Chapter Thirty-Five: Spilling Blood

"S-stop…"

"why should I?"

Twenty-One's dark eyes met the Ox King's with dark, unrelenting rage. She stared the old man down with superhuman strength and ruthlessness usually only reserved for the demons of Hell. She had no intentions of letting up and already she had weakened the elder man considerably. He was a good fighter, no mistake about that.

Twenty One was not without her injuries. In fact, the majority of her right arm was throbbing from his blows. She had caught him without a decent weapon. He was plenty strong, using only his bare brute force. She had dodged several of his blows but his soft heartedness was his downfall. He had once been a great warrior and fighter, deeply feared.

That had been years ago.

Years of family life had made him soft.

Twenty-One surmised it was lucky on her part because even as out of practice as he had become, he had been more than a challenge for her. He was not nearly as fast as she was, nor as supernaturally strong.

It was his experience that had been his trump card.

He seemed to be able to predict her movements fairly well. He had known how to counter an energy blast fairly well. Likewise, he was much larger than her, which gave him the advantage of height. Regardless of strength, there were certain positions, that if anyone were to fall into, it tended to render one nearly unable to move.

Three times he had gotten an arm around her neck, attempting to choke the air out of her.

She was loathing admitting how close the third attempt had come. She didn't have her other Androids' advanced experience. Gero had programmed her with stealth, strength and speed but that was no substitute for experience. She had only the fighting skills that instinct and previous training had given her.

She knew by her files that Eighteen and Seventeen's human bases had been street children, forced to learn survival skills early on. While her memories of her previous life were a select few, she remembered her father quite clearly. While he had not made martial arts his career as some did, he had certainly not been a stranger to it. She had learned some of it.

So, she knew the elder man could have easier killed her, had he chosen to. That was an advantage her smaller and younger human form gave her over her elder Androids. Despite her actions against another, it was a rare person who could attack her with their full intent and strength. Her child-form gave her a buffer because it played with people's morals and consciences.

It was particularly effective on those whom had a kind heart.

The Ox-King, for all he had previously done, had become a father, a father-in-law and a grandfather. Such things had softened his warrior skills.

Fool.

"Let your grandson know what he put me through!"

The Ox King met her eyes, completely baffled and with good reason. "Gohan? Gohan couldn't hurt a fly if he wanted to."

"Lies!" Twenty-One shouted the word like it tasted bad. "Let him know what it feels like to have everything taken away!"

"Gohan didn't even know who you were before this!" The Ox King persisted. "He wouldn't have done anything to hurt you!"

Twenty One narrowed her eyes at the elder man. "Lying to me to protect him, aren't you?"

"I'm not—"

Twenty One scowled, "You are! Trying to protect him from justice…"

"Justice? Justice?" The Ox King shouted the word, full of passion. Had he been able to stand, he would have. If she'd been his own child, he would have done more than that. But as it stood, she towered over him; she'd managed to get him to fall onto his back and kept that scythe pointed at his throat. "How is what you're doing bringing justice?!"

Twenty-One remained silent a moment more, not saying anything except, "Let him feel what I have felt."

"You are attacking people who have no part in this fight."

Twenty-One's dark eyes bored into his. "As my parents didn't but they were flung dead to the ground."

"And how is killing others getting you them back?"

"Let Gohan suffer as I have!" She spat at him, her eyes wide with fury. "Let him know the horror of not being able to stop it, of having someone you care for needlessly snatched away from you."

The Ox King eyes turned full of anger and rage. "Those people didn't do anything to you!"

"They're dear to Gohan, that's enough."

To this, the Ox King was too stunned to do anything other than stare into those eyes. They were alien to him, looking so human yet holding so much hatred and anger. The fact that that anger was directed at his gentle hearted grandson no doubt skewered his vision. He heard the Android's words and all that did was infuriate him.

Swiping his arm to block the blade, he kicked her off him rather harshly and charged her.

Twenty One leapt upward, avoiding his first attack but the elder man caught her ankle and swung her like a club into the ground. She gave a gasp of pain as the swift speed made her lungs erupt with swiftness, leaving her breathless for a moment. She kicked loose, leapt to her feet and received a swift punch to her face, sending her flying back. Catching herself, she summoned her ki, as contrary to popular belief, androids did have ki because they were based on humans. The only one that wouldn't would be that big lug Sixteen.

Twenty One fired her ki and caught herself in the air, though she admitted that the blow had made some blood leak loose. Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, she eyed the scythe which had fallen from her hands when she'd been slammed into the earth. The Ox King slammed a massive foot down on it, shattering the blade.

Twenty One smirked, pulling her hands up into a guard position. "I like it better this way anyway." She pushed one of her loose hair strands backwards. "makes it better when I tell Gohan how they fought and fell, like Ena did."

"Ena?" The Ox King's memory searched back before faintly recognizing the name, as one that Gohan had mentioned once or twice. It had mainly been in the hospital, after the fierce battle with Vegeta, thus it was several years ago. He didn't remember much about her save that Gohan had said positive things on her, regarding her as a friend.

Twenty One nodded. "She fought a lot." She remarked. "More than I thought she would." Twenty One touched a cut on her face. "All the way to the end."

Though the Ox King didn't know the girl, his heart froze at that statement.

"But a drop of two thousand feet will kill anything without ki control." Twenty One finished before she charged the Ox King. "But I think a death in battle is much more suiting to you."

OOO

The breaking of sea water upset her hair a little with the blazing wind but Eighteen for one, was glad to no longer be wondering about aimlessly. Mount Paouz and the surrounding lands had no one who even knew Goku's name let alone the Saiyan himself. Sixteen's data bases had said Master Roshi's island so thus, here they were.

The sea water bothered her.

"Getting your kicks yet, Seventeen?" she sneered. "I'd much rather fly and get there and get this over with."

Seventeen chuckled, eyeing his sister. "You're a spoil sport, Eighteen."

"No, I just prefer getting things done to your stupid fooling around."

"Oh, relax and lighten up a little."

Seventeen adjusted the speed of their stolen boat. "You women are so impatient."

Throughout all this bickering, Sixteen remained silent. So often, Eighteen and Seventeen forgot he was there. Only when they encountered others were they remained by way the strangers would stare beyond them. He was useful for information but so often, it was like pulling teeth getting nay information. He had a very one track mind, always focused on Goku and him alone. While Seventeen wanted the challenge of obliterating him, he also knew the importance of having fun.

It seemed his sister had forgotten that as well. She had forgotten a lot of things since they'd broken out of that prison. He supposed it was to be expected as Eighteen had always been one to sulk if things were not going how she had planned. It was just how she operated. She hadn't always been that way. Seventeen remembered her once being like he was trying to be: fun.

Shaking his head, he pushed some of his black hair out of his face. Perhaps their lives now were not meant to be as they were before in any way. He personally would have loved to go back to how they were before. It had been a miserable existence to be sure but they had been sure of who they were, of what they could do.

He loved the strength that this cyborg form gave him but he felt so like he had lost something, something dear to him that was impossible to name. Eighteen had the same feeling, he could tell by her melancholy look. She would gaze into the ocean, as if expecting the foam on the waves to part and give her an answer. Occasionally, she would dip her fingers into the water.

Seventeen growled under his breath. He personally kept retreating to old memories, memories he would rather forget. He was someone who lived in the now and memories only clouded the issue. He didn't like to remember old failures and every time the past came up, that was what was driven home. He had failed to save his sister, to protect her.

Was that why he was so set on destroying Goku?

Shaking his head, he tried to destroy that distracting thought but with little success. He kept returning to it. Truth enough, he wanted to show how strong he was and destroying the world's strongest warrior was easily the best way to go about it. However, as Eighteen was prone to comment at times. Who was he proving it to?

He liked to think he was proving it to anyone that dared challenge him, to anyone who dared to so much as throw a dirty look at he and his sister. He wanted them to know how strong he was, how dangerous and how he wouldn't relent in any of his goals. To show them that he was a force to be reckoned with, no matter what his past was!

Eighteen sat up, pushed her hair back, setting her sights on the horizon. Seventeen eyed her.

So many things had happened since they'd ventured into Gero and not all of them were for the good. Eighteen was different than what she had been once. Seventeen usually could ignore this fact with the notion that they were going to make better lives for themselves. In the back of his mind, he still clung to the hope that he and his sister could live together without much interference. He was almost certain that these acts, these declarations of his strength would chase away any who would challenge their right to their own lives.

Still, there was an underlying throb at his consciousness. He tried to push it aside, knowing full well what it was.

Shigo…that pitiful weakling.

Thankfully, the sound of wind and two people approaching drew his attention away. He turned, laughed.

"They want to play some more?"

Eighteen leapt up, balancing herself on the edge of the boat. "Let's hope it's more interesting than last time."

OOO

"Go on…say it."

"Well, I…"

"You think I'm crazy, don't you Daddy?"

Goku eyed his son, reached out and stroked his son's black hair back behind his ears. "No, I don't."

"How can you not?" Gohan gasped in shock. Goku stood, stepping out of the bath and retrieving a bucket from the side. He filled it with hot water and went back to his son. "I mean, I think I—"

"Cover your eyes, son."

Gohan did so, feeling the hot and warm water spill over his shoulders. His dark black hair spilled down his back in an ebony river. His father did that twice more then sat behind him, putting his large hands on the boy's shoulders. "Gohan, look at me."

Tilting his head back, Gohan obliged.

Goku's own dark eyes peered into his.

"I don't think you're crazy little man."

"but…I was seeing things…"

"Maybe there's a reason for it…"

"yeah, your son's lost his mind."

Goku lifted his son up around the waist and set him on his feet before scrubbing a towel around the boy's body and up into his hair. "No…"

"Then what…"

"I don't know, Gohan." He frowned. "But there may be something in the demand I get tougher."

"I've been trying to tell you that."

'I know…" Goku admitted. He chuckled sadly. "it is harder than I thought it would be, given the fact you're my son."

"but I'm a fighter!"

Goku smiled at the boy. "I know that, never said you weren't—"

"Then why-"

"Because you're my son." Goku said again. "It's hard for me to see past the little baby in diapers-"

"DADDY!" Gohan pulled away his face blood red.

"What?" Goku said, pulling the towel away. "You didn't think you were born potty trained, did you?"

Gohan scowled but made no reply and gathered his clothes from the side. "So, you can't see me as a teenager?"

"A teenager?" At this, Goku chuckled. "Getting a bit ahead of yourself. You were nine last I checked."

Gohan eyed his father, "We've been here for a few months. Nine and a half." He said with a look as he pulled on his armor. How could Daddy talk so lightly of it? Nine and a half was much closer to ten and nine was so young!

Goku took on a smirk, "Oh nine and HALF. Well, excuse me!"

Gohan finally smiled though he felt like little had been achieved. All Daddy could say was that he didn't think he was crazy, there must have been a reason that he was seeing and hearing what he was and that he might just get tougher and see if that appeased the voices.

Not much accomplished but it alleviated his heart just a little to know that his father was aware of his predicament.

He took comfort in the knowledge that Daddy knew at the very least. As they ventured out, back towards that empty whiteness, his mind swirled at the knowledge of the voices, everything that had said and warned. It would not have bothered him so if the figure hadn't looked so like him. It had claimed to be his inner power before. If that was true, then why…how did it know things that were going to happen?

That bothered Gohan.

OOO

Twenty One scowled, tossing the Ox King against the ground. Rising, she charged him, picking up her fallen weapon. She swung out, once, twice. Each blow was blocked easily, with either the man's arm or whatever he found handy. She found it annoying but she still had to admire his skill. She was much faster, much stronger but he was still managing to hold his own.

It was not without injury however.

The blood running down his arms were an indication of that.

She didn't know the man knew energy blasts though! They were weak, especially compared to those she'd seen of the other warriors and Son Gohan. But they were still a surprise and as such had scorched her hair. She saw that he could not do many though. He relied on his brute strength more than anything else. That was his disadvantage. She was not a fighter of brute strength thus; she knew how to go around such a trait and fighting style.

She charged him again, her scythe down.

He moved to block it, just as she knew he would.

She came up beneath him and kicked upward on the bladed stick.

Its thick blade met its mark in the thick flesh of the man's neck.

He stopped, gagged.

Twenty One kicked it again, lodged it deeper.

She felt the drips of blood spray down on her face and she took a deep pleasure in it when she put all her superhuman strength into her neck blow, kicking up with both her feet on the blade.

It sliced straight through, decapitating the elder man.

The head of the Ox King rolled by her side and she moved so that his giant body did not crash onto her. The blood pumped out of the stump like a fountain and she reached down, plucking the old man's glasses from his face. Folding them, ironically, very carefully, she tucked them into her pouch, where she kept Gohan's acquaintances' other paraphernalia. Taking one look back at the lifeless giant's body, she turned on her heels and took to the air.

OOO

ChiChi stood at the entrance to that chamber, chewing on her fingers. They were safe in there, she knew that much but her mind wouldn't stop reeling from the stories she'd heard of these Androids and Cell. How did they not know that the Androids were seeking out her boy and husband right now?

She looked around at the group of martial artists and her heart burned with anger but not just at them, at herself.

The Androids and this Cell…

They were out there, pulling out every stop to find Goku and end his life. There was one Android that had her son's head as their sole purpose. The mother in her was screaming, howling at the injustice, at how wrong it was. The mother in her had every intention of sending these martial artists out on a manhunt, to seek out these creatures before they did any damage.

As it was, they wouldn't have listened.

They seemed convinced that they were outmatched, at least at present moment.

Vegeta and Trunks were out there, after the Androids and they seemed content to stand there and wait.

ChiChi eyed them, unsatisfied at this.

Taking another walk around the Lookout, for perhaps the tenth time, she was vaguely aware of Kami and Piccolo watching her.

Those two in particular had been keeping to themselves. Piccolo had sst down several times, while kami just gazed down at earth. ChiChi didn't like it but she also knew deep in her bones that disturbing them now would be a foolish act. So, here she was, circling the edges, looking down at the Earth below. She couldn't see much, given her human eyesight.

There was a great deal she couldn't do.

That seemed to be universal feeling at the moment though. The human fighters, for all their bravery, almost seemed to have given up, feeling entirely outclassed. To ChiChi, this was a horrific betrayal to her family. Had not her Goku surpassed so many odds before yet they couldn't bring themselves to try again?

Yet, just as she could get angered at them, she also knew she hadn't been there, she hadn't seen what they had seen.

Perhaps that was one reason she was so angry.

Angry not at the others for not keeping her Gohan safe, though she certainly carried a little of that feeling as well, but rather anger at herself for not being there. There had been nothing stopping her from following except her own denial of the fight, her own refusal to be any part of it. The part of her that tried constantly to insist that her refusal and passion against it would keep her son safe at home.

It never worked and with each passing year, she was beginning to realize it never would.

Her son…well, as smart and intelligent as he was, she was also becoming more and more aware that he was a fighter. She tried to deny this, with all her heart. She tried to feed him with a curiosity toward learning. She tried—

All futile attempts she was beginning to see.

She blamed the Namek for it but perhaps…

She shook her head and cut herself from those thoughts before once more giving anyone near her the lethal look of anger. The look that demanded they do something to help her family.

It was Yamcha that responded to her this time, holding his hands up in defeat.

"We're keeping an eye out—"

"And what good is that doing?" she snarled. "What do you plan to do if they find out they're up here?"

"We'll—"

"You'll what?" she interrupted. "You sure as hell aren't doing anything right now!"

"We can't do anything right now." He tried again. "They ran all over us last time…we almost died."

"So now you're hiding with your tails between your legs?"

"We'd be going to our deaths if we went after them now—"

"You aren't even willing to try again? You've been trainin' to get stronger haven't you?"

"Yes but they're-"

"Piccolo Daimaio almost killed my Goku…twice." She snarled, giving a back look to Piccolo as she stated 'twice'. "Does that stop my Goku from going after him?" She questioned. "No! He goes because it's the right thing to do and he's willing to at least try!" She drew away, jerking her back to face him. Perhaps that was what troubled her most, that they didn't try.

Krillin was an exception. More than most, he was trying as best he could. He knew his limits but he still tried. He had gone back and forth from the Lookout ot Bulma's, seeing where she was and what he could do to help. That was more help than most of these others were doing.

More than she was doing, she realized abruptly.

Turning her eyes to fall on that single door again, she turned back to the earth, looking down.

She was as guiltier than they. She was doing nothing. Just standing here, worrying, crying…

What good was that?

What good did that ever do?

When her Gohan was taken by Piccolo, as much as she blamed him, could she truly not blame herself?

She had gone home, she had fretted, she had not eaten much….

But she had stayed home. She hadn't gone after him…

She had tried to ignore that fact, tried to make up for it. She had been adamant on going to Namek after him. She had never gotten there.

And here, they were…again, repeating the same pattern.

Her family, her child and husband, rushing off to fight, plunged into danger and she stayed behind, biting her nails, worrying and fretting until they came home.

ChiChi drew away from Yamcha, walking until her toes slipped over the edge of the Lookout.

Yamcha, drawn away, blinked. "ChiChi?"

She turned, growling. "Stay here and hide if you want."

She jumped, almost like doing a swan dive and fell from the platform, amid shouts of shock and protests from those above. Gathering her voice as wind blew past her face, drawing tears from her eyes, she called an old term,

"Flying Nimbus!"

After a moment, in the distance, a small yellow dot appeared then flew to her aid. It was a gift to Goku but it had a mind of its own and recognized family and friend from foe. She had ridden it several times in her life; the cloud grew firm under her feet as it stopped her descent. She gathered her balance, then said

"To Master Korin's, Nimbus. He has something I want."

The cloud made no halt and did as commanded, whisking her to the smaller platform beneath the Lookout. Without a word, the woman stormed in, pushing her way past Yajirobe, who regarded her as one would a lioness: fascinating but only from the distance. She stopped in front of the white cat and bowed briefly, still remembering her manners, knowing full well what kind of master he was,

"Master Korin, I've come to take back something of my husband's."

The wise cat, though he knew little of her intentions, could read her ki well enough. "You desire the power pole."

She nodded, once. Goku had given it to him on loan for some reason or another during those three years.

The cat regarded her a moment more but then trotted to the side and returned with the orange pole, still tucked in its sheath and presented it to her. She took it, tying it around her waist, doubling it, unlike Goku who liked it around his back. She thanked the martial arts master then jumped out the window, back onto Nimbus and was gone.

Yajirobe emerged from his hiding spot, "Wha' the hell just happened?"

Korin didn't say anything, just observed the woman as she rode off. The Nimbus was making a definite path, straight back towards the mountains, or Mount Fry Pan to be precise. The white cat chuckled, reading her ki and her face. Her body language was more of a give away than anything else. The way she held herself, the determination in her eyes. A look she had not had for many years, or rather she had carefully kept tucked away, hoping to save her son. She had kept it tucked away, hoping to lead her son into a life of safety as she had settled into the lifestyle of tranquility, as a simple house wife. No doubt she liked it but one cannot deny their spirit. The mother in her, as well as the loving wife had laid dormant, content to pray from the sidelines but it seemed that side of her was no longer satisfied with that outcome.

It seemed the woman had come to a conclusion.

"I think the Ox Princess has returned."