Year : 771
A little more than 3 years after the Cell Game
Two weeks had passed since the capture of the giant snake. Ruri's teacher had come as quickly as possible. He was a small man, with very large glasses and a rather frail physique, but who had immediately shown a great concern to protect the animal.
Nevertheless, he was also fascinated by the idea of being able to observe such a rare monster up close, as such an opportunity does not come along often in a zoologist's life. The professor had suggested doing some small experiments on the titanoboa, and of course 17 had been put to work. He had helped to measure him, to weigh him, to take scales from him, and to carry out a whole bunch of strange and for some... malodorous experiments...
How strange these scientists were! However, 17 had learned a lot with the professor. For example, the professor had told him about endangered animal species. He gave him two books: one black and one red. The black one, for the extinct species. And the red one, for the ones that were in danger of becoming extinct. 17 had never realized that the lives of animals could be so threatened on Earth, and that there were also humans who were doing everything they could to protect them. He couldn't help thinking that 16 would have loved to talk to them. And so, despite the unpleasant aspects, he had done his best to help them.
Actually, he was the only one who was able to approach the snake. His presence avoided having to restrain it too much. Indeed, it was imperative that this monster did not leave its island, and without 17, it would have been necessary to sedate him regularly or keep him on the ground. At least with 17 in the team, this was not necessary. So 17 stayed on the island permanently to prevent the snake from escaping. At the beginning, the snake did not let him do anything. But after many encounters with 17, he had seemed to « surrender » and did not attack him anymore.
On her side, Ruri had obtained from the farmer that he offer them two cows, a snack sufficient to calm temporarily the hunger of the titanoboa. After days of searching, the professor had finally found a solution anyway. A few kilometers to the north was another island, very isolated, and populated by many large herbivores. He proposed to transport the giant snake there. He was sure that the local fauna would be able to adapt, and in any case he intended to settle there with other scientists to ensure that everything went well.
The professor then had turned to 17 and had asked him if he would be willing to transport the snake to this place after putting him to sleep.
- Yes, I'll take care of it," he had answered, without hesitation.
- Wonderful! Oh! 17, can I ask you something else?
- What?
- If it ever goes wrong with him... Can I have your phone number? Just in case...
- My what?
Knowing now well the great ignorance of 17 concerning social relations, Ruri had come to his rescue and took care of the number exchange herself.
The departure was planned for the next day. Iris, the professor and Ruri had set up camp on the small island nearby, and after the meal, everyone had returned to their tents. But after a few minutes, Ruri had come out. Sitting on the beach, she stared at the large island where 17 and the snake were. She let out a long sigh.
- You know that if you miss him that much, you can always join him...
Ruri gasped, turned around, and saw Iris standing behind her with a big smile on her face.
- Not at all ! I was just wondering if ... well, okay. I stop...
- Yes, you definitely should.
- Is it that obvious?
- It's written on your forehead in big, flashing red letters.
- Oh, wow….
The two friends then laughed. Then Iris sat down beside Ruri, and mockingly asked:
- By the way, since we're talking about it, I'd like you to explain something we haven't had time to talk about yet.
- What is it?
- I'm glad my advice worked, you know. But I wonder about the timing. Are you sure it was the right one? I mean, a giant wounded snake ready to attack you and farmers armed and determined to kill me. You couldn't wait just five minutes to kiss him, could you?
- But it's not my fault, exclaimed Ruri! I didn't understand it either. We were talking, 17 wasn't feeling well because he thought I was hurt. So I started talking to him to reassure him. We were talking about serious things, and all of a sudden he told me I was beautiful, and HOP, he kissed me.
- Hop?
- Hup. It was completely sudden and...
- Rather hot for a first kiss, from what I saw, interrupted Iris, making Ruri's face immediately turn bright red.
- ... you could see that well? She stammered, confused.
- Not just me. Everyone has seen you.
- ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh !
- Relax. It doesn't matter, the main thing is that it was good. It was, wasn't it?
- ... yes, it was ... good ... very good indeed ...
Ruri remained thoughtful for a few seconds, before Iris put an end to her reflections.
- If I can give you one last piece of advice: sometimes you think too much.
The young woman knew that her friend was right. With a smile, she got up and decided to follow her instincts and listen to the little voice inside her head that had been screaming at her to get to 17 for hours. So she went to pick up a flying scooter that the professor had brought in his stuff, and quickly crossed the few meters of ocean that separated her from him.
She didn't have to look for him for long. 17 was sitting in front of a fire he had started, on the edge of the great forest that covered the entire center of the big island. Ruri noticed that the giant snake was not far away. He was sleeping, a good hundred meters away.
The young woman parked her scooter at a safe distance and cautiously approached 17 so as not to wake the monster. Without a word, she sat down next to him. 17 greeted her with a smile, and they both remained silent for a moment, enjoying the quiet of the night and the mutual pleasure they had in being close to each other.
- You're both cute," she said, starting the conversation.
- Mmm?
- No, it's just that he falls asleep next to you. I feel like Larry trusts you.
- Larry?" asked 17, surprised.
- Yes, the snake. You may be the first human, well, mostly-human, who manages to train a monster of this size.
- But... Larry?
- Yes, I named him Larry.
- ...can I know why?
- It suits him.
- ... if you say so," replied 17, skeptically.
- Tomorrow morning we'll put him to sleep," said the young woman, "so it will be easier for you to carry him.
- It's not fair that he has to leave his home.
- Yes, you're right, it's not fair. But he can't stay here anymore. The local fauna will take years to recover, it will take time. If he stays here he will end up being killed by humans, because he will not stop trying to feed himself.
- The farmers are responsible.
- This is also true. But we live in this world 17. In this world, humans and animals have to live together, we don't always do what we want. We will do our best to repair what others have destroyed. Anyway, thank you very much. For everything.
- Why do you say that?" asked 17, intrigued. I haven't done anything extraordinary.
- You're so modest! Be serious. Without you, none of this would be possible. Only you can transport Larry and give him a new home. Your strength is precious to us to protect the animals. Your friend would undoubtedly be very proud of you.
Although he wasn't looking directly at her, Ruri noticed that 17's gaze was slightly clouded. The mention of this friend obviously brought back painful memories. She preferred to change the subject quickly:
- Not only for transporting him, if we could get the farmer to give us enough to feed Larry without any discussion, it's because you scared the hell out of him!
- If you hadn't asked me, he would be dead by now," 17 replied. The tone of his voice made it clear to Ruri that he was serious.
- Yes, I know, she said, calmly. And I thank you for listening to me. I know your anger was genuine, but killing him wouldn't have changed the problem at all. Oh, about that, can I ask you a question?
- Yes.
- The other person you respect enough to listen to, as you said, is your sister? 18 ?
- Yes.
- She's your twin, right? Do you look alike?
- Uh... yeah, pretty much," said 17, after thinking for a moment. Except that she's blonde. And that she's... a woman.
- Yes, of course, there are some differences... And she is a cyborg too? Like you?
- Yes. We were cybered together. We've always been together. We used to be.
- And where is she now?
- She is ... married. She lives with her husband.
- Sounds like it bothers you?
- No it's just... I don't know. I didn't always understand everything about 18's choices.
- Did you have a fight?
- No, we don't. We still get along well, but each of us has decided to live our own life. We've been through everything together, always. But it's different now. For the past 3 years, we've been going our separate ways.
- And you never saw her again?
- Yes, we do. We have a place where we meet once a year. To talk a little.
- Next time you see her, you should give her your phone number !
17 paused for a moment and looked at Ruri. She had her eternal smile, and her look was terribly touching in its naivety. He was always surprised at how natural and easy it seemed to him to discuss things with her that were not pleasant for him to talk about. Her phone number? Yes, why not.
- That's not a bad idea," he continued, amused. The last time I saw her was shortly before I met you. She told me... she was having a baby.
- WHAT ? cried Ruri, before remembering that the snake was sleeping, a few meters away. She resumed, lowering this time the tone. Noooo you're serious ? That's great ! You're going to be an uncle! Great!
- If you say so...
- What a killjoy! Can't you appreciate the things that life offers you a little?
- I did it last time," 17 answered, looking into Ruri's eyes.
Understanding that he was referring to their kiss, Ruri had an embarrassed smile. She felt very intimidated by the desire she saw in 17's eyes. But she did not lower her eyes, determined not to let anything of her trouble show, and after a few seconds, she continued:
- It's amazing that she can have a baby, isn't it?
- I was a little surprised when she told me. But you know, regarding our bodies Gero has added more than he's taken away. Everything is functional after all.
- AH, that's good to know!
- Mmm?" asked 17, without understanding.
- No no no nothing I didn't say anything! exclaimed Ruri, confused.
"But why did I say that !" she thought, "Oh my god shut your big mouth girl!".
- Gero is the one who turned you into a cyborg, isn't he?" said Ruri after some seconds, hesitating to talk about this subject which was so sensitive for 17.
17 nodded, before asking a question in return.
- Do you know what the Red Ribbon Army is ?
- No. What is it?
- If only humans were aware of all that has happened while they were living in an illusion of peace for all these years ...
- What do you mean?
17 did not answer immediately, and stared at the fire in front of him for a long time. Since his resurrection, he had never talked about this with anyone. How could simple humans understand? But Ruri was different, and when he was near her, he felt safe. He suddenly felt the need to share some of his story with her.
So he told her everything. The Red Ribbon army, its destruction, Dr. Gero and his plan of revenge, but also the history of the Dragon Balls, of Goku and his friends. This was a lot of information for the young woman to assimilate, who listened, attentive but mostly stunned by this story. All this seemed unreal to her, she had the impression to have lived on another planet for years. But she had no reason not to believe it. After all, the existence of 17 and his unusual abilities gave a lot of credence to his story.
The hardest part for 17, however, was telling her about his alter ego from the future. He didn't know anything about it until 18 told him about it one day. He had been deeply offended by this. Of course, he did not consider himself blameless, he had not always behaved impeccably when he had escaped from the laboratory, but his intention had never been to "destroy the world". Killing humans didn't give him any particular satisfaction, so to imagine that he could have been responsible for so many deaths...
Ruri was still silent. She too found it hard to believe that 17 could be the cold and bloody killer he had just described, even if it was in another reality. But she let him continue, until he came to the moment of his awakening and his journey with his sister and 16 to find Goku. He stopped his story there, and the young woman noted the important omission in his story.
Cell. He didn't say a word about it.
Thinking about it, everything 17 told him seemed to reveal a big split. He had said that he had been wandering the earth for more than 3 years. He had just confessed that he and his sister had been separated for 3 years... Everything was leading back to that period. It was as if the arrival of Cell had had a heavy impact on him and on 18.
But he didn't talk about it. Ruri understood that it was probably at this period of his life that she had to look for the explanation of this great suffering that she sometimes saw in 17's eyes.
She had thousands of questions that came to her mind, but she didn't dare ask them clearly. Shyly, she tried, starting with the question that seemed the least risky:
- 17, and what about Cell? Where did he come from? Was he an alien, like this Freez-thing?
As she had expected, the mention of Cell was enough to make 17's eyes darken a little. But, after a slight hesitation, he finally answered her.
- Freeza. And no. Cell was also a creation of Dr. Gero. You asked me last time if there was a connection to me. This is it.
- Were you actually on his side?
- No! Never! reacts 17 immediately. I never had anything to do with this giant cockroach scum!
- Sorry, I didn't mean to...
- No, I understand why you're asking me this question," said 17, who had just realized that he had raised his voice a bit too much. I don't blame you. Cell killed me, if you want to know the truth.
- Killed?
- Yes. I actually died during the tournament, and I was resurrected along with all the other earthlings after Cell's death.
- Oh yes, thanks to the dragon balls, right?
- Exactly. For some reason, I was considered worthy of revival...
- Why do you say that? Of course you deserved to live again!
- If you say so...
- Oh no, you're exaggerating! You are a good person 17, and after all that happened to you, you deserved to live your life !
- 16 has not been resurrected.
For the first time in a long time, Ruri felt as if she was beginning to put the pieces together and was beginning to understand 17 a little better.
- Was he your friend? she asked.
- I don't know... 17 answered thoughtfully. I don't know what a... friend is.
- And if I understand correctly Cell killed him too? Was it the tall man with the red hair?
- Yes. During the tournament. That idiot tried to fight him. And Cell killed him.
- But why wasn't he resurrected then?
- I'm not sure. 18 explained to me that according to her ... husband, it was because 16 was not biological. He wasn't really alive. So he couldn't...
- Is that what makes you so sad? Because you have been resurrected and he has not?
17 did not answer. To tell the truth, he had never asked himself the question. Sad? He didn't really know if he was sad. He just thought about 16 a lot, a lot of things made him think about him. And this memory invariably ended up being unbearable for him.
- I don't know, it's just... it's so unfair," he muttered, lost in thought. He deserved so much more than me... He was... someone like... you, sort of.
- What does that mean?
- Nice. That fool loved animals... birds... little animals... He loved everything he saw. Like you, in fact.
- I can't decide if you just called me a nice person or a fool 17... Ruri answered him, mocking.
This little joke allowed 17 to regain his composure. It had been difficult for him to talk about his past. He realized that he had been living for years, unable to decide what to do with his newfound freedom. He couldn't put into words what he was feeling. Stubborn memories kept coming back to torture him, especially at night. He felt a lot of anger, without really knowing what he was after. He was alive, but a part of him seemed to have died the day Cell had absorbed him. He had never been the same since. And if 18 had managed to regain control of her life, he couldn't.
It was as if something was pulling him back and bringing him back to that day.
But since he had met Ruri, he had started to feel really alive. This trip, everything he was learning, everything he was discovering, everything she was awakening in him...
He was taken at the moment of a furious desire to kiss her again. To feel once again the contact of her lips, soft and delicate, on his. What was this strange feeling that he repressed only with difficulty? He did not manage well to define it, but the more time passed, and the less he managed to fight against. Judging however that the moment was not really the most adapted, he held back, for this time.
- Both, he replied, making the young woman burst out laughing.
- I don't know what's keeping me from kicking you in the face, 17...
- Probably the fact that you know that I will dodge without difficulty...
- Yes... no doubt... OH! Wait! I'm thinking of something!
- What is it?
- You told me that 16 died during the tournament, killed by Cell, right?
- Yes.
- But... how do you know? Because I don't remember seeing you on television. And a handsome guy like you, I would have noticed you, clearly !
The totally detached way she spoke about it made 17 laugh a lot again.
- Haha. Really?
- Yes! You know, there weren't really any good looking guys in the team of ... Goku right? Maybe just one, the young one, the one with long hair, blue or purple, I don't remember...
- Trunks.
- Ah, it was him, Trunks? The one from the future?
- Yes.
- Not bad at all... Even if he wasn't the most beautiful...
- Ah.
- Men with dark hair are my weakness... continued the young woman, surprised by her own audacity. Even more if they have blue eyes. Quite my thing to be honest...
- That's good to know," said 17 with a smile. But regarding the tournament, I was there and I saw everything. Believe me. I didn't miss a second. I may be the only person on Earth who knows absolutely everything about this fight...
The young woman did not know how to react. She was absolutely certain that she had not seen 17 on her screen. But on the other hand, he was not a liar. What could he possibly mean? She was still thinking about it when suddenly a much more important question came to her:
- Oh! You swear on 18 that in this conversation you are telling me the truth?
- Yes, I swear to you.
- On 18.
- On 18.
- Okay, so, can I ask you another question?
- That's what you've been doing all along, right?
- Not wrong. Do you know who is Satan? The hero, martial arts champion.
- Yes," nodded 17. He remembered perfectly that pathetic human, and he still didn't understand why Cell hadn't killed him.
- ... For real... He didn't kill Cell, did he?
17 paused, surprised by this question. But Ruri was looking at him with such insistence in her eyes that he could not resist teasing her a little.
- No, it's not him.
- I KNEW IT !
- Shhhhh, don't wake the snake! It's going to take me hours to calm him down next.
- Sorry, but everybody think I'm a fool for years because I say that it can't be him ! I knew it!
- What makes you think it's not him?
- I don't know anything about martial arts, but frankly, he looked ridiculous fighting Cell! He didn't look at all on the level, and the others looked so much more powerful! Wait a second, so do you know who defeated Cell?
- Yes, I do" said 17, mockingly.
- Who was it ?
17 suddenly felt irresistibly attracted to Ruri, when he saw her like this, so cheerful, so lively, so sincere... "What are you doing to me, human?" he thought.
Delicately, he then advanced towards her, and deposited a kiss on her forehead. He felt Ruri trembling with surprise, but her face lit up almost immediately with satisfaction.
- For tonight, that's enough," he whispered to the young woman. I'll save my answer for a future bet.
- It's really not fair...
- I know.
Ruri gave a small, falsely annoyed mumble, and then they both remained in silence, looking at the stars until the young woman fell asleep. The next morning, they put the giant snake to sleep, allowing 17 to transport him easily through the air to his new home. He stayed with him for a few hours before being joined by Ruri.
17 was surprised to see her return alone, but she explained that her professor could not risk staying unaccompanied on the island. He would need a few days to gather students, other zoologists and all the necessary equipment.
By the time he returned, he had asked Ruri if she could stay with 17 to ensure the snake was properly installed. And of course, she agreed.
"You know," she had explained to 17, "he gave me 10 000 zenis ! That's an unexpected gift! And I thought you would agree to protect Larry! You are not angry with me I hope?"
Of course, 17 wasn't mad at her. Now he also sincerely wanted to protect the snake, so they stayed alone for four days, watching over the monster. When it was time to leave, the snake had already started to acclimatizeto his new environment. He had not yet hunted, but Ruri was confident that their rescue operation would be successful.
The snake had remained rather distant during all this period, but at the last moment, as 17 and Ruri were about to leave the island, he had discreetly approached, without coming to their contact. Following to Ruri's advice, 17 had then taken a few steps in his direction. The snake had not attacked him for a long time, but he had remained, at first, immobile when he saw him.
"Trust your instincts," Ruri had whispered in 17's ear, before he attempted his approach.
And his instincts were telling him that he could try something.
Slowly, cautiously, he had stretched his arm towards the giant snake's huge mouth. And after a few seconds, the snake had brought his face closer, touching 17's hand. Once. Then twice. And again, for at least a full minute. Then, without a sound, he had left.
17 suddenly felt very excited. Seeing this gigantic animal establish some kind of connection with him gave him a feeling of satisfaction he had never experienced before. What would 16 have thought about it? Was Ruri right when she said he would have been proud of him? For the first time since his resurrection, thinking about his former companion didn't seem as painful as it usually did.
"Would you be proud, you dumbass?" he thought to himself, as he watched the snake walk away.
Finally, after their departure, 17 and Ruri had to go back to the farm one last time to collect all their belongings and for Iris to give them their share of the salary. At the beginning the young woman had planned not to linger, she did not particularly wanted to see and discuss with the owner of the farm. It was only when she was leaving that an idea came to her mind.
- Hey, wait a minute, she had suddenly said, while 17 was busy putting the last things in the car, I just thought of something !
- Anything important?
- Primordial. We'll go talk to the farmer.
- I thought you didn't want to?
- I don't want to. But actually my idea is just great.
- Okay. I'll wait for you here.
- No, no, you come too!
- ... I don't really want to talk to him.
- Perfect, I need you to keep your mouth shut.
- ... I'm not sure I understand...
Ruri then winked at him, and with a mischievous look, replied, motioning for him to follow her:
- Don't worry, in our duo, you are the strong one, and I am the smart one !
Then she continued, before 17 could respond:
- Just come with me. When we'll see the farmer, be just like you always are. Cross your arms, say nothing and above all, look at him... well... like you normally do. For the rest, leave it to me.
And so 17 found himself in front of the owner of the farm without really wanting to. Ruri approached him and stood in front of him. As soon as the man saw 17, he seemed to be petrified with terror, his complexion turning creamy white. He listened to the young woman, but he seemed to be more concerned about 17's reactions than about Ruri's. He did not really take his eyes off of him.
- Ok sir," she began, "I think we have things to say to each other after all.
- Really?" replied the farmer, in a worried but almost inaudible voice...
- Yes. I don't think you've been very honest with us. Right, 17?
As Ruri had asked, 17 did not respond, merely nodding his head in agreement. But he continued, still following Ruri's instructions, to stare as intensely as possible at the farmer.
The poor man seemed to lose inches with each passing second.
- Really ? he managed to answer with difficulty after a few seconds.
- Yes, we only received 5000 zenis for the mission. But you already knew what the problem was. And yet we solved it. Your farm is safe, we got rid of the snake. It was very dangerous, and it took us days. And I'm not even talking about the water poisoning. You presented this mission as a simple formality, but it was actually much more complex. I think it's a total rip-off.
The farmer immediately turned his gaze to 17, who was still perfectly still, his eyes fixed, impassive. The farmer swallowed his saliva with difficulty and, fearing the worst, said:
- Really? Oh yes... yes, yes, of course...
- That's great," continued Ruri. I'm glad we agree. So I note that you agree to give us an extension commensurate with our work and the risks we took.
- Really?
- Yes.
The farmer had no intention of giving Ruri any money at all, but all he had to do was take a quick glance at 17 to be instantly convinced that he was risking a lot by refusing.
- Your price will be mine... he finally said, defeated.
- I was sure we could agree," Ruri replied, handing him a paper. I wrote the amount here. We'll meet at the car in five minutes.
She smiled, then resumed:
- And, if you don't come, be sure that 17 will come and get you...
They did not have to wait long. Anxious to preserve his life and, above all, to see 17 leave his property as quickly as possible, the farmer ran as he had never done before to bring Ruri the amount of money she had written on her paper. Without asking for anything else, he then left as quickly as he had come.
- And that's a beautifully handled case, don't you think?
Ruri was so euphoric that she couldn't take her eyes off the check the farmer had brought her.
- How much did he give you?
- What I asked him. 52,987 zenis.
- It's a precise amount...
- Hahaha, yes, and you know why?
- No.
Ruri smiled, walked over to 17, and replied, a big smile on her face:
- Because that was exactly the amount of money I needed to balance my budget. Do you understand what that means? Now there's no need for side missions. Let's pack up and go on the real expedition, my dear partner !