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Android Saga – Part 9: "I am a BEAST!"
Vegeta's golden-lensed scouter came to life, the arrow on its display screen focusing on a mountain range to the southeast. His son, whose blue scouter indicated the same location, was also eager to catch up to the fleeing android 20. They simultaneously took off at full speed toward the Northern Mountain range, each one continuously glancing below them as they hunted for any sign of the grey-mustached android. Unfortunately, the landscape was covered in forest, dotted by only a few clearings on the hill slopes. There were nearly limitless places to hide. 20 would be difficult to spot on foot, so they stayed true to their scouter headings—their only guide.
'This isn't good,' Trunks thought. 'Worst case scenario, android 20 wakes up the other two and then all three of them ambush us before we can prepare. I was worried that 17 and 18 might escape undetected, but that seems much less likely now. 20 is intent on having them fight us, so as long as we stay prepared and don't let them get the drop on us, we should at least get our shot at taking them down. Still, if we can somehow find them now, we can deal with 20 before he even wakes the others up. Then, if father is still intent on fighting them, we can activate 17 and 18 one at a time.'
"So, my son, are you itching for a challenge as much as I am?" the prince asked Trunks casually. It was odd to hear him use those words—it was almost as if Vegeta thought well of Trunks.
Though he was eager for the battle, Trunks was still torn between wanting a challenge and wanting to protect the Earth. In the end, he decided, the reasons for fighting were immaterial – all the mattered was that they were defeated. He was surprised by how much he wanted a challenge and wanted revenge…apparently his father's attitudes had rubbed off on him. Before training with Vegeta, he would have never been so motivated by the desire to prove himself. He was glad, he concluded, that he looked forward to testing his new strength against them.
"Absolutely, father. I haven't worked my butt off for nothing. Before this day is through, I intend to see these monsters dismantled and melted down."
The prince smiled, accelerating his flight. Though proud, Vegeta was not unaware of the differences between himself and his son. While he could tell that the boy had picked up on a lot of his motviations, it was still obvious that they still operated from different frames of reference. Despite their differences, he was still proud of his son's strength – it wasn't up to his own, but it was nothing to sneeze at. Though he most certainly would refuse any offer of assistance, he was more than willing to allow Trunks the opportunity to face one of the androids as well.
"Hmm. Well then, if that works out I may have to start thinking of you as a true Saiyan after all."
The being known as android 21 literally glowed with energy. The golden light of Tien's tri-beam pulsed around it. Sparks of electricity shot out of the cracks and holes on its torso.
The android's vest was now completely gone, and its chest rippled and strained as new energy flowed through it. Its face was contorted, even harsher than before.
Tien fell to his hands and knees, gasping for breath. The tri-beam was difficult enough under normal circumstances, but at 12x kaioken it was pure torture. He could barely lift his head to look at the android now walking toward him.
"I should thank you for providing all this energy," growled the monster, its already-inhuman voice even more distorted. "But I'd rather just pound you into oblivion!"
The three-eyed warrior braced himself with what little kaioken he had left, but nothing could have prepared him for the shock of the android's first kick. He had raised his arm to shield himself, but the kick completely shattered every bone in his forearm.
Tien gasped for oxygen. The pain was too much - he couldn't even scream. Smoke and fire was still pouring out of the monstrous machine as it gripped him by the shoulder and lifted him into the air.
HURKK! A fist plunged into Tien's gut, denying him what little breath he had left. SLAM! The android's massive arm backhanded his entire body, sending him flipping end over end. He landed in a cloud of dust and rubble, unconscious.
The devious Dr. Gero waited briefly in one of North city's back alleys, but as soon as the Saiyans looked away he leapt into action. The cyborg hopped through the streets, careful not to fly—that would certainly catch the attention of Vegeta. He bounded off of street lights, ricocheted off of the sides of buildings, and tried his best to maintain cover. Silently, he kept his scanners attuned to Vegeta and Trunks—he possessed the huge advantage of being able to detect their location while he knew he was undetectable; at least by any means the Z fighters had previously displayed.
As he zipped to the edge of the city, android 20 escaped into the wild cover of trees and rocks. His advantage here was all the places to hide, as opposed to the city where the busy people had hampered his progress. The doctor's movements were precise and calculated, never stepping on a stray leaf or crushing a fallen stick. Within minutes, he was approaching his lab – it was straight ahead, a secret entrance carved right into the side of a mountain. The goal was in sight, and he was confident that the second he made it, his victory would be guaranteed. Suddenly, Gero's scanners detected the two Saiyans closing in on his location rapidly.
'How did they find me? I'm certain they didn't follow my movements here, so are they just lucky?' The two powers were coming closer and closer. 'NOO! I cannot allow them to beat me there!' Gero took to the air at top speed, making it to the entrance of his lab in seconds. The opening was seemingly right in the side of a cliff-face, about 40 feet above the ground. No one without either the ability to fly or climbing equipment would be able to reach it. 20 landed just in front of his reinforced security door—which he had made and powered using basic android technology; it could withstand a near-nuclear blast without giving way. He typed in his security code, 5201, and the thick blue metal parted in the middle, granting him entrance.
'At last…' he thought, as his form disappeared into the laboratory.
21 took a step toward Tien's body, but suddenly froze as a green hand wrapped around its eyes and face. It reached up to tear Piccolo's hand away, but the Namekian retracted his arm quickly and extended the other one in its place, snaking around the android's leg and yanking the monster to the ground. His ability to extend his arms to practically any length wasn't one he used often, but it came in handy. He couldn't afford to fight 21 at close quarters - not now.
He flew toward 21 at top speed, hoping to reach the android before it could rise. Barely in time, he launched a devastating kick to the back of its massive neck, but his leg merely rebounded off it as the kick was nothing. 21 slowly rose to its feet.
As Piccolo began an all-out assault on his massive opponent, he realized that he really had no plan at all. The machine was more than twice his strength. Tien was out, and Krillin and Gohan would be no help.
Gohan. He had to make sure Gohan got away.
'Can you hear me, Gohan?' thought the Namekian as the android effortlessly repelled his strongest attacks. 21 was still glowing with energy. 'You have to escape! Just go! I'll hold him off as long as I can!'
The ten year old warrior, his jet black hair falling down in disarray almost to his shoulders, stood helplessly on the sidelines. Piccolo's words had not been a suggestion, it was an order, yet the boy hadn't moved.
'But…Mr. Piccolo, I can't leave you!' A small tear trickled down the boy's face. 'Trunks said that you're supposed to die against the androids. If I leave you here…that's exactly what's gonna happen!' The boy clenched his fists tightly, wishing he had the strength to intervene—to make a difference. But his Namekian teacher replied before he could do anything rash.
'Don't be absurd, Gohan! Go NOW!' he mentally shouted, barely able to keep up his pace up.
The frightened son of Goku suddenly lost himself, his young mind falling prey to nightmarish flashes of the future very soon to come to pass. Everything was dark and hazy, the entire planet, and all was silent and still. No living thing remained in the entire world. Instead, the lifeless carcasses of everyone he had ever known were strewn around like garbage, littered through the destruction. The body of Krillin, his dead eyes still wide open, frozen for eternity in a state of complete terror—his mom, with a gaping bloody hole through her chest—the others, each lying motionless, forever silenced, their bodies in various states of pitiful neglect. Then, Piccolo…lying face-first in the dirt, his white cape soaked through from the back with purple blood. Gohan couldn't take it anymore. It felt like a long and frighteningly drawn out flash before his eyes, but suddenly it was over and he was back in the moment—watching, but with renewed fortitude. 'I'll never run again! There's nowhere left to run now anyway, nowhere but straight through that monster!'
BLAM! The android's massive fist thudded into Piccolo's arm painfully. "What are you waiting for, Gohan?" The tall Namek was now shouting out loud. "Run!"
"I won't let you die, Piccolo!" The boy's fists were clenched. His voice sounded different—hardened and angry, but also with surprising depth and maturity. The Namek heard it. This had happened before – the boy's incredible hidden power rising up for a single powerful explosion of anger. But even that wouldn't do anything against 21; the android was so much stronger than any of them.
The bald monk beside Goku's son tugged at his arm. "Come on! We're only in the way here!" Terror showed in Krillin's voice - and for good reason. It was hopeless.
Gohan pulled away instinctively. "No! I can't let Piccolo die for me. Not again." The boy's eyes were sharp, his teeth grinding together. "Krillin, I've been letting everyone protect me since I was just a toddler! Piccolo even died for me—he didn't have to, nobody asked him…he just did! And why? Because when it came time to fight, I was too weak. I failed, I choked; I wasn't strong enough. It happened against Nappa, then again fighting Recoome, and even against Frieza himself. Well, no more!"
The Namek was panicking, each second he endured against the android being a moment in which he felt more pain than he ever thought he could endure—yet, for the sake of Gohan, he fought on. "Just go! Go now! I can't hold him much—DAAAAH!"
Trunks suddenly halted in midair, his head jerking to the south as he noticed a change in the energy of his friends. As focused as he had been on finding android 20, he had let his concentration slip from the other Z fighters—and things had somehow become incredibly bleak.
'Tien…Piccolo…both of them feel like they are on the very doorstep of death itself! I never would have imagined that they would have so much trouble with that other android. Darn it!'
He didn't know what to do. Suddenly he questioned everything—his plans, his motivations, what he should do next. The first emotion that sprang into his mind was guilt. If only he had stayed behind, surely he would have been able to destroy the other android. But he had let his fear of 17 and 18 dictate his move—or was it his new Saiyan desire to test his strength? They weren't even activated yet…for all he knew, at least. There would have been plenty of time for him to have destroyed 21 and then caught up to Vegeta later.
He cursed and shook his fist. Maybe his choice would pay off, and he and Vegeta would be able to stop 17 and 18 once and for all—before they ever had a chance to wreak their havoc upon the earth. But at what cost? Both Tien and Piccolo were likely to die, and what about Gohan and Krillin? Without Piccolo, no one could be brought back to life. It would be almost as bad as if he had never come.
"Something bothering you, son?" The toughened prince, ever the first to deny that he cared about anyone, was clearly mocking his boy's soft-heartedness.
"I have to go, father. I can't let Gohan and the others die again." Every word spoken by the young man from the future was a hard choice. Yet he had grown accustomed to making such decisions, living in the nightmare world created by the androids—and this world would soon become the exact same if he didn't save everyone.
"Leaving just on the edge of a fight, eh? Tell me you aren't still afraid of the real androids." Vegeta jabbed.
Trunks shot back his own retort. "I trust you can handle them both without my help anyway, right dad?" Then he blasted off, heading south at top speed. Vegeta, turning and doing the opposite, continued following his scouter. Would either of them reach their destination in time?
Age 783
Goku awoke with a sudden start. His brow was no longer covered with sweat and his nightmares had finally ceased, yet there was still a second sense within him that something was not quite right. He couldn't place his finger on what exactly it was and wasn't able shake the feeling that it was urgent. As he sat up in his cot the soft white sheet covering him fell down to his waist—he wasn't wearing any clothes.
"Oh, hello there, Mr. Goku," he said, laughing to himself. Seeing that he was alone, he stood up and allowed the sheet to fall off him. For the first time in quite a while, he felt good—really good. What he had chalked up to stress about dealing with the androids had actually been a deadly virus attacking his system. Now, finally healed from the infection, he felt better than he could ever remember feeling his whole life—stronger too.
"Aaahhh" he yawned loudly. "I wonder where I am…it doesn't look like home or the Kame House.
Suddenly, a door opened behind him.
"GOKU!"
Before he knew it, the friendly arms of one of his oldest friends were wrapped tightly around his unclothed body. Perhaps it would have been awkward for anyone else, but Goku was shameless and Bulma, who had grown up around him, was quite used to such things.
"Oh, Goku, you're all right!" she tenderly said. "When I saw you, I thought it was a dream, but it really is you! I saw that you were sick and I feared the worst. You were in bed recovering for several weeks, but now you're back to normal!"
Breaking the hug finally, Goku stepped back and noticed that Bulma looked slightly unusual.
"Hey, you look different, Bulma. What is it? Did you change your hair?"
"No, silly," she laughed. "You're in the future, Goku…don't you remember Trunks putting you into his time machine? That is what happened isn't it?"
"The FUTURE?" Goku exclaimed, shocked. "Oh, wow. I didn't know that. What's this about me being sick?"
Bulma pulled out a chair from the small table in the room and sat down. She motioned for Goku to do the same. When he had, she continued.
"Well, from what I've been able to guess at, Trunks succeeded in stopping Vegeta from killing you in the past. Is that correct?"
Scratching his head in recollection, Goku looked up at the ceiling. "Oh yeah, he did. I guess that means the 'me' from this timeline is actually dead. Weird, huh? Talking to a dead guy." So far the biggest difference Goku noticed was that this older version of Bulma was much more patient and seemed to be taking her time. Yet he still had the feeling that he needed to be somewhere.
"No, silly. It's just like old times—I just…I thought I'd never see you again. Goku, you don't know how happy it makes me just to be talking with you."
"Well, that's great. I'm glad to see you too. But why was I sent here?"
"Well, Goku, that's what I was guessing at. My best estimation of what happened is that you came down with this virus and Trunks recognized it. He knew about it because of all the refugees we helped who came down with it. Anyway, there's no cure for it in the past—but, being the genius I am, I was able to eventually find one for us. So Trunks must have sent you to me to get better."
"Oh, well I guess I owe Trunks another big one. That's the second time he's saved my life!"
"That's my boy," Bulma proudly smiled. "Hey, Goku, speaking of Trunks, I haven't had any updates on his mission. How much time is left before the androids arrive?"
As if a sudden memory that had been missing clicked into place, Goku suddenly realized what his fears were about. His face turned serious.
"Last that I remember, they were only a week or so away, Bulma. I must have gotten sick just before they showed up."
The look on the blue haired woman's face suddenly froze. She was clearly aware of something that Goku wasn't. Seeing her reaction, Goku hesitantly asked how she was. "What is it, Bulma? Is everything okay?"
"Well, you've been sick that whole time. My guess is the androids in the past have already appeared. You may already be too late to help them! What if Trunks died, Goku? What if it was all for nothing, that without you there history just repeated itself and now my son is dead?"
"I see what you mean," Goku responded, surprisingly astute. "But there's still time, right? I mean, you do have a time machine after all. Just send me back right before they appear!"
Rather than smiling at Goku's suggestion, Bulma merely sighed. "Sorry, Goku, but I can't do that. When you travel back through time, there are a lot of dangers. Trunks created an entirely different time when he went back the first time. Now, if we want to stay connected to that world—your world—we have to allow time to pass evenly before you go back. This world is already set, but the future of your world is uncertain. If we aren't careful, we could create another whole timeline."
Goku didn't exactly understand, but he tried summing it up anyway. "So, I could go back early, but it might mess things up really bad. If I want to help the real versions of Trunks and Gohan, I've got to go back to their 'now', or whatever it was you said."
"Basically, yes." Bulma replied.
"Well, then there's no time to lose!" Goku exclaimed.
Age 767
Dr. Gero's lab had a tall ceiling with wires of every kind hanging from it. Unfinished projects were scattered throughout the lab and a heap of junk parts littered the back corner. Oil bins were also randomly strewn on the floor, and the low repetitive hum of several computers filled the cavern. Against the wall on the right were four large pods, two of which were wide open, revealing a coffin-like red padded interior. The lids, which were raised like an open hatch, had the numbers 19 and 21 on them. The other two pods, still closed, were marked 17 and 18. Smiling underneath his giant grey mustache, the doctor crossed his arms behind his back and walked to a table in the center of the room.
"I anticipate at least a fractional possibility that I may have to deactivate them again. The last time was too close for comfort—those rebellious little attitudes of theirs somehow overpowered the submission sub processes I installed. I admit: their perpetual energy reactors make them much more difficult to control."
Just in case, he grabbed a small remote from his workbench with a single white button in the center of it. He had designed it as a failsafe – a transmitter specifically tuned to the metallic implants in the cyborgs he had created. Though their systems were protected against ordinary EMPs, his remote would induce a pre-programmed electrical pulse that shut down all their systems even if they somehow tried to resist directives.
Gero's footsteps toward the sleeping androids were soft and slow, as if the doctor knew his hesitancy was appropriate. Looking inside the small circular window, the doctor gave a quick glance to check that everything with #18 looked normal. Cautiously, he put his finger onto a small square button on the side and pressed it firmly. The lid slowly lifted.
"AAAHHHH!" cried the Namek in pain.
With a triumphant snarl, android 21 ripped Piccolo's arm off completely. Smiling viciously, the monster swung it like a club, striking the Namekian across the face. Piccolo went flying and landed in a cloud of dust, the rocks underneath his body cracking and giving way from the impact. He struggled to stand, purple blood from his open wound pouring down his side and gathering in a puddle beside his left foot.
"NOW DIE!" roared 21. The android crouched, its arms pulled tight to its sides. It opened its mouth, releasing a massive blast of energy directly at the wounded Namekian. "RAAAAHHHHH!"
If Gohan had hesitated, even for a moment, all would have been lost. But he didn't stop to think...he had already made up his mind. Piccolo had died for him once already. Now, it was his turn.
Before anyone realized what was happening, Gohan appeared directly in front of his mentor. 'Goodbye, Piccolo,' he murmured telepathically. 'Thank you…for everything.' The young half-Saiyan crossed his arms in front of his face to shield himself, but he knew it would be no use. He felt his heart pounding fiercely in his chest. How strange that in his dread of death, it pumped all the harder, valiantly keeping him alive. But its beats were numbered. How many would there be time for before the blast enveloped him, taking him away from everyone he loved and cared about?
PHOOM!
The explosion was immense – nearly as large as the Big Bang Attack fired by Vegeta just half an hour earlier. Piccolo found himself being blown back by the sheer magnitude of the blast, but he knew it was a minute fraction of the force Gohan must have taken. A sick feeling overwhelmed him as he caught himself on the ground. Would there be anything left of the boy?
Krillin, too, was sent flying by the concussive force. He screamed out Gohan's name hoarsely, raggedly. After everything they had been through – all the challenges they had overcome – it would all be for nothing. Gohan's sacrifice couldn't save them from the murderous android. Nothing could.
Though the android's blast had covered the distance to Piccolo and Gohan in the blink of an eye, that split second had seemed like an eternity to the young boy standing on the blood-soaked ground. He had closed his eyes and gritted his teeth, ready and willing to meet the attack head-on. He could see no way around it; he had to die. This was it.
The blast had struck him with the force of a comet, immediately detonating against his aura. 'At least that's good,' he had thought. Even in that moment, his training with Piccolo and his father sprang back into his mind. His energy would at least ensure that the blast wouldn't be able to travel through him and strike Piccolo.
He had felt anger welling up inside him, a boiling fury. Why did Gero have to make these monsters? Why did everyone have to die? It wasn't fair.
The explosion had enveloped him, its fiery intensity searing his skin.
A deeper, purer, stronger fire erupted in his skull.
The heat from the explosion suddenly disappeared, as if someone had doused a raging fire; a warmth, rather than an inferno. But his senses still told him that its energy was unabated. How was he still standing in one place?
The young Super Saiyan opened his eyes.
"Ah, number 18," said the doctor casually. Most noticeable were her light blue eyes with solid black irises. Her blonde hair fell around her shoulders as she leaned forwards and stepped out. Immediately, she noticed that #17 was not yet active and that the doctor was defensively clutching a remote deactivation device in his left hand.
"Good morning, dear doctor Gero. How ever have you been?" Her voice was sly and mischievous.
"What's this, a cordial greeting?" Gero smiled. 'Excellent. It appears as if my latest modifications were able to nail down the restrictions in their behavior cores.'
He continued pondering to himself. 'Perhaps my fears were unsubstantiated. Now, if only 17 behaves just as amiably…' He pushed the button to activate #17, who awakened silently. The boy looked to be about twenty one years of age, though for a male warrior he had practically no muscle bulk. In fact, there was very little in his appearance to distinguish him from any other partying college student across the country. He wore blue jeans and tennis shoes, and a dark t-shirt over a white long-sleeved undershirt—hardly the attire of a terrifying android menace. Yet his eyes, light blue like his sisters, looked unnatural and eerie.
Android 17 stood, slowly, his eyes briefly crossing paths with his sister—they shared a kind of second sense where they could tell what the other was thinking sometimes with just a glance. Turning to face Dr. Gero, 17 smiled pleasantly and spoke.
"Well, hello Doctor. What can I do for you today?" In spite of his smile, any normal person would have been able to detect threatening undertones in the boy's voice. Even the casual mid-ranged pitches of his words revealed that he was not content with his relationship with the creator—whatever had happened the last time he was active had certainly been enough to ensure he would be cautious. The oblivious doctor was eating up everything he said.
'Excellent…17 appears to be functioning within parameters as well. Perfect.'
"So, doctor Gero," android 18 interrupted from behind. "I see you decided to become an android yourself. How very interesting…"
Cutting his eyes over to the blonde, 20 replied. "Indeed I did. The call of immortality was far to appealing for me to turn down."
"Ah, I see that—"
WHAAMM. Suddenly, the tall metal door barring the entrance to Gero's lair came crashing down with a loud THUUD. Behind where it had stood, the three androids now saw the foot responsible for kicking it in. Ever a Super Saiyan, there stood the prince named Vegeta, his smile of amusement a bold match for his actions. For the moment, those inside the lab were silent at his appearance, giving him the first opportunity to speak.
"Ah, so Trunks was telling the truth after all—a young man with long black hair and an orange scarf tied around his neck…17, just as described. And 18—female, blonde, wearing denim. I take it you smirking children are the terrible androids I've heard so much about."
Vegeta stood alone against the three machines, two of which who were supposed to be the most powerful beings in existence—this is how he preferred it to be. He, himself with all his might, was free to challenge these robots in a battle to reclaim his honor. Yet, rather than turn and give him the respect he so clearly deserved, 17 and 18 remained motionless—their faces blank, without even a hint of emotion. It bothered the prince, but then again he did love it when the pitiable fools were bold in the beginning—all the more glorious when they quaked in fear before him at the end. It just added that extra amount of satisfaction to his victory.
"Quickly now, my children, the reason I have awakened you has finally caught up to us. Vegeta was foolish enough to come here seeking a fight, but he will not be a problem any longer. Even though he destroyed android 19 already, you two will now do the same thing to him! Go now! I command you to attack!"
Rather than charge, however, 17 and 18 merely shrugged in disobedience and placed their hands to their hips. "There was a unit 19? Did you build that one after us?" the cool and dangerous voice of the scarf-wearing droid asked.
Hesitantly, Gero answered. "Yes." He was unsure why they had not followed his orders already.
"Interesting," android 17 commented. "This #19—was it an energy absorbing model as you have chosen to become?"
"Yes, that's correct." The frustrated doctor was the only one in the room who appeared ill at ease.
18 finally piped up. "But doctor, that just doesn't make any sense. Why would you make any newer models using the old design? Maybe you thought the perpetual energy models like us would be too hard to boss around."
"Perhaps…" the angry doctor grunted.
Vegeta forcefully interjected, suddenly reminding the androids that they had an impatient observer.
"So, this wrinkled up android is actually the famous Doctor Gero? Well, well. It seems like I just found another reason to destroy you. Come on, I'm ready." The prince crossed his arms, welcoming them to attack him—daring them, even, but no such thing happened.
With that, Android 20's fury brought him into a full out yell. "That is ENOUGH QUESTIONS for now! I order you to destroy Vegeta immediately." The doctor was tightly clutching his remote de-activation device in his hand, ready to use it if absolutely necessary but fearing how he would fare against Vegeta if he did.
"Quiet, old man." Android 17 interuppted. "We will fight when we feel like it."
"What did you SAY?" the doctor shouted, even angrier.
Vegeta's eyebrows rose, finding at least miniscule entertainment in the argument taking place.
'Damn! It certainly didn't take them long to override my new programming. I hate to say it but, it looks like I may have to deactivate them and try to retreat. I could certainly escape through the secret tunnels below my lab and start again if I must…"
Gero raised his hand, his decision made. Yet, the eyes of both of the androids had met once again—their decision had been made before the creator could even flinch.
SNATCH. Android 17 grabbed the remote from his master's hands, whose stunned face didn't realize what had happened until he looked at his empty hand.
'Hmmm,' thought the Saiyan prince. 'That one's speed far outclasses the android I faced earlier. Perhaps both of them together will be able to give me a decent battle after all.'
"Huh? Give that back!" screamed the panicking doctor, just as android 17 crushed the device completely in his hand, the fragile metal in it tearing like tissue paper from the pressure of 17's powerful grasp. As he released his fist, the tiny remnants of the remote dropped to the floor with a flurry of petite clanks, bouncing against the tiled metal floor of the lab.
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?" yelled the furious doctor.
18 smiled slyly and gave a casual answer. "You didn't really think we'd let you shut us off again, did you?"
Her brother smirked, walking over to her side and crossing his arms. Dr. Gero had never been more furious with anyone, or so he thought—a young Goku had been equally skilled at provoking his anger. Why did he have to choose two stubborn, argumentative teenagers to be his cyborgs? He was the one who endued them with such power, and now they were using it to rebel against his orders.
Regretting his decision to not choose more mild-mannered test subjects, the doctor madly responded. "RRRRRR. I REALLY wish you had not done that!"
Once again looking bored, number 18 walked over to the large pod lying on the floor in the middle of the room. The face of another mysterious mechanical creation could be barely seen through the circular blue window.
"Number 16, huh? Kind of lacking in the looks department, isn't he…though, considering your other models, that's no surprise."
"He uses the infinite energy design just like us, doesn't he?" 17 added. "Hmm, and you decommissioned him as well. I wonder why?"
"You leave him ALONE!" demanded the creator, his thick grey mustache squinting and looking more ruffled than ever. "Do not open that chamber, I'm warning you!"
"Hahaha," laughed #17. It was as if the doctor's threat was the very reason he continued—defiance for the sake of defiance alone. "Go ahead, 18, open it. Let's make the acquaintance of our sleeping friend."
"DO NOT DO THAT!" the desperate doctor cried. "His programming is unresponsive to commands! If you activate him in this state, his system may malfunction or worse…he could destroy us all!"
"Not likely," laughed 17. The retinal scanners built into his eyes began to analyze the sleeping giant, checking and compiling all the data from Gero's database with his findings. "My data shows that I am far superior to this model."
"—That's what YOU think!" interrupted the grey haired android. "But you don't—"
"Shut up, you old fool! Go on, 18, do it."
Vegeta chuckled. "Can't control your own children, eh doctor? Seems like they're tired of your 'orders', hahaha! I wonder if it'll be them or me that receives the satisfaction of destroying you…"
The blonde haired android reached over the side and opened a white panel on the side of the pod. Then, smiling with her insubordination, she placed her thumb right over the button.
"NOOOOO!" Gero charged her, frantically trying to grab onto her arm, but instead his own arm was suddenly ripped from its socket. 18 had anticipated, grabbed him, and yanked it right off.
"Hey now, you should know better than to lay a hand on a lady. But I guess you learned your lesson." 18 tossed the severed appendage to 17, who balled the metal up into a ball and tossed it over his shoulder.
"How DARE YOU? I am your creator! Now, for the LAST TIME, I command you to—"
Instantly, everything up to Gero's neck was completely vaporized and his head fell to the floor. The two androids, surprised, turned towards Vegeta. It was definitely one of his favorite moves—the ability to vaporize a nearby opponent with nothing but a short energy burst from his eyes.
"I hope you don't mind if I help out," the Super Saiyan said. "He was just droning on and on after all."
Gero's head bounced and rolled on the ground towards where the prince stood. Looking up, he stared into the eyes of the prince as his metallic voice tried to cry out. "You dirty monke—"
His words were cut off as the prince's boot crushed what remained of Dr. Gero, brains and all. "No one calls me a monkey! Especially not some piece-of-junk weakling."
With a satisfied look, Vegeta glanced over to the other two. Each was eying him with a sense of curiosity, unsure if they approved of his interference or not. He broke the silence once again.
"Go ahead. You may proceed with releasing this other abomination. I intend to fight all there are of your kind. Each of you will be destroyed by my hand just as this one was."
Yawning, 17 commented to his sister. "He sure is full of himself isn't he, 18?"
"I'll say. But I'm much more interested in 16." She finally pressed the button on the last pod. "Let's meet our new friend." As the lid lifted, 18 impatiently kicked it off. The android inside, now fully lit by the artificial lights of the lab, was now completely visible.
The enormous #16 slowly stood. This one had a light red mohawk and wore a light green chest plate, wrist braces, and boots. On the left side of its chest was the infamous Red Ribbon army logo. 16 was free.
Young Gohan stared at #21 with unblinking azure eyes. His shirt was completely torn away, vaporized by the blast, but he was unhurt. The golden flames around him made his gaze all the more terrifying.
"I don't know whether a machine like you can feel pain or remorse or regret. But I will promise you one thing…you're gonna pay for what you've done." There was a menacing new growl in the tender young boy's voice.
"I…I can't believe it," murmured Krillin. "Gohan's a—a Super Saiyan!" the boy's long golden hair was waving violently from the constant rippling of his energy and the spikes in the back were now stiffly curved upwards. The bald midget, who had been through so much with him, when they were alone on Namek, was in awe.
Still in obvious agony from his wounds, Piccolo stood behind the young hero—stunned, silent, and more proud of the boy than he had ever been of anything else his entire life; he would have even smiled if not for the pain. With a small grunt of concentration, Piccolo regenerated his arm, which shot out rapidly with a fleshy thrusting sound. The new appendage was covered in a thin green slime, but it quickly evaporated as the Namek began to stretch.
Gohan, without removing his stony gaze from the android, spoke harshly to Krillin. "That blast destroyed all my senzu beans. Give yours to Tien, then all of you get as far away from here as you can."
The massive android stomped one of its boots against the ground angrily. "Not so fast! No one is getting any more of those beans!" It leapt into the air and charged toward Krillin, its massive arms outstretched.
BLAM! A powerful kick caught the android in the back of its neck, sending it smashing face-first into the ground with a satisfying collision. Gohan hovered directly above it, fists clenched. "From now on, your fight is with me and me alone. Got it?"
"Wow! …Gohan?" The bald monk couldn't believe it. His friend, the caring and gentle ten year old boy, had been snatched away and replaced by a threatening warrior who spoke with authority. "He's so assertive now…it's unbelievable."
Intermittent flashes of electricity still crackled around the android - it hadn't used up the power of Tien's tri-beam yet. It jumped to its feet and glared up at Gohan. Without warning, it fired a pair of quick blasts from its eyes directly at the young Super Saiyan.
POW! The twin beams struck Gohan in the shoulder, knocking him end over end.
"HA!" 21's laugh was low and guttural. "That didn't take much. I guess that-HURK!"
Gohan appeared behind the android, driving his fist deep into its metallic torso. He felt gears crunching under the blow and smiled as only a Super Saiyan can. "I hope that's not the best you can do."
One other Super Saiyan was flying at his top speed, anxious and rushed, toward the battlefield. Suddenly, he felt the huge surge of power—the transformation of his dear friend, the young version of his mentor from the future.
"Gohan! Awesome, you did it!" he shouted excitedly. The power he felt from the boy was now very near equal to his own when he had returned from the future, which far outclassed even what he had felt from Tien and Piccolo earlier. This time, it was Gohan—not Goku, that would rise to the occasion and save the day. Trunks couldn't have been more proud, though he immediately changed his course and zipped himself back towards his father's energy.
'I'm proud of you, Gohan.'
Krillin and Piccolo knelt beside Tien. The three-eyed warrior was barely breathing.
"Swallow this." Krillin lifted Tien's head carefully and forced the last remaining senzu bean into his mouth. "Is he going to be okay, Piccolo?"
"He'll be fine," the tall Namek replied gruffly. He was looking away, at his former pupil. "Gohan is so...different. I always knew that one day he would be incredibly powerful…but seeing it with my own eyes is…unreal." He raised his voice loud enough for the boy to hear. "You've got this, Gohan. Finish it off and let's go help Trunks!"
Enraged, the android spun around and swung its fist toward the young Super Saiyan, but it met empty air. Gohan was already behind it, delivering a precise flurry of kicks and punches that put more dents in its already-cracked torso.
It stumbled forward, confused. "How?! How could an organic, even the son of Goku, obtain such power?"
Gohan stood confidently. "I'm a Super Saiyan now, just like Vegeta, and Trunks..." he raised his voice, "…and my father, Son Goku!" He dashed toward the android again.
The android shook its head and growled, intent on meeting this new challenge. It parried Gohan's first blow and counterattacked with a kick that flipped him over. Before the machine could follow up its advantage, Gohan recovered and punched the machine solidly in the jaw, sending a spray of oil arcing through the air.
The two warriors continued battling furiously. Within moments it became apparent that the monstrous 21, still imbued with the power of Tien's tri-beam, had a slight edge in raw strength. But Gohan's small size and agility, not to mention his new determination, evened the odds now that Super Saiyan energy flowed through him.
BLAM! POW! THUUMM! Gohan delivered a series of blows to the android's head and neck that sent it staggering backward. It was running millions of calculations per second, desperately trying to come up with a strategy. None of Gero's programming had prepared it for dealing with Gohan as a Super Saiyan - not even the Namek had fought with this kind of ferocity.
Gohan was angry—angry at the android for attacking his friends, angry at Gero for creating these monsters, and angry at himself for not being able to fight them before. All his life, he had depended on others to defend him, to save him, to fight his battles. So many times, his rage had peaked for a brief moment, but his strength always faded. For the first time, his anger had an outlet. The power of the Super Saiyan transformation flowed effortlessly, a perfect complement to his emotion. He was just getting started.
"YAAHH!" The android swung both fists down on top of Gohan angrily, but the boy blocked them with one arm and kicked the machine in the stomach, hard. A cloud of sparks flew from its mouth as its eyes bulged from the pain.
"Gohan is incredible!" said Tien, hovering at a safe distance next to Piccolo and Krillin. "He's as strong as Trunks was when we first met him!"
Piccolo nodded. "Yes. Now that Gohan is fighting evenly with the android, I can get a better sense of its strength as well. At first, it was a good deal stronger – almost as strong as King Cold was after his first transformation. But it is losing power rapidly – Gohan is now about even with it."
Krillin gave him a quizzical look. "Losing power? Is it injured? Or was Tien's energy more than it could handle?
"Its mechanical design keeps it from losing power due to injuries—at least, I think so," replied the tall Namek. "But I don't think its batteries can handle that much power for very long. Also, all of these absorbing designs seem to work better with energy they absorb directly than energy from attacks."
Piccolo's guess was right. Though 21 still retained all the energy it had absorbed from Piccolo, its boost from Tien was beginning to wane. Gero had never anticipated that his androids would be able to absorb as much energy as the tri-beam had provided. To make matters worse for the android, it lost energy gained from attacks much faster than energy drained from a fighter's body.
Gohan took full advantage of his new power. He flew around the ponderous android at incredible speed, hitting it over and over again. His rage was unchecked and his fury was awe-inspiring. His three friends could only watch as the golden stream of light wreathed the android in destruction.
"How...how can you damage me so much?" groaned the android. "I am an android, an immortal being of unparalleled intelligence and power! My design is superior—your feeble efforts to oppose me should be nothing!" Its body was in tatters, the dense metal plating covering it was dented or cracked over its entire form. Yellow sparks, accompanied by a noxious brown smoke, were leaking out of its head and left shoulder where it had taken severe damage. Gohan had even smashed its entire nose off—whatever resemblance the android has once possessed to a human was now gone.
The young Super Saiyan slammed his fist hard into the android's chest, splintering its armor and ripping out a bundle of frayed wiring with his left hand. "Haven't you realized it yet, android? You say you androids are superior—but I am NOT a mechanism. I am an organism!...an animal…a creature—I AM A BEAST!" Only inches away from 21, he pulled both hands to his side. "Ka-me..."
The android lunged forward and seized Gohan's wrists. "I can still drain you of your power! You are noth-"
Grinning, Gohan planted both his feet on the android's shattered chest. "-HA ME HA!"
A brilliant explosion of blue energy tinged with the golden light of his Super Saiyan transformation erupted from his feet, blowing through the android's circuitry. The machine's eyes and glass cranium glowed brightly for an instant, then shattered as the pure light tore through them. Android 21 fell to the ground, burned from the inside out, nothing but an ashen shell remaining.
Greetings, friends! I hope you all had a wonderful week and that you enjoyed our latest chapter. I think we created some really memorable moments with this part of the story, and I hope you appreciated their significance.
First off, with Gohan and his transformation we really wanted to do something special. The finished product is, in my opinion, far superior to his canon transformation. We were heavily inspired by Harry's final acceptance of his fate in J.K. Rowling's The Deathly Hallows. Readers of Rowling's books will notice notice the parallel description we used. Gohan chose to sacrifice himself for Piccolo, openly embracing death. He stood up to his fears bravely, willing to die for the sake of his friend. That was his power—as Gohan has always been able to draw the most strength when his friends were in the most trouble. Many of you were worried we were going to kill him off this chapter, as our preview published on the DBM comments page hinted at that conclusion. However, I hope this outcome was a pleasant surprise. Do let us know if you liked it.
We also used a quote from the song "Artificial Immortality" by Becoming the Archetype. Hopefully a few of our readers are metal fans!
Regarding the release of the other androids—much went the same as in canon. But I was happy that Vegeta was able to kill Dr. Gero. This time, he didn't have the Z fighters tagging along with him. He prefers to be alone like that—to fight alone, to make his choices based purely on his own desires, and to be free of the meddling Z fighters and their annoying opinions. He also was mildly amused at 17 and 18's rebellion, and of course he wanted them to free 16 so he could have another challenge to fight. Now, though, his arrogance will be put to the test as he is about to go head to head with at least one of the androids.
And what of Goku? He had some nice moments with Future Bulma, but he seemed anxious to get back and help the others. Will he make it back in time to make any difference against 16, 17, and 18? Will they even need his help now that Gohan is also a SSJ? These questions are just the tip of the iceberg. Expect the unexpected and you will still be surprised!
Also, one last thing. Check out a band called Becoming the Archetype and their song Artificial Immortality. That song helped inspire me in one part of this chapter, and I think you'll like it.
#21 (Kikoho absorbed): 180 million, but draining quickly
SSJ Gohan: 155 million
#21 (at time of defeat): 130 million.
Q: if Goku's not on earth what will the androids do if they beat vegeta and trunks because in cannon they searched for goku for awhile.
A: Well, we don't know if Goku is back or not yet do we? If he is, this won't be a problem. If he isn't, and they end up defeating the Z fighters and going off on some road-trip then we will have to answer this question directly. Wait and see!
Q: Good chapter guys. I was wondering since it took goku as a ssj to block a weaker kikoho than this one and 21 already beign strong would it not mean it would take a ssj to beat 21 now (maby gohan, wink wink). And forgiting that last question would something that powerful not overload 21 cercits.
A: You called it, man.
Q: (narrators voice)(start suspense dbz music):Will the z-fighters be able to take on the seemingly unbeatable 21? Will vegeta's arrogance lead him to allow cell to absorb the about to be released androids(jinzoningen)? Will trunks ever become super saiyajin 2? Will goku stay alive after the cell saga? Answers to 25% of these questions will be given on the next episode of bringer of death!(end suspense music)
A: I thoroughly enjoyed that. You should definitely do it again sometime—DBZ is famous for its announcer voice/music coming on right when you're reaching the climax. Then we all scream NOOOO, hating that we have to wait another day to see what happens. That is—those of us who watched it on Toonami when DBZ first came out in the US.
Q: I don't know if it's an option in your eyes, but since Goku's in the future timeline would he maybe be able to use the Room of Spirit and Time in order to deal with future 17 and 18(and maybe Imperfect Cell)?
A: I suppose that if the HTC was still intact Goku could use it. However, DBM canon has the HTC being destroyed in U12. If it isn't destroyed in our future timeline, this might allow him to go back in time and use it again in the past without breaking the two day rule—however, the limits of the room aren't known. It could be something about the warrior being in that dimension for a certain amount of time that would mess it up, which would prevent Goku from using time travel to get extra days inside.
Q: The way you guys still give out Power Levels despite them stopping after the Frieza Saga is one of my favourite things about this FanFic. The SSJ multiplier thing was always weird to me, your way of it being a 'Boost' is definitely better.
A: Much appreciated. We will continue putting out Power Levels using our model, hopefully presenting DB fans with numbers that actually have meaning and a basis—rather than abstract really high numbers that have no value whatsoever. DragonBall fans are notorious for throwing out such levels in the hundred trillions or so that have no real explanation or are derived from unsound principles.
Q: Piccolo seems to be too weak. in my opinion he should be at least as strong as frieza full power
A: It's because our opinion is that android 19 and 20 are weaker than Frieza. Piccolo in BoD is just as strong as he was in canon and he would have been able to completely own android 20 just as easily as he did in canon.
Q: There were some moments undoubtedly in DBZ in which Vegeta truly was the strongest around (Android 19 Debut in my opinion, exiting the time chamber, etc). These moments were short lived, but I am curious as to whether your fic will mirror these moments in Goku (having Goku be slightly stronger yet only for a moment before Vegeta finds a new pinnacle of power).
A: Good observations. It's true that Vegeta will be strongest at certain times, but neither David nor I intend to give him unfair advantages that are not realistic and plausible. Goku has a higher natural talent than Vegeta—we know this from canon. Vegeta works ever so slightly harder than Goku—we also know this from canon. They go back and forth being the strongest for a while, though Goku pulls away in the Buu saga with SSJ3. Without spoiling too much, I'll just say that we are trying our best not to play fanboy and say 'Vegeta is best so deal with it'. We want to explain how they all achieve what they achieve in a fair and believable alternate reality story.
Q: I do think it is good that you have the characters use the Japanese name for the attack while the narrative voice uses the English variant.
A: We are glad you appreciate our efforts. I grew up with the dub attack names, but I understand and appreciate the value of giving tribute to the original. So that's why.
Q: I'm excited to see how different the Buu saga will be with Chibi Trunks being much older and presumably stronger.
A: Me too. An older Chibi Trunks might not be so ridiculously childish. The Buu saga had some really annoying Trunks and Goten moments—and Gotenks, for all his power, was too much of a brat to do any real good.
Q: Seems as though #21 may be able to reach a Super Android 13 kind-of power by just robbing everybody of their energy.
A: Well, the absorption models were never meant to handle absorbing that much power. Perhaps if they did it a little at a time and adjusted their systems they could handle it, but getting a full powered kaioken-enhanced Kikoho like that was too much at once. 21 held on to the energy for a little while, but it drained from him rather quickly. It didn't, however, damage him to have that much energy. He just couldn't keep it for very long. However, it wasn't a Neo Tri Beam like the one used against Semi Perfect Cell. In that one, Tien actually used his life energy in addition to his actual power.