Everyone touched down in a remote wasteland far from any known civilization. Goku had planned to lead them farther out but Android 20 demanded that they land immediately. Even though he couldn't sense any life around them, he checked his scouter just to be completely sure. He gave a thumbs up to the rest of the group to give the 'all clear'. The scouter actually interested the Android but was more prioritized on Goku himself. Raditz noticed that his younger brother was breathing heavily and already had a bad feeling on what it might be. Tien and Krillin also noticed but weren't sure themselves of the cause.

"Alright, before we do this, how about you tell us how you know all about us." demanded Goku, huffing as his chest was slowly staring to hurt.

"Very well, I see no harm in telling you since you're bound for death anyway." said Android 20, brimming with calm confidence as his facial expression didn't even change. "We've been monitoring your activity with a microscopic drone, ever since the 22nd World Martial Arts tournament up to your battle against the saiyans."

Nappa's tail twitched as he learned that their battle against the earthlings had been watched. "So you know of how even Raditz and I fight?"

Android 20 turned his head to the saiyan. "That's right. I find it quite interesting to find you back on planet, but it just means an additional threat to be neutralized. Not surprised by Raditz however, since he is Goku's older brother and gathering the dragon balls is a simple process for you ingrates. Nevertheless, our research over Son Goku has given us the perfect solution in which to kill him, then you."

Goku narrowed his eyes. "So your main goal is to kill me, is that right?"

The android turned his head to look back to Goku. "Of course it is! After the destruction of the Red Ribbon Army at your hands, their goal of world domination was completely eradicated, leaving Dr. Gero the sole survivor to exact revenge."

"So, I take it you followed us all the way to Namek and watched our battles there?" asked Piccolo.

"No, there was no need to waste any effort in doing so." said Android 20. "We'd already gotten a full grasp of your power and techniques against Vegeta. Based on the potential development of a person based on age, as well as all known strength developments in our observations, any increase in strength you could have gained would prove pointless to the scale of power in which we have acquired."

Raditz chuckled as he stepped forward. "Well then, I guess it's safe to say that this fight was finished before it was even started." He turned his head to Goku and gave a nod. "Brother, I think now would be a good time to show them a truly golden sight."

The androids perked up with confusion, unsure what the saiyan was going on about. Goku then started screaming as the area around him started being blown away, his energy skyrocketing as he completes the transformation into a Super Saiyan. The androids remained completely still-faced at the transformation of Goku's, not fully grasping its full power.

Around that same time, Yamcha and Gohan arrived, the latter carrying the bag of senzu beans that they left with Bulma. "Goku, hold on! These androids can absorb energy!" shouted Yamcha, quickly grabbing everyone's attention.

Nappa immediately fired a weak yet deadly looking energy blast at the androids to confirm this. Android 19 quickly saw this as a change and held his hands up, draining the blast into them and collecting the power into his own. "Heh, that's handy to know beforehand."

Android 20 turned to face Android 19 with an extra stern look on his face. "19, you just gave away our most prime advantage!

Before 19 could respond to that, Goku rushed up and slammed his foot into the android's body, sending him flying at blinding speeds. Goku then proceeded to fight him with ferocious attacks whilst dodging every single one of the android's blows.

Both Raditz and Nappa stepped up to Android 20 with smug looks on their faces. "Before you try anything, it's worth noting that the both of us are capable of transforming as well." said Raditz.

"We'd tear you apart right now, but there's more fun to be had in making you see your ally get demolished before destroying you." said Nappa, his old saiyan savagery starting to show.

While the fight, or more accurately the one-sided beat down, between Goku and Android 19 was going on, Raditz, Piccolo and Gohan all started to notice something was off. This doesn't seem right. Brother's going all out right from the very start which isn't like him at all. And his moves, they look incredibly sloppy. Brother, don't tell me.. thought Raditz, a low growl escaping through his teeth.

Around that time, Goku delivered a pretty hefty blow against Android 19's arm that knocked it right off. The android was sent flying by the force of the hit and got back up like it was nothing. Goku on the other hand was breathing heavily and clutching his chest, dropping to the ground. The android saw this as its chance and dashed for the saiyan, his remaining arm outstretched.

"Brother!" shouted Raditz. He screamed loudly as he transformed into a Super Saiyan, the first time he's done so in a while, and rushed to save his brother, knocking him out of the way. The android didn't change his course as he sensed even more energy emanating from Raditz. The saiyan wasn't unprepared however as he uncurled his tail and wrapped it around the android's wrist, slamming his foot down on the arm to sever it. "Damnit brother, you should have listened to the boy and taken that medicine!"

Android 19 got backed up and looked at both of his severed arms, trying to calculate how to continue onward without the initial plan to absorb their energies. "I'm sorry 20, I'll be initiating 'that'" His chest suddenly started glowing, causing quite the concern on Android 20's face.

Raditz went wide-eyed as this seemed very similar to the tactics of a saibaman. He wasn't sure what the best thing to do against this tactic was so he raised his arm as he was about to prepare to charge up his last resort technique, stopping as his scouter acted up. In a brief moment, Android 19 stopped glowing and collapsed to the ground, his head rolling off as if decapitated. He looked to the source of where his scouter was acting and let out a groan of disgust. "Of course you had to show up and take the limelight."

Vegeta flew in the air just a little above Raditz, already in his Super Saiyan state as he looked down on the lower class saiyan. "So, even a saiyan like you can achieve that state? Well, if anything, you at least let me see that a saiyan's tail turns gold when transformed." He then drops down to the ground and stares down at Kakarot. "Idiot, did it ever occur to you that the adrenaline from becoming a Super Saiyan could potentially speed up that virus of yours?"

Raditz groaned as he reached into his armor and pulled out a dinocap, clicking down on it and tossing it, letting it explode into one of the healing pods originally used on Freeza's ship. He picked up his brother, her was unconscious and screaming in pain from the pain in his chest and set himself inside the healing tank.

Nappa, completely ignoring Android 20 at this point, flew over to the rest of the saiyans and watched as Raditz put Goku inside the healing pod. "Isn't that one of the portable healing pods that Bulma's been working on?"

Raditz moved to the back of the healing tank, which has large metal straps on it as per his request, and picked it up. "Was working on. As per an agreement between us, any tech she makes from what I give her, I get first dibs on. This tank won't fix the heart virus but it will slow the process. I'll be back once I get him back home."

Meanwhile, Android 20 was watching the saiyans in pure terror, each of them acting so casually with him still present. He turned to look at the earthlings and Piccolo, considering if it's worth trying to use one of them as a shield whilst draining their energy. Considering his options, he started running north, making his way through the rocky terrain and using it as cover.

Everyone immediately noticed the android trying to run away. Raditz tossed Nappa a spare scouter whilst he hoisted the portable healing pod off the ground. "Keep me updated, I'll be back once I've made sure my brother will be okay." He then started flying back home at his maximum speed.

"I'm not letting him get away!" shouted Vegeta, flying after the android at his top speed, everyone else flying after him. When Vegeta couldn't find the android, he grit his teeth and flew higher up, creating a large ball of energy.

Nappa saw what Vegeta was doing and flew in front of his superior. "Hold on, he can absorb energy. Tossing a blast that powerful will only be giving him what he wants."

Vegeta looked a bit surprised at this development, having been late to the fight earlier. "Alright then, what would you suggest we do then? We don't exactly know where he is."

Nappa chuckled as he looked down at the ground. "Sometimes an old solution is the most effective." He clenched his fists and started screaming at the top of his lungs, the black stubs of his shaven beard turning a golden yellow as he transformed into a Super Saiyan. He took notice of where all the earthlings were and flung his hands upwards, causing the ground around the entire area other than where the earthlings were to glow and explode in a violent explosion. Once the smoke cleared, they could clearly see Android 20 trying to run off again. "I don't think so! Blast Geyser!" Nappa covered his hand in energy and flung it upwards again, creating a spire of blazing energy to block the android's path.

Android 20 turned to the saiyans in the air with a look of complete fright, unable to come to terms at how these saiyans were able to surpass all known data in both power and technique. Damn it all, this is impossible. Under these circumstances, I'm forced to rely on the assistance of 17 and 18. But how do I get out of this situation in the first place?!

Meanwhile, Raditz finally made it back home and landed right outside Goku's house. When he slammed the door open, Chi-Chi and Launch, who was in her nice personality at that moment, were currently cooking in the kitchen while Nion was currently reading the books Chi-Chi gave her, at least looking like that while she had a pamphlet on martial arts hidden by the size of the book. She couldn't read a lot of the words in the pamphlet but she at least enjoyed the pictures of fighting. All 3 of them turned to look at the saiyan when he slammed the door open.

Nion ran over to her dad and smiled as she was happy to see him so soon. It didn't take her long to recognize the stern look on his face while he started opening up the pod. Her face became mortified as she saw her uncle dragged out of the pod screaming. "Daddy, what's wrong with him?!"

Chi-Chi and Launch both ran over to see what was wrong with Goku, who was currently screaming up blood and clutching his chest. "Goku!"

Raditz powered down from his Super Saiyan state and ran past the 2 women. "We need to find the medicine that the kid from the future gave him! Launch, Chi-Chi, help me look! Nion, let us know if Uncle Goku gets worse!"

"Right!" responded all 3 of them, Launch and Chi-Chi digging high and low to try and find the small vial of medicine. Nion was on the verge of tears as she watched the horrific state that her uncle was in but held the tears back as she had to put on a brave face. "Hang in there, please."

Around that time, Android 20 was completely surrounded, nowhere to run and the ground to decimated for a place to hide. He grit his teeth as the odds were very stacked against him. He decided to go for a last resort tactic and hoped it would work. "T-Truly it isn't necessary for all of you to face me together. Surely you could decide among yourselves who'll face me one on one?"

Vegeta smirked at the pathetic excuse this living tin can was giving. "That won't be very necessary. I'll nominate myself to decimate you like I did with the other android."

Nappa held his arm up in front of Vegeta. "Hold on, maybe it's best to give the namekian a chance to fight the android."

Vegeta, Android 20 and even Piccolo himself were pretty shocked at this suggestion. "What are you saying, Nappa? Are you saying I'm not needed?"

"You saw how easy it was to destroy the other android, there's no fun if there isn't a challenge. If he gains energy from the namekian, he could become more of a fight for you." said Nappa, feeding Vegeta what he'd want to hear.

"Very well, I did spend the entirety of 3 years training for this day, it would be a waste not to fight." said Piccolo as he shed his weighted clothing.

Android 20 grinned as the larger saiyan simply made his work a lot easier. Perfect, not only will I gain the Piccolo's energy, but I'll have one less problem to deal with as I make my way back to my lab.

"Fine, do whatever you want. Don't expect me to tag in at the last minute to save you if he starts absorbing your energy." said Vegeta, crossing his arms and powering down from his Super Saiyan form as he watches the fight about to start.

"Be sure not to regret that decision too much, Vegeta." Android 20 locked eyes on Piccolo and fired beams from his eyes before rushing in for the namekian.

Piccolo quickly dodged the eye beams and watched the android quickly approaching, giving a cocky smirk as he slams his elbow against the android's head, knocking off the metal hat covering the android's encased brain. He then stretched out his arm, grabbed the android by the collar, pulled him back in and punched the android, sending him flying past Vegeta and Nappa.

Android 20 struggled to get up and pressed his hand to his face, feeling a very clear dent in his facial structure in the spot where he took the punch. "This isn't possible! You weren't anywhere near this level of power when you fought the saiyans!"

Piccolo chuckled and cracked his knuckles, staring at the android with a menacing glare. "A lot of things happened on namek, not just for the saiyans. Not to mention I trained with 2 saiyans for the last 3 years, each with the power of a Super Saiyan at their disposal. Looks like your little miscalculation will lead up to your demise."

While the fight continued on there, Raditz still scoured through the house looking for the medicine, getting more and more agitated the longer he has to hear his brother screaming in pain.

Chi-Chi looked behind some pots on a high shelf and finally found the medicine. "Ah, I found it!" She ran out to the living room, the others running into the living room soon after.

Raditz swiped the vial of medicine from Chi-Chi and ran over to Goku, seeing quite a bit of blood. He looked to his daughter, seeing the brave face she was making despite tears rolling down her face. He smiled at the efforts of his child and turned back to his brother, pouring some of the medicine into his mouth. Within a minute, Goku already started to calm down, the screaming coming to a complete stop.

Launch smiled widely and hugged both Raditz and Nion, laughing a little as the situation was looking better, making her believe everything was going to be alright. "So honey, did you guys manage to defeat those robots? Or was it cyborgs?"

"Androids actually. We managed to defeat one of them, but I had to leave to bring Goku here before seeing that the others destroyed the other one." He rationed out the rest of the medicine into 4 shares. "The kid from the future said that this virus was viral, so it must be contagious. It's probably for the best that we take some of the medicine ourselves."

Nion take the portion of the medicine made for her and takes a full drink of it, her face scrunching up as she doesn't like the taste. "This tastes icky."

Both Launch and Chi-Chi took their portions at the same time, Launch not liking the taste either. Seconds later, Launch sneezed and her hair color changed into her blonde, rude personality. Still able to taste the medicine, she turned towards Chi-Chi and glared at her. "Ey! What did you make me eat, it tastes terrible!"

Raditz chuckled at both the responses of his family members and drank his portion of the medicine. He didn't find anything wrong with it, leading him to the conclusion that Nion inherited her mother's sense of taste. Looking at his brother, he sighed and sat down comfortable. They'll be fine, I'll stick around here a little longer.

Back in the wastelands, Piccolo had once more sent Android 20 flying with a brutal attack. The android got back up unsteadily, missing his right hand, several puncture wounds all throughout his body and his left eye had been completely ripped out. "Ready to cry for mercy yet?" asked Piccolo, few wounds on his body.

Android 20 backed up into a wall as he was completely overwhelmed by the namekian, his systems failing to the point that he wasn't even sure if he could take another hit and survive. His hopes of escape only decreasing as he saw a boy with lavender hair and a sword suddenly fly over to them. Who on Earth is that?! I have no data on him!

"Trunks?! What are you doing here?" asked Piccolo, the fact that the boy from the future's name was supposed to be a secret completely slipped his mind.

The moment he heard the namekian call the Super Saiyan from the future Trunks, a light bulb went off in Nappa's head. He turned to look at the boy and immediately realized that the boy's hair was the same color as Vegeta's kid. He honestly hated himself for not realizing that fact sooner. Then again, he didn't spend all that much time up close to the boy when they met and it's been 3 years since then.

"W-What is that thing? That's what you've been fighting, right?" asked Trunks, staring at the mangled android.

The revelation that the kid from the future didn't recognize the android shocked everyone present, putting in a slight moment of worry. "You're telling me that isn't the android that kills us all in the future?!" asked Piccolo, turning back to the android.

Everyone suddenly turned their heads as they saw Bulma's car flying towards them, Yajirobe and baby Trunks inside the car as well. Android 20 grinned as this was exactly the opening he was looking for. "Your death draws near, for 17 and 18 shall eradicate you once awoken!" He then fires a large beam of energy from his remaining hand and sweeping it around the entire area, firing his eye beams at the terrain to the west to draw them away from his path as he starts heading north, using the smoke created from his blast as cover.

Nappa managed to save Bulma and Yajirobe, as well as baby Trunks with his tail. He gently landed on the ground, putting Bulma and Yajirobe on the ground and handing Bulma her child. He looked up and saw the future Trunks arguing with Vegeta, having a faint idea on what it could be about. His attention turned away from the arguing as Bulma decided to speak.

"So, was that old man you were fighting an android?" she asked, getting a nod in response from all of the group. "That's weird, he looked exactly like a picture I once saw of Dr. Gero himself. He must have converted himself for his own reasons."

"Hey guys!" shouted Yamcha, catching the attention of everyone still in the air. "Apparently that android we were just fighting was Dr. Gero himself!"

As the others landed back on the ground, Bulma started relaying the information she knew on Dr. Gero to the others. Afterwards, Trunks started giving up all the information on the androids from the future to the others, all the while Nappa informing Raditz about this through his scouter. Once Vegeta learned the location of Dr. Gero's lab outside North City, he immediately started flying there, Nappa in close pursuit as well as Trunks close behind Nappa.

Once Raditz learned to head for the area outside North City, he stood up and stretched as he started heading for the door. Nion quickly ran after him and hugged his leg. Raditz smiled as his daughter and put his hand on the halfling's head. "Don't worry, I promise that I'll be back. Look after your uncle Goku, he needs someone strong to protect him."

Nion's eyes widened in glee as her dad called her strong and gave her such an important task. She stops hugging her dad's leg and nods her head, stretching out her tail to him. "Tail promise?"

Raditz blinked a bit in surprise, never hearing of such a thing in his early days on planet Vegeta. Truly this world was turning him soft and that softness has become genetic. He curls his tail around Nion's and shakes it. "Sure, tail promise." He then lets go of his daughter's tail and starts flying to North City, not going Super Saiyan as to save up on stamina.

By the time the saiyan arrived, the others had already shown up and were searching for Gero's lab. Vegeta and Trunks were arguing while flying aimlessly due to said arguing. Nappa was using his Super Saiyan speed to fly from mountain to mountain to try and find the cave that Gero's lab was built inside of. Raditz chose tofly over to Nappa to get caught up on the major details.

"So, how's Kakarot doing? Is he gonna make it?" asked Nappa, taking a note from Raditz's book and powering down from his Super Saiyan state to save on stamina.

Raditz nodded as he looks through the mountains to find the cave. "Yeah, things were looking pretty dicey back there but he should be fine. Nion's watching after him and if I can trust anyone to make sure he keeps calm, it's her."

Nappa chuckled at the remark. "I haven't seen that kid of yours since she was first born. Once this is done and over with, I think I'll pay your family a visit."

"I think I'd like that." As he was talking, he felt a familiar energy power up. The energy was undoubtedly Krillin's, so the saiyans flew to the earthling's location, where the others had already arrived and standing outside a large steel door. Just as Piccolo was about to fire off against the door, the words that they heard from inside sent a chill down their spine.

"17! Stop messing around and kill Son Goku's friends outside immediately!"

Upon hearing that, everyone other than Vegeta went a bit pale. "T-This is bad! The androids are already activated!" shouted Krillin.

Vegeta pushed his way past everyone and aimed his open hand at the steel door. "All of you better back up!"

Trunks started to sweat nervously and ran up to Vegeta. "You can't! If the androids are active, we have to get out of here and wait until Goku recovers!"

Vegeta's eyes narrowed in anger as energy started building up in his hand. "I refuse to believe I need that fool's help!" He fired an energy blast at the door, knocking it down onto the ground.

Raditz was quite surprised by the sight inside of the lab, the android they were fighting earlier was beyond busted up and along with him were 2 teen looking figures, one being a male with cold eyes and black hair and an attractive female with equally cold eyes and blonde hair. These are the androids the future kid's so afraid of? Well, guess looks can be decieving.

While Raditz had been thinking in his head, everyone had learned a shocking discovery in the fact that there's yet another android by the name of 16. Yet Android 20 seemed quite adamant that Android 16 not be activated. Even as 18 was about to start up the android, 20 was shouting at the top of his artificial lungs not to activate it. Android 17 got fed up with the old man's shouting and pierced his hand right through 20's center. He then followed that up with a kick to knock off Android 20's head.

"Y-You insufferable.. Unruly brat!" shouted Android 20's head before it got smashed in by Android 17 stomping down on it.

Raditz backed up in shock as this new android killed its own creator. His tail twitched as his instincts were telling him to get away. Damn, things aren't looking good in our favor. If there are 3 androids as frightening as the kid said, we may need my brother after all just to balance the scales.

Whoo, it feels good to be back. I honestly felt a bit empty in my life not writing this story after how much commitment I've put into this. Now it's time to get a couple things off my chest. To start off, if anyone feels this chapter was rushed, it wasn't really. When rewriting a story like this, spreading things out to a 4000+ word format isn't exactly easy. Yes I know there was a lot of dialogue I could have used at the end there but there was nothing I could have added to it to differ from the canon so I skimmed through it, hoping the rest of the chapter would be enough to satisfy you. Secondly, due to the ways I've written this story, everyone other than Krillin is stronger than in the actual canon. I know that seems really unfair to him but he's gone through the story the exact same way he does in the canon so there's not much else for him to grow on from. Lastly, due to real life stuff and the fact I don't wanna burn myself out like last time, this series will no longer be weekly and will instead come out every 2 weeks. I hope you understand and continue to support me. That's it from me, tune in next time for the next chapter of Dragon Ball Z: A Saiyan's Tail.