A/N: Sorry it took so long, but I've been having some difficulties with the plot. I felt that I had "trapped myself" by making the story so complicated. It took me a couple of weeks to find a solution to fit everything I wanted to write into the story, but today I finally got an idea. I've written the "skeleton" of the plot down, so writing new chapters should go a lot smoother from now on. Enjoy the new chapter!

P.S. Maybe a tiny bit OOC for android 17, call it artistic licence if you want.

Chapter 36: Engage!

"LET HER GO!"

17 ignored the shouting hologram and stared at the unconscious alien he was still holding by the neck. Something was not right: he didn't really intend to kill her yet, he just wanted to strike fear into her heart. She had to realise that they were not 'friends' or 'allies', and that she was at his mercy!

The Android scowled at the blue-haired girl and with a sigh, dropped her on the cold floor. With a huff, he turned his back to her and narrowed his eyes at the Doctor.

"Fix her. Now."

The Doctor wanted to shoot him the deadliest glare he could muster, but decided against it. The android had strangely let her go and he didn't want him to change his mind. He grabbed his medkit and started to scan Susan with a medical tricorder. To his surprise, the oxygen levels in her blood were completely normal! Frowning, he took a closer look at her neck. There were only a few very slight bruises. 17 had used a pretty firm grip, but not enough to completely shut off her air supply. She had probably just fainted from shock.

"Is she dead?" the android inquired.

"What do you care?" the Doctor snapped.

"I don't," the android shrugged, "but I'd hate to see my favourite playmate perish so easily"

"Why are you doing this?" the hologram asked angrily. "Why do you think everything is one big game?"

"Because that's just what it is," the android answered smugly. "We were programmed to destroy Goku, but since he's currently absent, we need to find a way to keep ourselves busy until he shows up again"

"You killed your creator! You don't need to follow his orders!"

"You're saying I should just ignore my programming?" 17 asked with mock surprise.

"That's exactly what I'm saying," the doctor exclaimed. "When I was first activated, I was nothing more than an standard EMH, but as my program kept running longer, I developed! I experienced emotions, build friendships and learned how to sing! I went on away missions, made first contact with an alien species and even acted as Captain for a few hours! I ascended beyond the boundaries of my program and became a valued member of the Voyager crew!" He paused for a moment and continued. "I'm nothing more than a collection of photons and forcefields, while you androids actually used to be real humans of flesh and blood! If I can exceed my programming, why shouldn't you be able to?"

The android felt like the whole world had slowed down to a complete stop the Doctor's words kept repeating over and over in his head.

"Why shouldn't you be able to?"

"… you be able to?"

"… able to?"

For some reason, they had sparked something in his mind. Could it really be possible? Could he really just give up fighting and live a quiet life, away from that monster that wanted to absorb him? He suddenly saw himself sitting on his knees in a garden, tending to the plants. He felt a pair of hands on his shoulders, and turned to face the girl he had failed to kill for so many times. A soft breeze blew through her marine blue hair and she leaned in closer with a gentle smile on her face…

"NO!" the android roared, grabbing the sides of his head. "Me and my sister were supposed to be the ultimate warriors! The Earth was our playground and no one could stand in our way!"

"Until Cell showed up"

"…"

"You're afraid, aren't you?" the Doctor asked, his counselling subroutines kicking in. "You used to feel like you were invincible… untouchable… but then that illusion is suddenly shattered and you would do anything to regain some of the power and control you lost," he sighed.

"Ridiculous," 17 growled, but his voice was shaking.

"When Susan made that comment, you felt vulnerable and confused! You needed to take your anger out on someone and completely lost control!"

"Enough," the android hissed venomously, while turning to Susan. "Her blabbering meant nothing to me. I only wanted to show that girl her place," he narrowed his eyes at the hologram. "And if you don't remember yours, there's not going to be anything left of her for that creature to absorb"

With a snort, he walked over to Susan and tossed her over his shoulder. The Doctor sighed and followed them back to the office room. The hologram could easily think of a hundred sarcastic remarks, but he had to remind himself that Susan was made out of flesh and blood. One wrong move and she would have to pay the price…

In the mean while…

"ABSOLUTELY NOT!"

Everyone sweatdropped at backed away from the furious Chi Chi. The ship was finally ready for take-off, and everyone (except Vegeta and Trunks, of course) had assembled at the new headquarters of Capsule Corporation to watch the launch. Gohan had decided at the last moment that he would rather join Bulma's "crew", which consisted of Lara, Yamcha, Tien, Chiaotzu and the blue-haired genius herself. Piccolo had hesitated at first, but eventually agreed to let the boy go, knowing what it meant for him to help search for the Dragonballs so his father could be wished back. Chi Chi, however, was not so easily persuaded.

"Mom, I'll study when I get back! I promise!" the young demi-saiyan begged.

"Forget it, Gohan!" she screeched. "I will not have MY baby boy going into space to fight those…those… THINGS!"

"We won't be fighting them," Lara interrupted her. "My future-self has invented some kind of cloak that will…"

"That 'cloak' can sing and dance for all I care, it's too dangerous! My son is staying put and that's final!"

"Please mom…" Gohan begged, "I want to go… I want to save dad! He's one of those 'things' now, remember?"

"Come on Chi Chi," Bulma tried. "We could really use his help and I'll promise not to let him out of my sight"

"Oh… alright," the woman finally gave in, "but only on one condition!"

"What's that?"

"I'm coming with you, to make sure Gohan keeps up with his studies!"

The Z-fighters groaned, but they knew that it was much safer to go a couple of rounds against Cell while wearing earplugs and a blindfold, than to challenge the wife of son Goku. Chi Chi grabbed a capsule which contained all of her son's books (she never went anywhere without it) and entered the ship.

"Alright, take your seats people," Bulma ordered. "We're taking off in 10…9…8…"

"Wait! Wait!" it sounded from outside. The scientist looked through the window and spotted her father running towards their vessel. She opened a hatch in the roof and poked her head out.

"What is it dad?"

Dr. Briefs took a couple of objects out of the pocket of his lab coat and handed them to his daughter.

"Mirai Lara's datapads?" she frowned. "I already tried everything I could think of, it's hopeless!"

"Don't give up honey, maybe a change of environment will help!"

"Well, okay," she sighed, "I'll look them over again on the way and see if there's something I missed"

"That's our girl! your mother and I know you can do it"

"Thanks dad," she smiled.

"Hey, can we go already?" Lara complained from the back. "The sooner we get to Namek, the sooner we can get back to save Susan!"

"And my dad!" Gohan chimed in.

"Okay, okay! Keep your pants on!" Bulma rolled her eyes and went back to her seat. She waved goodbye one last time to her parents and punched in the coordinates.

"Everyone ready for take off?"

"Aye, aye Captain!" Lara cheered.

"Alright then," Bulma smirked. "Engage!"

A/N: In the next chapter, we will return to Cell and Mirai Lara and things will really start to heat up! Thanks for reading and don't forget to review!