Disclaimer, in case it wasn't obvious. I don't own Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, or really any other property. Thank you.

The Cataylst

Act VI

Chapter 106: Playing the Game

Son Goku:

This was bad. This was very bad. Something had kicked things off already and he could clearly sense Piccolo's power down there. Whatever that Cell thing was, it wasn't it intervening, at least as far as he could tell. That meant there were androids in the fight. Just what the Hell was going on was beyond him right now. But everyone up there could sense it. If Piccolo was in a fight in the Androids, if he could knock out the ones that the Cells needed, that'd be at least a gamechanger enough for things to be permanently put in place to save the Earth. Then the next struggle could begin, and even if that was messier, it was at least something he might be able to look forward to.

The immediately problem was now that he had to do his best not to imagine what a rematch with Piccolo would look like after the Time-Chamber, and instead focus on what they were going to do with this all having gone to Hell. Piccolo fighting the three Androids was something he… didn't think he could win. Given the fact he'd already sensed a spike in the Namekian's power at least once, spiking well past what was safe, he doubted things were going to go… well. The others could sense it, if he could sense it. Of the adults there they all knew when they sensed Piccolo's power break past its limit twice, especially with things seeming silent, what that meant. They'd have heard something by now if he was winning comfortably, or winning at all. There might have been a break in the fighting where he relayed something to them.

"Do you guys sense that?" Gohan, his young son asked, looking at all of them with a smile, not realizing fully what he was sensing. "Piccolo's gone to a crazy level! There is no way-"

"Quiet," Turles ordered, his own attention briefly breaking before looking back across the clouds.

The would-be celebration was cut short before either himself, or the older Gohan, could say much.

"Wh-what's wrong?"

"Too many targets," 'Collar' said. "It's the same thing that happened in my time. Piccolo beat those weaker machines before because he outstripped them by far. One on one, he'd beat these things no problem too. This isn't a one-on-one fight, at least as far as we can know. He's… losing."

The truth of it wasn't easy to say, especially in front of Gohan, but it was the truth. They all knew it within a few minutes. Piccolo wasn't going to win, and any signs of Krillin and Tien had already disappeared. Which meant they might even be dead at this point. Given what had happened to Yamcha only what seemed like hours ago, it was another huge concern weighing on his mind. He hoped that they'd dipped out of the fight and were keeping their heads low.

"B-but Piccolo-"

"It's likely they got the drop on him, and not the other way around," Turles commented. "The Namek wouldn't want to engage in a battle he might not win. That much I knew about him, not unless he was stalling for time. There would need to be a clear objective, and right now he doesn't have one, other than dying down there."

Beyond the fact that Piccolo was his friend, it was also just brutally true, Piccolo wouldn't throw his life away like this without a gain, especially with all the other problems on the planet. Those Cell things would be drawn towards the battle like moths to a light. If things were as they all might imagine, those would only get stronger if they devoured the Androids, or even Piccolo. This was throwing everything into disarray, they all thought they'd have more time. Even just a few days would change the world. Now it looked like they were going to be lucky to get a single, full day. The truth was, they'd be lucky even for that.

When he turned to look at Gohan and Gohan, he began to weigh what options they had, not just as a fighter, but for the first time really, as a father. He always wanted to face bigger and better challenges, and he'd always have that drive, but he also needed to think outside his own wants. What change did they have without enough time? What chance did any of them have especially? It was possible that Vegeta could make the difference in just a few hours. What were they going to pay for that time? What were they going to pay even for a few heartbeats? What had they already paid for it? If Krillin and Tien were dead, which he had no way of knowing, that meant they'd already paid a lot just to be here and now.

"You're not going to make a difference. They'd kill you in minutes."

The thought touched on the edge of his mind before he turned and looked directly at Turles, narrowing his eyes. The other Saiyan, his twin, was still peering over the edge. They didn't like each other, and fighting alongside one another didn't seem to change that very much. Even getting him to help fight Slug had been like pulling teeth and he was going to doom the planet. Goku himself hadn't thought to step in, as Turles had seemed to imply, but in truth now that his sibling had mentioned it, he wanted to go down there now more than ever. To be up here just watching without a chance to do anything wasn't just a slap in the face to his own nature, it was a slight against everyone he wanted to protect. He wasn't some super-hero that was here to save the day, but he did want to save the lives of people who he could. Waiting meant some would die, so others would live. It was the right call.

"I didn't need you to tell me that."

"Just making sure reality checked in."

"And what reality do you see playing out, Turles?"

He'd already guessed some of Turles's precognition abilities, but he doubted very much that his brother was gazing far into the future. When he'd asked the question however, Turles seemed tense, if for no other reason than he asked the question. Whatever the truth of the answer he doubted he was going to get it straight from him anyway. Turles played with everything close to his chest. Goku already knew the answer for himself, unfortunately, in terms of what he expected to happen. There was going to be another person who didn't make it past all of this, and it was going to be the one who'd carried them this far.

"The Namek is going to die."

The answer from Turles cemented what he'd thought to himself, though he was surprised his brother gave him an answer at all. Here they were, floating in the heavens in the palace of the Earth's Guardian, watching helplessly as he was sure Kami did for much of his own life. What a strange and sad thing to behold. To be left at the ceiling of the world and to be left powerless.

"He doesn't have time," Collar said, speaking up as Piccolo's power spiked again.

"We know," Goku answered for himself, and Turles, before looking back across the clouds.

"Neither do we."

When he heard Turles speak up again, he noticed this time his brother was looking directly at him again, the pair of black orbs meeting his own. Was this just a prediction on his part, or precognition, he couldn't tell, but the words arrived with a dead-serious slant. Was it referring to themselves? Was it referring to Piccolo? He hated the fact that Turles deliberately wasn't telling him enough to go on. When the other warrior stared out over the clouds again, he seemed to go quiet once more, but in truth, Goku suspected something else was going on.

He could sense it, even if the others couldn't.

"Gohan," he said, in truth, addressing both of them. "I need another minute with your uncle."

"Dad, if Piccolo's in trouble-"

"I know, go, we'll talk soon."

Collar gave them both a look, while Gohan seemed to give them both a desperate plea with his eyes before the pair took steps back again.

"What's happening?" he could hear his younger son ask.

"They're… going to decide."

"On what?" the voice asked at its most distant.

"Piccolo."

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Turles:

It was almost comical, wasn't it? Here he was, safe and secure, his own position insured, and he could already know, looking across the clouds, that he was doomed. The planet being doomed was also of some importance, but his own life and the lives of the select few he'd preferred better outcomes for coming to an end was what weighed more on his mind than the other factors. Brief flashes of futures he didn't know were coming to pass slipped through his gaze, moments in existence where he could feel himself dying. Dying in the vacuum of space, killed by a machine, or watching as the atmosphere disappeared above him. But there was one he fixated on. A strange being, elegant and brutal, appearing pale skinned but clad in strange green armour… it almost looked like Frieza, but entirely separate at the same time. He could see it, and he knew what it meant. It was something beyond what he could deal with.

It loomed on his thoughts like the death he feared itself.

Magenta eyes and an obsidian sphere…

Beyond his vision he could sense the Namekian, alone, fighting alone. The Namek had been reliable so far, but his usefulness was coming to an end. He was another piece that was going to be leaving the board, and it was unfortunate, but that was how the game was played. Only, he was beginning to understand that perhaps it was that piece leaving the board, that left him in the state of death that was to come. One which was feeling increasingly unavoidable the longer he stood atop this spire. It left him… uncertain.

Kakarot wanting another chat seemed pointless, as he already knew what he was going to ask, he didn't need to see the future to ask it. He was asking him to get himself killed for some greater idea. So far, he'd learned not to fully trust any vision of the future he could see. Unless they clearly spelled something out, it was all just hidden meaning and half-truths. Worse, they didn't say how he was going to get there. No wonder Bardock had been so off for so long. This thing he'd given him, like a disease, was a cancer on the mind.

"The Namek is as good as dead," he said before Kakarot could get a word in. "Would you prefer to die along with him?"

"I think we can make a difference. Everyone needs more time," the voice came back at him. "Together, you and me, we can do this."

What a grand joke. And what a difference they would make. He could already envision himself being broken in 2 by the giant. Admittedly, he'd gained in power since he'd last faced 18, but was that going to win him win a battle? He already saw the outcome, at least seemingly, of an arm being thrust through his chest even while standing here.

"Together? You really have a death wish, don't you Kakarot?" he responded back bluntly. "Together we can die alongside the Namek."

"If we don't buy time, we don't know what will happen. We need to stop those things, or we need to buy enough time for Vegeta and Trunks to come out. You know what will happen if we don't."

Regarding his brother briefly, he stared back at the mirror with a glance once more, not fixing his eyes on his loving brother, but instead catching a look at his mirror image. The soft, mirror image of a primitive man from a primitive world.

Perhaps it was all the long game. He always liked to imagine those were the pieces he was moving towards, trying to pull everything together for his final victory. A victory that felt now even more distant than any of his plans. The strange serenity of this place left him with more than just visions of the future though, it left him with his own thoughts. There was no Bardock here to influence his decision, to tell him to help Kakarot or go in whatever direction that served some other interest. It was just him, here, deciding for himself what he wanted to do.

Perhaps all the visions he briefly saw were true. The strange alien, the android killing him, the atmosphere dying around him, death in a flash of light. They could all be so real. He saw nothing past any of them. Which one came from him being idle? Which one came from him acting? He couldn't know. That was the game he was playing now, not just a game of manipulating would be allies or enemies, but one of fate. How could he play this game and win?

Perhaps this was the game that Bardock had been playing…

How did it all tie into the other visions he had? With his brother? His father? Gohan, Kakarot, the Androids? … The Namek as well?

They all knew how bad things were down there, and it was beyond him mocking it.

"Kakarot," Turles said his brother's name, his own voice almost sounding distant. "What would you be willing to do to win?"

"A fight? I'd be willing to put my-"

Idiot.

"No, not a fight," Turles responded. "What would you be willing to do to win? To win at anything. To achieve anything that you wanted."

There was only silence in response as Turles saw the gentle drift of the white clouds below, still awaiting Kakarot's answer. If his brother couldn't figure out what he meant, it was all the more telling. Turles would do anything to win, and win at the game he'd started playing long before he first arrived on Planet Namek. He would consume whole worlds, in fact, for the opportunity to win. Winning went beyond just winning a battle, it was something he himself only clearly started to understand since his transformation. Winning was about taking what he wanted and seeing it through to the end. It was about being on top, and never losing the game. Life was the game, and one played it to win, until they couldn't anymore. It wasn't just a series of battles. It went beyond that.

"I'd do whatever I felt I had to," Kakarot responded finally, the sibling he never wanted having a tone now almost mirroring his.

It was a false answer, he could already tell, but it was telling that Kakarot knew what he wanted to hear. He was becoming a bit better at all this, wasn't he? Perhaps his brother realized what losing looked like, and was finally beginning to try and curb it. He doubted he'd ever fully understand what he was playing, or why he was playing it, but it was stunning to see him even beginning to play it. Still, he had more to focus on than Kakarot trying to adapt to his surroundings.

Do nothing and roll the dice. Do something and roll the dice. Decisions, decisions, and worse yet, decisions needing to be made without understanding as much as he could. He needed to make the right choice without having the full spread of information at hand. It really boiled down to a simple thing…

Stay here and shelter, or venture out and find the win that he was looking for. Already, how his mind had framed it, made him uncomfortable. These fools were going to be the literal death of him.

"And what about our time-chamber plans?" he asked. "If one or both of us die, that will create chaos up here, now won't it?"

"Will it matter if everything falls apart?" Kakarot asked in turn. "I'd not ask if I didn't think we could win."

There was that word again, winning. Disgustingly enough with few words Kakarot had already convinced him. More than anything he just didn't want to admit it at this point. The sun was hanging in the sky in the distance, coming down over the clouds beyond. The wind swept through the sanctuary he stood atop while he simply took it all in. He'd need to make peace with the fact he was going to work with his brother again.

"They are going to want to come," he pointed out, regarding Kakarot's sons.

"Yea, I know, but I'll let Collar know what's up."

"Do you even have a plan? Because we're running out of time already," Turles commented.

"Be there and see how the chips fall," Kakarot responded back almost playfully.

Normally he expected more, but Kakarot was running on instinct right now, even if it was correct. Turles on the other hand was already plotting ahead. If they were weaker, which he thought was likely, and they had dramatically worse stamina, then they had to have some kind of plan. The Androids were machines. They fought efficiently, like machines did, even if their chaotic personalities hadn't helped them. He'd already seen it and experienced it more than once. It was something Kakarot hadn't experienced yet-

An uncomfortable thought came to pass as he looked back at his twin.

"You'd do anything you had to, to win?"

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Android 17:

Optics were able to follow the Green warrior at this performance level. The two other targets had already made the slip, but that was mission-acceptable. Unlike before, even at high performance, the green-one wasn't able to keep up, not with 18 here with him. Sixteen was even stronger, but he was being his usual self. They'd been so fortunate to come across the three targets on their second sweep for 22, and despite them holding a common enemy, there were two things that were still true. The primary that all three shared was that Son Goku still needed to die. The one he had, and given he was still in charge, was that this green freak had taken his eye from him. Nowhere in this world or in his life, was he ever going to forgive someone for shattering his face and pulverizing his eye. Every time he saw a reflective surface and saw the new strange mix of colour on one side of his face, he knew why.

Eighteen was almost taken out of the air while his processor churned with the information at hand, the Namek landing a kick as the green energy around his body surged, but Seventeen already was on him from the other side, driving his heel down into the alien's back. Piccolo's body jolted forward, regaining control a second later before blocking a repost from 18, her own attack coming from the other side.

"Why are we doing this again?" Eighteen almost yelled at him.

"Because he's going to tell us where GOKU is, and once we have him out of the way," Seventeen snapped, diving in and throwing strikes at Piccolo, only half-meaning what he was saying.

The green-skinned warrior blocked his strike, before being caught in the midsection by 18's own kick, sending him swinging backwards and ploughing into the rugged terrain below. The burnt remnants of the again weirdly abandoned small town the engagement had found itself in was further damaged as Piccolo's body crashed into the ground.

Zipping to the surface, 17 rolled his sleeves back while his sister combed one hand through her hair.

"We need to find 22 as well," she reminded him.

And they would. Especially after everything they'd just gone through for their other android sibling. But sometimes there were just more important things on the agenda card.

"Yea, yea, I know," he said dismissively, at least for the moment. "But when opportunity knocks, well, sometimes it's better to just reach out and take it. Where ever she is right now, it doesn't seem like she wants to be found anyway."

Rubble blasted away from the crash-site where the victor of their last engagement had landed. Piccolo was pulling himself up, looking at the two of them. Behind them, his motion sensors picked up 16 landing as well. If things got bad, he could rely on his big friend getting involved at least. Calculations of what he could expect from Piccolo in terms of speed, power, and positioning all came to the fore as he calculated their next mode of attack, just as the green-warrior tossed his turban to the side, and slung off his weighted cape.

"Hey, 16, what are our odds of beating the greenie over here?" Eighteen asked.

"There is a high probability of success. Though I would caution against continued engagement. Further combat could see, in all likelihood, victory at the consequence of severe bodily harm."

"Thank you, 16, but what are the odds?"

"Together? The two of you possess a 61.25% chance of victory."

Interesting, that's lower than I calculated. What's he seeing that I can't?

"And if you get yourself involved?" Eighteen asked.

"Were I to be involved, victory would be obtained at a 93.78%, with a 5.11% chance of the target escaping before being neutralized," Sixteen offered. "However, I do not wish to fight this one. He is not a threat to us at this time."

"Your concern is noted," Seventeen cut in. "However, I place our chances of winning without you at closer to 80%, myself. I know what this freak is capable of, and I don't think he has what it takes to deal with 18 and myself."

It was obvious the Namekian was looking for other options himself, scanning the area for the means to escape, just like 16 had predicted he would. No, it was time to take more pieces off the field. The rat 23 was off the field, and he was guessing that 13 would be licking his wounds by now, but with 16 here there was no reason to be concerned.

"I'm guessing there isn't a chance you'd want to square off, one on one," Piccolo's voice emerged. "Honour doesn't seem to be on the list of programs you're running."

"Too right you are," Seventeen quipped back. "Don't think I've forgotten about the momento you left me in our last fight when I decided to play by the rule of one-on-one. I think my dear sister and I are going to need to make sure your out of action before we move on."

"That might not be a great idea," Piccolo responded. "There is a creature out here, hunting all those people who were in this town. It's eating the populace to gain power to find androids to eat. You might want to rethink who your enemies are before coming for me. Especially given I've heard your friends already turned on you."

Pausing in place, 17 tried to process what he'd just been told. Looking behind him at the empty town, 17 felt himself suddenly feel a creeping sensation come over him from behind him. Was that why all these places were abandoned? Towns, cities, everything? Looking to 16 briefly, he saw the stoic machine just staring intently ahead. It made some sense, he guessed… but eating androids? That was a ridiculous notion if he ever heard one.

Scoffing, he turned his head back towards Piccolo, smirking as he did.

"Eating Androids? Please, you've got to be out of your mind."

"Listen to me. We can help protect you from it until we deal with it, but-"

"Are you listening to this?" Eighteen asked, looking over at him, scoffing herself. "Not that I'm not confused as to why all the humans are going missing, but this is definitely on the crazy-scale."

Yea, it was definitely too high on the crazy-scale to be anywhere near true… wasn't it?

"Hey 16, what do you think?" Seventeen asked. "Think our friend here is telling us the truth?"

"I've fought them," Piccolo responded back coolly. "They are real. They will come for you. This fight is only going to benefit them unless I kill you. And if that's what I have to do, then I will."

Yea, good luck with that.

"I have no detailed files pertaining to a project that involves the devouring of human subjects, or Androids," Sixteen answered. "However-"

Good enough.

"You heard the man," Seventeen said to his sibling before beginning to move forward, a smirk crossing his features.

Yea, he was going to enjoy this one. The last fight he was in, the desperate struggle for survival against a traitor and the old man was hardly the top of his moments. Watching 22 try to get revenge on Vegeta had been more depressing than invigorating. It was moments like this that he was going to enjoy. It was going to be something he could grab hold of and remember as fun before finding 22, and then Dr. Gero, and getting his last laughs in.

Blurring forward, 17 knew Piccolo's defenses would be at their peak, synchronizing with 18 however in the assault, he already knew they would overwhelm him. His own legs cut through where Piccolo's were, as 18 swept high, aiming for his head. Instead of blocking, their enemy shot straight up. Energy burst downwards in his wake before a golden-purple bolt fired straight down. Hoisting his own hands up, along with 18 their counterbattery jolted upwards, connecting with Piccolo's assault. Both energy waves collided, neither supported consistently as a warped light scorched out across the landscape. Bursting forward, shield around himself, 17 plunged through the light, bursting through to the other side. His body had passed through the light almost as if it hadn't been there, his shield weathering the storm of energy like a bubble passing through water.

Surprise was his chief weapon as he lunged at Piccolo past the critical mass of energy behind him. The Namek didn't have the time to raise his guard before 17's knuckles connected, hard, with the side of his face. Spittle splattered into the air as the green fighter's body lurched to one side. Eighteen's own attack came sharply from the other side, her frame diving in from above like a bird of prey diving on its target. In tandem, he followed up, slamming his fist into the Namek's stomach before 18's double knee smash came in from above, crashing into Piccolo's neck and head, sending him twisting down towards their mutual blast before the golden light below detonated.

Several buildings vanished in the blast-wave, sending the pair of them rolling back into the air as well. Whatever was left of the Namek was going to get progressively easier to pick apart, as far as he was concerned. Even now he was cognizant of the fact that Piccolo's power was far from tapped. But together, they would overcome him, because he and his sister had a bond that the other machines didn't have prior, and their own power was sufficient to at least keep up with Piccolo's movements for the most part. He wasn't so strong as to be able to stop them both at once.

"Looks like he's got trouble," Seventeen chuckled as his optics remained locked onto the small, yet very deep crater, billowing was smoke, that now existed beneath them.

"He's got double," Eighteen said bluntly, pointing her hands down, energy forming at the tips of her palms. "Let's finish this and find 22. We can't afford to waste time on these fighters anymore."

Shit, she's right. Oh well, at this rate, we just need to-

"You don't know what trouble is."

Another voice cut into the air in front of him. His attention moved up from the crater to straight ahead. There was a vibration moving through the air, sending his sensors into alarm before he had any idea as to what was doing it. That displacement however, was already in front of him. A flash of golden light and a blur of ki-infused muscle was all he saw before he felt before he sensed his body firing backwards. Buildings shattered from the force of the punch before his body could have streaked through them. Clouds of dust and debris swept around him as his body broke through the screens of particles all while rubble fell around his ears. His optics were clouded during his rapid journey, but to his processor it felt like a lifetime before his body smashed through two parked cars and bounced back, smashing through a small strip-mall. Glass broke around him before he tore through what had been a hair salon, and then breaking into an abandoned electronics store, sliding across the smooth floor as he felt his own heart racing.

"This is the new Capsule Corp. Omega 17 Computing Device. The most advanced product on the consumer market. We've designed this with all the love and attention, as well was the precision and performance you've come to expect from your latest technology products-"

The sound of the still playing advertisement was playing in the background as he felt his sensors trying to recalibrate themselves. Pushing his face off the floor, his flesh-clad body was in a haze for a brief moment. Where the Hell had that come from? The humans had long since broken off from Piccolo. It meant it had to be a Saiyan, but they couldn't have hit that hard. Vegeta was the most likely candidate to be involved. Which meant 18 would-

Without fully realizing it, he noticed the world breaking apart in front of him in a slow motion as 18's frame came rocketing past him, her body shredding through what was left of the stores in their path. Shrapnel from his sibling's launch took the form of a near-tidal wave of ruins. Raising his shield again, bullet-like impacts scattered across his shield before bricks and heavier materials ripped past him as well. Looking back at where 18 had 'landed', he scowled before looking forward.

Landing next to him a second later, a cold look had come across 16's features as his larger friend had clearly taken this moment to step in, or at least reposition.

"Who the Hell was that?" Seventeen demanded.

Turning his own eyes forward as he climbed to his feet, the Android saw the first figure to step through the clouds now littering the view in front of him. It was a familiar sight, not just for his databanks, but from earlier today. Golden energy licked off the edges of the frame of the body as the smug look was written across his face.

Turles.

When he stopped, Seventeen noticed another figure walk out… with the same look on his face. He looked… the same. Optics darted between the two figures rapidly before noticing that their facial expression was identical. A mixture of amusement and arrogance. Just what the Hell did they think was going to happen here? They must have known they weren't going to be able to keep up with them?

"Son Goku," Sixteen almost growled.

"So," the two figures in unison spoke up as the Namekian emerged behind them, looking cautious himself. "You came to play the game? We hope you are coming to play to win."

They were speaking in perfect synchronization. As if one voice was speaking for both bodies… Just what the Hell was going on? Nothing was straight forward! Not a single fight they'd gotten in was what it appeared to be. First with the Namek. Then with 13 and 23. Now with this? What the Hell was wrong with this planet?

"You shouldn't have come," The Namekian warned. "It's too dangerous-"

"Yea, yea," the two said again in chorus, both gesturing at the same time. "Don't sweat it Piccolo. Besides, we've got a plan."

"Goku? Turles? What are you two doing?"

"Let's just say that we're sharing," the two responded. "Not that we both have to speak at the same time like this. It's just a bit easier right now. Let's just say we're on the same wavelength right now."

Target identified: Son Goku.

Programs running in the back of his mind jumped forward as 17 realized it wasn't just Turles that he was squaring up against. That other figure… clad in the same clothes… That was Son Goku. Eighteen landed to his other side as 17 finished pulling himself to his feet, turning his own attention towards 16 a second later.

"I will deal with the one named Piccolo," Sixteen said, beginning to walk forward. "By my calculations, the two of you should be adequate to kill the one named Goku. This is our primary objective."

Two flickering auras began to emerge as the pair of fighters flanking Piccolo sparked their auras, their bodies focusing inwards as they prepared to bring their powers forward. Calculations began to trace as to estimating the threat potential. Without the ability to narrow in on their power wasn't possible, but he knew there was no way Turles could have improved enough to be a true threat, and his sensors were implying Son Goku must have been the same. The pair started to roar as the golden flames around their body surged ahead, energy wrapping around them in a tornado, catching the floating particles in the air from ruined buildings and scattering them as the fragments from the ground began to rise into the air with the drawing of the power itself while the entire world seemed to rumble.

"They are currently drawing an elevated power level," Sixteen warned as he stopped short of beginning his own assault. "You should still be sufficient to carry out your primary task."

There was a devilish look in the other twin's eyes when 16 spoke, as if something cunning was afoot. When he turned to look at 18, she just nodded back to him, the two of them already unconsciously preparing their own assault. Machine-centric plans as to what would make the most sense began to process forward as they set their own fighting stances in place.

"I don't think this should take long," Eighteen pointed out.

Seventeen heard the response, which wasn't the discomfort he'd been hoping, or looking for as the two spoke once more.

"Why don't you start this game, and we'll find out?"

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Author's Notes:

Sorry for the delay everyone. I have posted a few chapters for TLR, but as a whole my write-time has been more limited lately. As you can see, projects are still being worked on. I'm not wholly happy with this chapter, but it is a transitional chapter to the big clusterfuck that's going to emerge over the next 4 chapters or so, lol.

It's a very big project to do what I want to do over 107, 108, 109, and potentially 110. I know people don't like hearing delays and ect, but well, don't expect these chapters to come out quickly. Fight-chapters take a while to plan out. Normally I'd have most of that done by now, but life's kinda in the way. I do appreciate everyone's patience on this.

On a side note, if I find anymore fights in the review section, I'll not be very pleased. I am not answering anything related to the incredibly obnoxious ship-war that seems to be happening.

I don't really want to comment on it beyond that.

For notes regarding this chapter, damn, well that was fun wasn't it? Son Goku and Turles are working together, and we'll see if people get how they're doing it. But, desperate times, call for desperate measures. Will be an interesting writing challenge, lol.

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Reviewers:

Blades of Fury: Answered by PM.

TheItchyCocoon: Answered by PM.

Guest1: -

Guest2: Not the Cells, Goku, Piccolo, and Turles. Next time on Dragon Ball Z, Twins vs Twins! Namek vs. Redhead! Lol

Red Power: Not answering this one. No fighting.

AngryShadow04: answered by PM.

DarkFalconZ: Answered by PM.

ILiekFishes: Answered by PM.

Luke: Who says anyone is accepting anyone!? :P

Perfect Carnage: Answered by PM.

Mouse from Hell: I refuse to take care of myself! Kidding aside, thank you for the extended review. I really wish I had more to contribute, but it's really well worded. 24's super dead however, he's as dead as 23 unfortunately. No reset button there, sadly. I also will say that this chapter kinda shows a bit of people moving past their differences for an end goal that they need to stretch for.

NirvanaFrk97: Answered by PM.

RulesofNature626: You're picking up on a lot of things that are planned! Won't reveal specifics however, lol.

Super Mystic Gohan: Answered by PM.

Guest3: Nope! But it happened to work, and I know 22's a bitch like that, so she'd totally mock him on his way out, lmao.

Guest4: Oh yes, I know the disgusting history of General Blue. I am aware of all the Early Dragon Ball stuff.

KagariAsuha: Answered by PM.

Guest5: If I could kill Blue again, I would, lmao.

FightingChampion: Answered by PM.

Thomas-The-TMC: Answered by Pm.

Guest6:-

Guest7: Simpin' ain't easy.

Silas: It's an echo of the corpse, but there is no real Violet. She's dead, and by now either her soul is in Hell, or was reincarnated.

Ultimate-Savior: Answered by PM.