More Androids
Raditz awoke to the sound of fighting. He immediately sat up and looked to see Vegeta with blonde hair. "He did it..."
Orion arrived on the scene in time to see 20 rise from his crater. He didn't even stop to look at the rest of the fighters. All that mattered was that he stop the guy he didn't know. He punched the android in the face. He was shocked to see that the hit did nothing to phase the man.
Without taking his eyes off Vegeta, 20 backhanded Orion. The Wildfire spiraled backward. Demas laughed despite the situation. His friend, one of the most powerful fighters in the universe, had just been swatted away like a fly.
"At least you have Danielle if you get knocked out." He laughed as he passed his friend to rejoin the fight.
Orion scowled and the two assaulted the android together. "I would prefer not to let that happen."
"Of course you would. Hell, I would too. But at least you know you won't die."
"You're mind will always be a mystery to me..."
Goku's eyes were closed. He felt the battle around him, but he forced it out of his mind. He concentrated on the image of the Oozaru. He forced the image to become golden, swirling energy around it. For a few minutes he felt nothing. He feared that Vegeta was right, that he would never again access the power which could save them now. Then he felt it: A power like no other.
Raditz's head whipped around. Goku was standing perfectly still, no sign that he was even consious. But a swirl of golden energy was at his feet. Within seconds it had risen to his head. The Saiyan's hair stood straight up and changed color. Goku had once again become a Super Saiyan. Raditz smiled. It was only a matter of time before he reached that level. And maybe someday Gohan would as well.
Gohan smiled as he felt the power. It was hard to see with one eye swollen shut, but the feeling was unmistakeable. He struggled to sit, and was surprised to feel someone help him.
"Here, eat this." Tien said as he stuck a bean in Gohan's mouth.
Gohan swallowed the bean whole. Within seconds he felt his energy return. He was amazed at the speed his wounds healed. He looked at Tien and smiled.
Tien smiled back. "I'm glad you're okay, but how about we sit this one out for a bit. It looks like your dad and Vegeta can finish this."
Goku flew into the air and looked at the two androids. 'Vegeta seems to be having the time of his life.' He thought as he turned toward 20. 'I better not ruin his fun. I guess I'll help those guys.'
20 knocked Orion into the ground. Goku took that as his cue and joined in. He punched 20 at the same time as Demas. The android flew back from the force and his face cracked. He felt the damage and scowled. His plan was not going well.
19 was covered in dents. Vegeta was faster than him, and at least as strong. He would not last much longer at this rate. But he could not expect help from 20 either. It seemed that neither android could beat these transformed men. There was only one chance left...
20 felt his casing crack again as Goku landed a kick in his gut. Demas wasn't even helping anymore. The Wildfire just laughed as the artificial man was beaten down. Goku pulled his fist back and swung at 20. 20 managed to turn so that his bicep took most of the force. This time more than casing cracked. He felt wires snap, and steel bone break. His arm would no longer respond.
Goku pulled back his fist for another hit, but it was not to be. A huge explosion caused everyone to turn toward Vegeta. The Saiyan prince stared at the remains of his opponent.
"I didn't even hit him that time..." He muttered as pieces rained down to the Earth.
Goku laughed and turned back to 20. Except that 20 was gone. He searched the sky, but could see no sign of the man. Everyone soon began searching for him. The only place he could have gotten that fast was a mountain range a short distance away. The group flew after him in a hurry. He could not be allowed to escape.
20 ran as fast as his feet would carry him. He would have been destroyed if 19 hadn't sacrificed himself. His only chance to kill Goku now would be to reactivate androids 17 and 18. He had hoped not to bring them back online until he was sure that their programming was functioning properly. But now it seemed as if he had no choice. They were his last resort.
He ran until he felt it safe to fly again. Unfortunately for him, his pursuers spotted him taking off. They followed him to a forested area north of North City. There he landed in an effort to lose them again. It worked. They could not find him with the trees blocking their view. He quickly ran to his hidden lab in the side of a mountain and entered.
He grabbed a remote and pressed two buttons on it. Two casket-like machines opened and two teenagers stepped out, one boy and one girl. The boy spotted the remote and stood rigid.
"Androids 17 and 18, confirm your mission." 20 ordered.
"To kill the one known as Goku and to obey Dr Gero." They said in unison.
"Good, and who am I?"
"You are Dr Gero."
"Excellent. It seems as if the new modifications have taken effect after all. Now, I order you to go out and kill Goku now. He is outside."
The boy smiled. "What about 16? Surely he is ready to help us."
"Absolutely not. Android 16 is still in the experimental stage. He may very well malfunction. Now go and carry out your duty."
"I found him!" Chiaotzu called from outside.
20 turned and scowled. They had already found him. But it was okay because his other androids would finish them. Suddenly the remote was wrenched from his hand. He turned to see the girl crushing it with one hand.
"Android 18, what are you doing?!"
"What's it look like Doc?" She answered. "I'm taking away my reason to listen to you."
17 laughed. "Now we can kill you and get on with our lives."
20 stepped back and bumped into another casket. In a flash, 17 had punched a hole through his master's head. Oil splattered everywhere as the brain ceased to function. The body fell to the floor.
"Now," 17 said as he pushed a button on the casket. "Let's let 16 out."
The casket hissed as it opened. A large man in green sat up slowly. He looked down at his fallen master. "Dr Gero is dead. The mission is no longer a priority. Activating fail safe procedure."
17 frowned as 16's eyes went dark. "Darn. I didn't want to play with him after all."
17 and 18 both looked at Chiaotzu. Evil grins spread across their faces as they advanced to the door. Chiaotzu backed away slowly. He couldn't beat someone who could kill 20 so easily. He turned to run, but was caught in the back by an energy blast.
The others arrived in time to see Chiaotzu die. "Chiaotzu!" Tien called as he flew after his friend.
The two Super Saiyans floated down to the entrance. Goku pointed at the new androids. "You'll pay for that. Chiaotzu was a good man."
17 laughed. "We're programmed to kill you, but we don't always listen. If you leave now, we'll leave you alone."
"And what will you do after I'm gone?"
"Whatever we feel like. Kill people, destroy stuff, it doesn't matter. Whatever feels fun."
"I can't let you kill people. I'll stop you now."
"If you insist. Come on sis, let's do what we were programmed to do."
Vegeta floated in front of Goku. "I'll handle them Kakarot. Don't worry about it."
"All right Vegeta, just be careful. We don't know what these two are capable of."
Vegeta laughed and swung at 17. 17 dodged with ease and punched him in the gut. The Super Saiyan felt ribs crack as 18 kicked him in the side. 17 punched him three times in the sternum. Vegeta coughed up blood and reverted to normal. 18 laughed and punched him in the center of his back while 17 punched his sternum again. The force of the blows caused his heart to stop. Vegeta was dead before he had a chance to fight back.
"Impossible..." Goku said as he watched it happen.
"Are you sure you want us to kill you now?" 18 asked him.
"No!" Raditz cried out. He floated over to Goku and whispered in his ear. "We must flee for now. They are allowing us to go, so we must go. We must train if we want to stand a chance against them."
Goku was beyond words now. His body convulsed in anger. Raditz saw that his words had no effect on his brother. Without revealing anything, he karate chopped Goku in the back of the neck. Goku's hair fell and returned to black as he lost consiousness.
"We will leave now." He told the androids. "Go about your business." 17 smirked and the two androids flew away. Raditz turned to the others. "We need to train, and we need to train hard."
Tien floated back up to them, Chiaotzu in his arms. "It would take us years to reach that level."
Raditz looked him in the eyes. "Then we train for years. There is nothing we can do as we are."
Demas held up his hand to stop them. "There is a way to get stronger quickly. If we train at 1000 times Earth's gravity, we could reach their level much faster."
"We wouldn't be able to move!" Tien protested.
"Well, what do you suggest?!" Raditz shot back.
Tien looked down. He had no idea what they could do. "Wait. What about the Dragonballs?"
"I don't think the dragon could kill them."
"He wouldn't have to. He could transport them somewhere... Maybe the sun."
"It's worth a try, but that means those who died would not be able to come back for another year." Orion answered.
"It's worth it. They wouldn't be any help right now anyway."
"Then it's agreed. Let's go collect the Dragonballs."
