbed Yamcha's shoulder. "Vegeta just became a super Saiyan. Now while his energy is likely overpowering ours, point to Kakarot's home."
The human hesitated, then slowly extended a hand.
Bea placed two fingers to his forehead and sought out the strongest energy in that direction.
"There! Hang on Kakarot, and you Yamcha."
Bea concentrated. They winked out of existence.
And appeared next to a startled Chichi.
She screamed and a stack of dishes fell to the floor and shattered.
"He needs his medicine. Right now." Bea said as he let go of Yamcha. His fingers never left his head, he turned to Vegeta's overwhelming power.
Then he was gone.