Disclaimer-*Sees a falling star* I wish I owned DBZ!

Note-Maron, Krillin's ex, is dead in the story. She never met Krillin in this timeline.

Unearthed Reasons

Krillin woke up to see 18. She was sitting at the table in front of the tank, her arms criss-crossed on the tabletop and her head buried into them. She was asleep, her breathing light and peaceful.

Krillin stared. How could such beauty not reflect her true persona? It was hard to believe that a cruel, murdering cyborg could be locked inside such a lovely human cast.

18's eyes fluttered open. She automatically knew, from past experiences, when someone was staring at her. How and why she got the ability to lock onto and single out stalkers was something that only she knew. Not even 17 had an inkling of how her paranoia came to be. (A/N: This means that the readers will find out how and why later on)

"You're up." She stated the obvious simply. Uncomfortably, she shifted, not used to making conversation. "How's it feel?"

"Okay," he answered. Then, seeing her confused look, he realized that she couldn't hear him. He shrugged lightly and she nodded.

"You think you're ready to come out?" Her voice held a trace of sympathy.

He nodded.

"Good." She pressed a button on the controller.

The blue liquid started to drain as the metal wires holding him in mid-air slowly descended. The wires deposited him gently on the floor of the tube as the liquid drained.

Carefully, he tensed his leg. It was painful, but he could live with it. He pulled off his mask and stood up.

"How's the leg?" she said quietly.

"It's been better, but I think I can live," Krillin said. "Before I forget, 18, thank you."

"Mm-hmm," 18 mumbled. "All right. I have better things to do than hang out here." 18 went to the door of the lab and took off.

"18! Wait!" Krillin limped after her, but he was too slow. By the time he got to the door, she was long gone. "Aw, damn it!"

18 flew quickly back to the trailer. If she knew 17, and she did, he would still be asleep.

After leaving Krillin there, she had decided to turn back and stick around. She had fallen asleep there at the table, watching him. She had to admit, he was kinda cute. In a puny, weak human kind of way, but cute nonetheless.

17 was waking up as 18 got in the door.

"Hey, sis," 17 said.

"'Morning," 18 said.

"Ready for another round of killing, destroying, and causing general mayhem?"

"Ready when you are."

"I'm ready."

"Let's go."

18 and 17 opened up the door and flew away.

Krillin, finding himself grounded with his useless leg, limped painfully out of the Gero laboratory. He felt Goku, Gohan, Vegeta, and Piccolo's ki weakly, but he couldn't feel anyone else's. The meant that Yamcha, Tien, Chiaotzu, and Yajirobe…they were all dead. He thought of Launch, who had a double bereavement to bear…losing not only Tien, but also the baby she had lost a few days ago. Launch was already unstable, and this would push her over the edge…

"Damn those androids," Krillin muttered through clenched teeth. "All they know is kill, kill, kill…"

'And heal,' a little voice in Krillin's head said. 'Remember, 18 did just let you out of a rejuvenation tank that she put you in.'

Krillin gritted his teeth and limped onward. No mater how much he hated to admit it, 18 had saved his life.

But as to why she did it…that was a mystery.

He limped forward to were he felt 18 and 17's ki reaching a high level. It was barely a quarter mile away.

"Let's take our time," 17 said, as if destroying East City was like eating the last piece of chocolate. "Enjoy it."

"To quote Cruella de Vil," 18 said. "'Poison them, drown them, bash them on the head. I don't care how you get rid of the little beasts, but do it, and do it NOW'!"

"Yes, mother," 17 said sarcastically. He sent a ki beam into the nearest building, killing the inhabitants and sending the people below scurrying. 17 laughed and went after the humans, leaving 18 to idly blow up buildings.

She had unleashed a ki beam when she felt another ki coming at her. She reared her head back as a small energy disk whisked inches from her face. The disk flew off into the sky and dissipated.

"You shouldn't be here, Krillin," she said dryly.

"You saved me," Krillin said. "And I'm eternally grateful. But I can't let you destroy the Earth. It's my bound duty to protect Earth from people like you."

"Oh, really?" 18 hopped down from her perch and landed in front of him. "And what, exactly, has the Earth done for you in return?"

"I don't fight for glory," Krillin said. "I fight because this planet is my home and home to my friends. Which you are killing off. So I have to stop you."

18 stared at him for a long time. Then, a slow smile began to cross her face.

"And just what the hell is so funny?!" Krillin yelped.

"I used to be like you," she said. "I used to think that this planet was worth all the trouble…the rebuilding after earthquakes, the environmental awareness, all of it. And then I learned how cold and unforgiving the world can be. I learned that you can love it, but it never loves you back." Ki radiated from her body. "I learned that the world is cruel and merciless! No matter how hard you fight for it, it will turn on you!"

"But these people…they have done nothing to you!" Krillin shouted. "Why are you killing like this? What have they done to deserve to die?"

Ki exploded from her body. "What did Lily do to deserve to die? What did Maron do to deserve to die? What did I do to deserve to be raped and sold like a slave to my boyfriend's father? What did 17 and I do to deserve to undergo torture with Dr. Gero? Nothing. We did nothing. The world did this to us. The only way to prevent this Hell from inflicting itself on the future is to destroy this world!"

18 shot a ki beam at Krillin. He hit the ground and the ki passed over his head. "18!"

"Keep away from me, you little $#!t, or I'll kill you with the rest of the world!"

Krillin could only watch as18 sent a ki beam into another building, then took off into the forest surrounding the city.

OOOH things just got interesting! Who is Lily? How does 18 know Maron? Read next chapter to find out!

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