It was just over two years when Goku heard of the attacks. A large number of deaths in cities had been occurring in the last few days. They had all been centered on Nameks, but a good number of humans had also been killed. The current death tolls were around a million Nameks, and two thousand humans. The attackers were described strangely, but all stories held true. One was a very pale white and fat, the other was an old man with a moustache and long white hair. Goku was puzzled as to who they could possibly be, and decided to check it out.

After getting on his fighting gi (he had gotten some more in the meantime) he began flying. It didn't take long to find where the general area of the attacks were. Surprisingly, he didn't feel any sort of ki around, other then normal human's ki. He did feel Hercule coming, so he decided to see where he was going.

Arriving there, Goku saw one of the described men floating in the air, destroying a building full of Nameks. He was purely white colored, and very fat, dressed in a loose bit of brown and black clothing. A black turban-like hat rested on his head, the Red Ribbon Insignia on it. That brought back memories. Red Ribbon had once been in competition with Capsule Corps, but they had lost. Goku had finished off their army himself. What had that to do with anything?

Goku floated in front of it and made some noise. Even now, he still couldn't feel a ki coming from it. Changing his perception, Goku instead felt for energy signatures. Ah, now he felt something. Just then it heard his noises. It turned and looked at him, smirking evilly, but before it attacked, Hercule could be seen running in on the ground. At the same time, a large image of an old man appeared floating in front of the white man.

"Android 19," the face said, "kill the flying one, he will be no problem. Then lure Hercule back to the lab. He is the strongest man on Earth; I want to use the new androids on him."

"Yes, Dr. Gero," the white man said. His voice was incredibly high-pitched and squeaky. Goku felt like laughing at it, but he wasn't sure how strong this "android" was. And until he knew that, he wouldn't be laughing at anyone. Android 19 decided to get them both closer to the lab first, because he tore off in the opposite direction. Goku sped after him in hot pursuit. Hercule ran on the ground as fast as he could and got left behind. As he flew, another thought developed in his mind. Was the old man Dr. Gero? Goku vaguely remembered him, he had been one of the masterminds behind Red Ribbon's army. Goku had thought he died, but apparently he was still around and causing trouble. Android 19 tried to lose him, but failed, and Goku continued chasing him.



After flying only a few minutes, the android turned on him suddenly. Goku saw two giant metal doors blocking the way into the side of a mountain nearby. That must be the lab. But right at the moment, he had other problems, because Android 19 was flying at him.

Flipping backward, Goku dodged the punch and delivered a swift kick to 19's head. As the android fell back, stunned, Goku kicked him down with one heel, causing him to crash into the ground. The android came back up at him, but Goku backhanded him away easily. He was very strong, but Goku could beat him without even going Super Saiyan. That he wanted to save that for a time that he really needed it. Despite 19's strength, Goku found that his skill and speed were lacking, and the android just couldn't keep up with him.

The android came back at him, and they started really fighting now. It wasn't long before the android was barely able to fly at all, his blows became more and more wild. Each was easily turned aside and counterattacked. Suddenly 19 grabbed Goku's wrists with both hands and just held. Goku looked at him strangely.

"Now that I have a good grip," Android 19 squeaked, "I have your energy!"

Sure enough, Goku felt the drain of his energy, through the android's palms. During the fight, he had noticed small red circles on his palms, they must be capable of draining ki. But he wasn't too worried. He started forcing all of his energy into the white android. Energy flowed up the android's body and he squeaked happily, closing his eyes in bliss. As the energy rushed faster and faster, he opened his eyes again and looked very worried. Now the android tried to let go, but he found that he couldn't. He started glowing a hot white. Suddenly the turban he wore on his head blew off, revealing a mechanical looking brain in a glass globe beneath. Energy crackled over it as his system overloaded. The android grew whiter and brighter, until he exploded in a flash of brilliant light. When Goku looked again, all he saw was a ball of energy floating where the android had been. All of his energy began rushing back into him; he felt just fine now.

Putting out a hand, Goku touched the orb, intending to use the energy there. It seemed hostile, not letting him absorb it very easily. If he tried it would be a rough ride. He couldn't do that now. Instead of letting it all go to waste, Goku pulled out a capsule he'd found back at home and trapped the energy orb inside. It shrank to a smaller size and Goku put it into his pocket. Just then Hercule came running up. He stood in the middle of the battlefield and saw the hat. Picking it up, he started looking at it.

Goku flew up and landed right above the door in the mountain. He didn't want anything that might come out of the lab to be able to see him. A few seconds later, the same man's face he'd seen before, this time with a body, came out, wiping his hands on a cloth. He wore the same sort of hat that 19 had worn, but also wore a black jacket and a red, puffy shirt with black pants.

"Good job, 19," he said. "Now that you've gotten rid of the scum-"

He stopped short as he saw Hercule standing there, holding 19's empty hat. Gaping, he quickly ran back inside. Goku shook his head and rolled his eyes. Hercule decided to leave and started running back, holding the cap as proof of his "victory." Letting him go, Goku dropped softly to the ground, walked through the still open doors and looked inside.

Darting into the shadows, Goku narrowly avoided being seen. The doors opened almost directly into the middle of a large room with little to hide behind. He would have been obvious. Gathering his speed, Goku darted in and dove for cover behind a few barrels of a green liquid. Ducking low, he stayed silent and hoped no one saw his little caper. When he finally dared to look out, he saw Dr. Gero standing in front of a computer, frantically pressing buttons. The hissing sound of hydraulics was heard from the wall in front of him.

The entire wall swivelled around to reveal five large cases and a green tube. Something floated within the green tube. Each case and the tube had numbers on them, ranging from 16 to 20. The tube was labeled 21C. Goku was puzzled a second, then saw a large pile of broken case lids with a few numbers on them. Looking back, Goku saw that the 19 case was open, along with the 20. He smiled and understood, Android 19 has come from the case labeled 19 and so on. It made sense. But where was the Android 20?

Dr. Gero was pressing more buttons, with his back turned to Goku. Leaning forward, Goku saw a 20 printed on the back of Gero's hat. Huh? Goku had thought Gero was a person, but maybe he was wrong. It made sense though. So far all the androids he had seen were very ugly, and Dr. Gero fit that category.

Just then, the 17 case slid open. Gas hissed out from it, but when it cleared, in its place stood the next android. He had black, almost shoulder-length hair and wasn't as ugly as the others had been. His hair was a razor sharp cut above an red bandana that hung around his neck. Other than that, a black shirt with another Red Ribbon insignia and jeans. There was a rip in one knee, and for a second it distracted Goku. How had that gotten there? Something in the manner that he held himself seemed cocky and arrogant.

"Do you know who I am?" Gero asked.

"Yes," Android 17 said, his voice smooth and calm. "You created me."

"Good." Dr. Gero rubbed his hands together with glee, then hit another button. The 18 case slid open as well. The android that stepped from that case wasn't ugly either, Goku realized that neither of them wore odd hats, and they in general looked a lot more human. This one was a girl, with blond hair cut exactly like 17's. 18 wore a light blue jacket and a lightly striped shirt.

"Do you know who I am?" The doctor, or Android 20, he supposed, repeated the question.

"Yes." 18's voice sounded a lot like her brother's. "You created me."

"Most excellent." Dr. Gero moved back to the computer.

"What happens now?" 17 asked, folding his arms in front of him.

"Now?" the doctor asked. "Now I open 16 to join you two. He's not done, but he'll function."

"And then what?" 18 joined in.

"Then," Dr. Gero smiled evilly yet again. Goku decided that he might be insane. "Then I rule the world. If anyone opposes me, and they will, you'll cut them down."

"Can't you do your dirty work yourself?" 17 asked. "You did turn yourself into an android."

Dr. Gero just grunted and turned back to the computer again.

"We really don't like that idea," 17 said, sounding a bit menacing.

"Are you threatening me?" Dr. Gero thundered, turning around.

"Yes," 17 said simply. He flew forward faster then Goku thought possible, crushing a small controller that Gero held in his hands.

"Ha!" Android 17 smirked. "Without that, you're powerless! You will never turn us off again!" He leaped for Gero once more.

He barely got to Gero before lightning suddenly crackled all over him. 18 also fell under a barrage of lightning that lanced across both androids. They tried to stand, but were beaten down by the power. Finally they both were on the floor, barely able to move.

"So the siblings try to rebel against me?" Gero said, looking amused. "How absurd. Didn't you think I'd have a backup plan? I knew that making you out of humans was a bad idea. Too much free will. Well, I installed a way of stopping you, so it won't work. And it activates on thought, so don't think about trying to destroy it. I'll let you up now, if you're feeling more obedient."

Both climbed to their feet. Goku was impressed, as they already appeared to have mostly recovered from the electricity. What Goku was not impressed with was Dr. Gero's behavior. He stepped out from behind his barrels and into plain view. Dr. Gero heard him and turned.

"Who are you?"

"Not someone that really matters," Goku replied, gathering his ki around him slowly. "Just an innocent passerby who happened to wander in."

"Really?"

"No." Goku rolled his eyes. "Why do you want to do this, Gero? Why do you want to control Earth? Why does it matter that much to you?"

"Why?" the doctor looked infuriated. "Why!? Because I could rid the Earth of everyone! Everyone dead, a world of peaceful silence! Anyone who isn't human! Don't you share my grand dream?"

"You have a sick mind, Gero." Goku shook his head. "You've made yourself into an android too. Wouldn't you have to kill yourself?"

"Of course not!"

"But you would kill the other androids?"

"Well, yes. How'd you know that?"

Goku smiled slightly, but he honestly didn't know. The knowledge just seemed right, he felt at peace with it.

"You annoy me," Gero muttered, eyes moving shiftily. "17 and 18, attack!"

"But we don't want-" 18 began.

"Now!" Gero roared, more electrical power crackling over them. They stumbled and then attacked Goku.

Before they got to him, Goku turned Super Saiyan. Without that, he knew he couldn't beat them. Dr. Gero may have been insane, but he did his work well, they were both very powerful. Dodging 17, he grabbed his arm and threw him into his sister. They fell, but got up and flew back at him, slamming him into the wall. Goku kicked upward, knocking them both back.

Whirling, he kicked 18 through a nearby wall, but 17's fists bit into him from behind. As he turned and bashed him downward, 18 came from behind and got him in a choke hold. Reaching behind his head, Goku grabbed her and hurled her away from him. 17 attacked, and they traded blows briefly before he knocked him back as well.

Both leaped forward, one on the right and one on the left. Goku's hands whipped up and he caught their fists. Tightening his grip, he hurled them both to the ground, and slammed a wall of ki into them. They both struggled to get up.

"I'm sorry," Goku whispered, holding up his hands.

Firing two energy bolts, Goku kept them both down on the ground. 17 got up first. Goku fired a slow- moving kienzan at him. 17 dodged easily and smirked, but didn't see Goku anywhere. While he was distracted, Goku got him in a chin-lock. 17 struggled but couldn't break out of Goku's grip. 18 got up, but Goku tightened his grip threateningly.

18 glanced at Gero.

"Kill them both, now!" Blue electricity danced at his fingertips menacingly.

18 sighed and fired a shot. Growling slightly, Goku decided he'd had it with Gero. He was going to let loose. Goku threw 17 from him and batted 18's beam aside with one hand. He raised both hands, and-

"Solar Flare!"

While the androids covered their eyes in pain, Goku had an open season on them. When Dr. Gero could finally see again, Goku stood, both androids sprawled out around him. Goku seemed poised to destroy them, energy glowing in his hands. But after a second of tension he calmed down and released his ki.

"Go ahead, kill them, saiyan." Gero spat it out.

"I won't," Goku said calmly. "They don't want to attack me. You have them set on an incredibly destructive mode, Gero. Their personalities are to destroy. You did that, Gero, you!"

"Your point?" Gero snickered. That was a mistake. In an instant Goku was at his throat, forcing him against the wall.

"They were people!" Goku barked into his face, anger blazing in his eyes. "You did this to them, made them your slaves. Do you think they'll like you, Gero?"

"They don't need to," Gero choked out. Goku shook his head and smiled sadly, his anger ebbing.

"You don't understand, do you? You can't keep them down forever. You want to rule Earth, you say you'll cut down all that oppose you. Do you realize that everyone will, by your standards? You'll basically go on a killing spree for no reason. That's what you really want, isn't it? To kill?

"And they won't always stay under your control, Gero. As you mold them into killing machines, they'll hate you as much as everyone else. Because you never treated them as people, as if they had any natural rights. That very evil mentality you have them set in will be your undoing. They'll adapt, grow stronger. And one day, your little electrical device won't work. And they won't have a shred of compassion left for you, or anyone else. They kill you, Gero, and they'll destroy the Earth."

"You don't know that." Gero's eyes blazed with anger too, now. There was no standoff, because Goku was no longer angry; he dropped out of Super Saiyan.

"Gero, you are a fool," he began, "but I will give you one chance. A single chance to change. I'll be back in a day, and if you still go with your mad scheme, I'll finish you. One day."

Turning, Goku walked away from the doctor, who collapsed on the floor rubbing his throat. Stopping briefly by the androids Goku only said, "I'm very sorry," before leaving. With a last glance at Gero, he walked from the lab, then began to run, then flew. He had a deadline to make.

He didn't know where he had gotten most of the stuff he had said, it had just come to him. But the more he thought about it, the more it made sense. Maybe this was what Piccolo did; Goku wasn't sure. Something in Goku seemed to remember something, that his answer was at Kami's Lookout. So he flew there, to try and find an answer to his problem. He needed to stop Gero's electricity device. Then he could see the androids for who they would become, not who they were forced to be. If that was a problem, well, he would do what needed to be done, he was a lot stronger than them.

Getting to Kami's Lookout, he flew to the top and looked around. Everything was deserted, even Mr. Popo wasn't there. After Kami had died, he must have left as well. Standing on top of the Lookout, Goku suddenly felt a twinge of pain hit him. There was no one around, yet something was hurting him. Wincing in pain, he fell to his knees. His heart blasted pain at him, Goku clutched it as hard as he could. Finally he couldn't take the pain anymore and fell to the floor. In a few seconds, his mind slipped from consciousness.



Up in the Afterlife, Piccolo sat cross-legged, watching all that happened. Trunks was behind him, whooping and cheering along with Vegita, Gohan and everyone else.

"I told you!" Trunks laughed in Piccolo's face. "Goku has the heart disease! He doesn't have the medicine! He's gonna die! You lose Piccolo! Game Over!"

Piccolo didn't say anything. He just watched Goku lying there, dying. Now would be the time to see if he had really made a difference. Would Dr. Gero fail, or would he succeed in ruling the world? Would the androids get another chance, or die as collateral damage? Would the entire universe be saved, or destroyed? It all boiled down to one question: Would Goku live, or die?

Back in the lab, Gero laughed. Touching the computer, he opened up the 16 case as well. 16 was by far his strongest android. Not quite his perfect creation, his gaze briefly lingered on the tube, but his strongest android. 16 was also completely under his control, could do nothing but fight, and would enjoy the fight as well. He could also protect the doctor at all costs in a tough situation.

16 stepped from his case and nodded to Gero, then went back and stood against the wall, folding his arms and waiting to be given an order or command. 16 seemed around eight feet tall, towering over everyone there. He wore a large, metallic green vest and his arms and legs were covered by black spandex like material. His face was expressionless. Gero smiled.

"It's time to attack."



High above, even above the Afterlife, Dai Kioshin watched Goku's body suffer as the heart disease continued its rampage through him. He smiled slightly and stretched; he had been sitting here and watching world events far too long. Purple skin was covered by a dark blue vest and light red pants. One line of hair stood up in a dark purple mohawk in the center of his head.

"What will happen to him, Master?" His apprentice was there, waiting patiently for him. He was attired like his mentor, but his mohawk was a light green.

"He should die. We waited long enough to try this, now was the very latest I would like."

"The other Kioshins were not helpful in this matter, Master."

"No, they wouldn't believe me. They didn't realize that I was right, as I always am. Foolish amateurs. They're no better than mortals in their foresight."

His apprentice remained silent.

"It had already begun. His sheer determination is powering his body to new heights. He's getting better and better by the second. Look at him awhile, my apprentice. He already looks younger. All the power, strength and experience of an adult in the body of someone at his prime. He's gone through many hardships, but his body is functioning at maximum efficiency anyway. It was past time that we finished him."

"Saiyans never grow old, Master."

"True," Dai Kioshin was slightly irritated. "But they have an internal clock. When it ends, they just die. Goku's clock went backward and then just froze."

"So this heart disease will be deadly and erase his spirit from existence?"

"Yes, it will. This is our ultimate weapon for those we don't want. You must learn to use it well."

"If your genius increases in such rapid bounds, Master, we may yet defeat Evil."

Dai Kioshin was silent for a long time, his eyes tightening.

"Yes we will. You, my young apprentice, have much to learn, but you understand what matters. Do not trust these humans, these Nameks or saiyans, any of these mortals. Only we Kioshins may be trusted, as only we are beings worthy of life. This is one thing you have well in your grasp, my student."

Their conversation continued long into the night. Neither noticed the dark form sitting cross legged on the roof above them. Piccolo sighed heavily and resisted the urge to bury his face in his hands. He was discouraged. He was helpless to do anything yet, he just had to hope that he had done enough. Don't count me out yet, Dai, he thought. I may not matter to you, I may be a "worthless scum of a Namek" but the game isn't over yet. You don't know my hand, but you've laid yours on the table. It's not over yet.

Sighing heavily, Piccolo collapsed in on himself. Only his spirit kept him aloft, burning with a single hope, that the power of friendship could yet prevail.