A smart "portrayal" of Goku, huh? Heh. You speak truth about the manga, but it is not entirely Funimation's influence. However, in this story there are forces working that you cannot possibly be expected to understand yet.
This chapter feels abrupt, and I'm uncertain as to why. It has been in the plan since the beginning, and I'm uncertain as to how I would do it less so. But ah well. And if you desperately feel the urge for battling (sigh...) the next chapter will probably make you happier.
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"What?" 18 asked, glancing at Goku, who stood outside her door. "You want me to spar with you?"
Goku just nodded, arms casually crossed, leaning against the wall.
"Why me? You could wipe me out in a second, I saw what you did to 17." Her tone was slightly bitter.
"Name one other person on this planet who can even make me even breath hard."
18 remained silent for a moment. "Point taken. Unless you want to train with the most powerful man in the world for a change?"
Goku smiled slightly, but even that slight smile seemed to lift his mood. "Oh, yeah. That guy with a power level of five?"
"Sure, I'll spar with you." 18 got up off the bed and followed him into the training chamber adjacent the house. It had been cleared of everything, except a gravity machine that sat at one end of the room. It was currently off.
"I'll be lowering my ki," Goku explained. "I won't be overpowering."
"Good." Now at least she wasn't going to get blasted to pieces in one punch. Goku's energy blazed around him, then dimmed and was absorbed back in. 18 felt his energy and was surprised to see how much it felt like his real power. He was good at faking it.
Leaping forward and catching him off guard, 18 delivered a kick to the jaw that sent him into the wall. Walking up it faster then she had anticipated, he darted down, hitting her with his knee. 18 bounced back and faced off again, ready for his next move. Since he had done nothing, she leaped again. This time Goku jumped up, pulling his feet just over her head. 18 quickly got off a back kick that sent him down, but Goku used it as leverage to knock her into the wall.
They continued fighting, neither with much of an expression on their faces. Goku didn't appear threatening, but he fought in a manner that reeked with pure, cold deadliness. She would panic, almost sure he would suddenly flare up and destroy her. But every time she felt her panic rise, all she had to do was look into his eyes. Those ethereally perfect, slanted eyes that held so much. Every time, the look was friendly and not as harsh as she had seen it. Every time, she felt better. Those eyes were nothing like the ones that had destroyed 17.
Striking at him again, 18 stumbled back as his hand whipped up in a fast block. Goku grabbed her wrist and flung her up onto the ceiling, just gentle enough not to break it, then waited for her again. They started circling, waiting for the other's next move...
18's Journal Date: 43.7.8
This is the start of a journal I am keeping. My thoughts are in turmoil, I hope this will help me sort things out. Everything is confusing, I'm not really sure what I'm doing. Everything continues as it has been for the past week. Goku and I have finished the dome, and are now getting lots of plants inside. Goku has some other plan for the dome, however. Every evening we spar again. Goku is really keeping himself down, I can tell. Still, he's always just a bit better than me, a constant reminder of his strength. I can't fight him long before he has to train by himself again.
And that is one of the problems I am facing. He doesn't scare me as much as he used to, and I think I've begun to understand his view of life in general. It's pretty dreary, but he always believes that he can make a difference and win out in the end. I wish I had his confidence.
And I still don't know what place I fit in here. It's Goku's home, but he doesn't seem to care if I'm here. He welcomes the extra set of hands to help, but what does he think otherwise? I don't really know, beyond the fact that I'm not one of his enemies. If I was, I wouldn't be in condition to be thinking it.
Goku's Journal Date: 49.1.9
I haven't been writing in my journal of recent times, with all that business with Namek, then Cell, but now I shall begin again. 18 and I finished the dome much faster than I had anticipated. She's a big help in general for all of my work. We have stopped our work collecting plants and are modifying the dome.
My new design involves a great deal of work, but it should be possible. The idea is to have the entire dome underground for most of the time, bringing it out only when needed. I am again thankful for the computer I found, as it can handle that easily. The ozone is showing signs of wear, but not enough to worry me. Eventually this strain will break it up, but not for a while, I think.
18 seems uncomfortable around me. I'm not sure exactly why, but I've been thinking on it. I have lots of time to think, as my nights have dropped now to three hours, and I need anything to break up endless training. I don't know what is happening to me, but I have yet to suffer from my short nights and am actually more energized the next day. I think that 18 is still nervous about my battle mind-set, which even I will admit is a bit harsh. I've tried to lighten up, but that's not my strong point. At least she doesn't look deathly afraid anymore.
We have been sparring every day after the work is done. If I dampen my power, I can get a pretty decent workout. It's been a very long time since that had happened. My power level has risen even higher, but I don't think 18's will. Somehow it is set at what it is. Maybe my comment to Gero convinced him to add this. I have been thinking on that as well, and I may have a solution.
Something is happening to my mind. I know in the past that I haven't been the smartest person on the planet, but I wasn't too dumb. At least, after the psychological barrier I'd put on myself was removed. But now I've found myself doing better and better. I can read well, at an increasing speed. There have been times I can read an entire book in just ten minutes. I can easily handle the computer, while I'm sure it would have baffled me years ago. There is a reason, and I'm not sure I can give all the credit to my mind recovering from my ignorance shield. Something is happening, and I can only keep observing.
18 got up and walked out of her room. Goku was already up, sitting in a chair reading something. He had a large stack of books on either side of him. That was curious, she hadn't known he was a very avid reader. Counting, she saw over twenty books total, five were on one side, already read.
"What are you reading?" 18 asked, picking up one book. "Biochemistry?"
"And quite a few others." Goku glanced up from his book; 18 started looking through the books.
"Life Processes, Biology, Robotics." 18 paused. "Dr. Gero's Guide to Artificial Entities?"
"Yes." Goku smiled humorlessly. "The old man wrote a few things. I've tracked down all these and am reading up on the subject."
"Why?" 18 asked, sitting down in the chair opposite him.
"Because I want to know." Goku sounded honest. "This sort of thing can prove useful."
"Can you find a way to change me back into what I was before?" 18 asked, getting excited. For once something seemed to be a reason to hope.
"Possibly." Goku nodded. "From what I've seen of Dr. Gero's work, it could be reversible."
"What would we need?"
"Pretty standard supplies, nothing I can't find. The actual procedure is pretty simple."
"Let me see." 18 held out a hand.
Leafing back through one book, Goku ripped out a few pages and handed them to her. 18 glanced at them, puzzled.
"This is way beyond me," 18 said. "I don't see how you understand that."
"I don't either," Goku said mysteriously, setting aside his book and picking up the next.
"Would you do it? How much time would that take up?"
"Quite a bit. That's okay though."
She looked at him a second, wondering what that was supposed to mean. Letting her in she could understand, but from the way he said it, this would probably take up a vast amount of his time. Before things got more confusing, she decided to take her leave.
"I'll just leave you alone to read," 18 said, floating up to the second floor. Goku waved goodbye absentmindedly.
Upstairs 18 practically collapsed into the chair in front of the computer. Be turned back into a human again? Then she could be accepted again. Was this really possible? Swiveling in the chair, 18 continued thinking on the subject. This seemed unreal that Dr. Gero's evil work could be undone, but it might be. Was she looking at her ultimate solution?
Goku's Journal Date:50.2.5
I have continued my research, as well as my building and training. The dome work is going slowly, but I think it will be complete by the end of the next month. That was better than my first estimate, at least. Training has continued to go well, but 18's power level cannot be raised, unless I find a way to change it.
Speaking of which, my research may have paid off the first time. I still am puzzling to solve the lock Dr. Gero has placed on the biological code. I must admit, the old man was a genius, if a bit cracked. However, I am making progress, like in all things, slowly but surely. But just today I have found something that may prove of use. It wasn't well protected, like it was an afterthought. I will present the idea to 18 and see what she makes of it. What to do from there, I don't know.
"18." He was standing by her door. She turned in surprise, not having even heard him approach.
"What?"
"I have just pierced the first layer of robo-genetics Dr. Gero created," Goku said, coming in. "And I have made one discovery. While I cannot yet change you back into a human, I can remove the lock on your power level. From there on, it could be raised."
"And?"
"The question is, do you want the operation to be done?" he was looking very serious. "You would need to be able to trust completely."
"Why?"
"Because," Goku said, looking a bit sad, "to do this, you would have to be turned off."
18's Journal Date: 50.23.9
This has put a whole new spin on things. I am not really sure what to think about it. I would like my power level to be able to be raised, but why? I don't really know either. Cell is defeated, there isn't much more left for me to fight. But Goku seems to be prepared for something new to come up, so I suppose I have a reason there.
But there is a much larger problem. Me being turned off? The thought sends chills through the very marrow of my bones (if I have marrow). What would really happen? Would it be like sleep, or would I just cease to think? I asked Goku, and he said that he didn't know. If I found someone I really trusted, I might be able to stand it.
And that is the last problem. Who can I trust, really? No one doesn't hate me but Goku, and I can't shake the feeling that this is a ploy to destroy me. I know that if he wanted to do that, he could have already, but my mind is becoming steadily more irrational and less calculating by the day. I need to get out of this mindset.
18 put down the pen she had been writing with. What else was there to write now, really? It was late, but she didn't really need to sleep. And tonight, she needed some time to organize her thoughts, which were still stormy and unclear.
Getting up, she glanced at the clock. Almost midnight. Floating a few inches off the floor, 18 floated out of her room. Moving down the hall a bit, she looked through Goku's door. He was sleeping peacefully, on his back, facing the ceiling. Both eyes were closed, looking slanted even now. Even in sleep he was frowning slightly. 18 considered it all a moment, just floating there, watching him. Gazing at him a second, 18 realized she wouldn't be threatened by this creature. Floating back into her room, 18 made her decision.
Goku woke up only a short while later, shrugging off the dream he had just ended. Everyone dying, again. Despite that, he felt totally rested and glanced at the clock. Midnight, that made for a two-hour night. Getting up, he walked out of his room and floated upstairs. Moving to the computer, he began to get ready for the operation. Something inside him told him that 18 would somehow make a decision and that he should be ready when that happened.
Fly from the building for a while, Goku dropped by a hospital to pick up one of their beds. This was going to take a few neuros, so he started collecting materials for those as well. He made three and connected them to the main computer. It didn't accept them until Goku did some serious reprogramming. Then he needed a main conduit. Goku grabbed a book from below and started looking at Dr. Gero's designs. The doctor had the right idea, but he needed to change a few things.
Building off that, Goku built his main reactor and added a generator. Dr. Gero's ran at 90% efficiency; with a few tweaks, Goku was able to get it up to 98%. The doctor wasn't the best at everything. Moving around, Goku began setting things up. He left to collect a few tools.
High above the Afterlife, Dai Kioshin ground his heels into the ground angrily, crushing the tiny blue flowers that sprouted up beneath him. Things had not been going as planned; they had strayed ever since that Namek came on the scene. Every new event that was happening was taking things further from the course he had planned. How had it gone so wrong?
"This is an interesting development, Master," his apprentice spoke.
"Yes," Dai Kioshin growled, "it is. If he continues at this rate, Evil will never come!" And that would ruin him forever.
"I don't understand. Do we not want to prevent the come of Evil?"
"A mis-speak, my young apprentice, a slip of the tongue." His apprentice took that at face value. Luckily for him, too. That had been a close call, his plan had almost been given away there. He sent his apprentice to round up a few beings in the Afterlife. A few certain ones that could help him win this war, once he pulled out his next card. He still had a few aces up his sleeve yet.
Piccolo sat above him, smiling as Dai squirmed. If his apprentice had half a mind about him, he'd figure it out soon enough. You want all the power for yourself, don't you, Kioshin? Piccolo thought, smiling. You don't like that anyone other than Evil or the Legendary One can beat you. You don't like that a simple saiyan who had nothing but determination will become more than you and have what you never will.
But this was an interesting development. It appeared that Dai was pulling out the big guns. This was one of his largest attacks yet, the largest if you weren't counting the disease. Piccolo breathed deeply and brought himself to a complete calm. If he did this right, he could grab a hold of the coattails of Dai Kioshin's energy. Then maybe he could talk to Goku again; that would be most beneficial.
Goku had been training for a while when 18 appeared by the door. Stopping himself in mid flip, Goku righted himself and turned to her. He was pretty sure he knew what she was going to tell him, if not how she had come to a conclusion. That detail still puzzled him.
"Goku," 18 said nervously. "I have decided to have the operation. Could you do it?"
Goku blinked, this was unexpected. As he thought about it, he should have guessed, though.
"Yes, I could."
"Would you?"
"Yes."
18 nodded. "What happens now then?"
Goku didn't answer, he just floated up to the second floor, and 18 followed. Everything was ready and waiting. Though he had anticipated soon, he hadn't expected this soon. Luckily, it had been fairly easy for him to find an acceptable set of tools while looking around the city.
"As soon as I press this button," Goku gestured to a red one he'd installed, "you turn off if you're touching the blue panel beneath it. Are you ready?"
18 nodded and gently touched the panel.
"Then goodnight, 18," Goku touched the button lightly. 18's eyes closed and she fell. Goku caught her, and, a bit nervous at holding her, shifted her on the bed and attached all three neuros to her head. Tapping lightly at the keyboard, the computer began doing what it was supposed to do. Goku steepled his fingers and watched closely, making sure every detail was as it should be. At last the computer finished, and the transdemensionalizer behind him started grinding.
Turning, Goku saw the metallic orb appear, a collection of hundreds of metals. Pulling his tools closer, Goku pulled out a laser scalpel and began working. This was going to take a few hours; it was a tiring process. He wrenched open one socket and gently pulled out a chip from his case with a tweezers and inserted it. Taking a flame, he put it by the chip and started imbedding it into the metal.
While the flame burned, Goku glanced over at 18, looking peacefully asleep. Those eyes, so much like his, did they mean that she understood the truth like he did? No, 17's eyes had been the same type of slant, and of all people he didn't understand the truth. Dr. Gero must have merely made his androids that way. Glancing back, Goku realized the chip was almost welded in place.
Checking another slot, he opened it and started working on the circuitry already there. He flipped the chip over and checked the back. Not good, this wouldn't do. However, he had been prepared for this. Swirling in the chair, he put the chip into his computer and started the recharging process. Waiting, he glanced back over his shoulder at 18 a second.
It was odd, she hadn't really changed from the 18 that had destroyed so much. In a way, it was still the same person. Taking the chip out, he inserted it and continued his work. No, he decided, it was the same personality, a different person. Still a personality that destroyed and killed, but a person who wouldn't do so. That was it, same personality, different person. But, he realized, it was a personality that struck him in a strange way. It was something that he could deal with.
Reaching over, Goku pulled out another chip. This was the one that would take the longest. He inserted it into the computer and started downloading the information. He turned and looked at the metal orb. So fragile to be a person, it was amazing how dangerous it would be for even the smallest drop to occur. A life was in his hands. If he did even the slightest thing wrong, 18 would most likely die.
Looking down at the scalpel in his hands, Goku suddenly felt his head swim.
They are monsters, fit only to be destroyed. Goku winced, why would he remember Trunks' words now, of all times? But then he realized that he wasn't remembering. He was hearing.
They'll destroy everything you know if they are not stopped. Vegita's voice this time. Other voices joined in, Goku found himself drifting away from himself. There was a brilliant flash, and when he could see again, he was standing on a red plane of existence. Before him slowly materialized some of the people he knew. Trunks, Gohan, Vegita and all the others. Piccolo was the only absentee.
"So you're living with an android now?" Vegita asked, raising an eyebrow at him. "How long will it be before that pretty hand of hers folds into a fist?"
"I don't know about you, Vegita," Goku murmured, barely keeping his calm around him, "but she can't actually hurt me. Are you still sore where she tore out your tail?"
"She'll pay for that, someday," Trunks said, his voice slightly warning.
"I'm sure." Goku rolled his eyes. "You guys were crushed."
"We are the Legendary Super Saiyans!" both Vegita and Trunks cried at the same time. Goku laughed, thinking how alike they seemed. He played along with this strange game in which he didn't even know the rules.
"In no way. I can become a Super Saiyan too, that means nothing. There is a level beyond Super Saiyan that is stronger yet. You guys can't fathom the power the Legendary Super Saiyan would have, much less the Legendary One himself."
The conversation continued on, Goku stopping everything they said in the same way. But he was still puzzled, what was happening?
Dai Kioshin pounded on his chair angrily. It just wasn't working. He had them all attacking the saiyan, and he was trying his best to pry into his mind, but the saiyan was strong. No matter what he wouldn't relent. It seemed as though the android would live, despite whatever they tried to do.
After pondering making one of them alive again, Dai Kioshin threw out that idea. It was too slow. There wasn't going to be any way they could get this to work. Their talk was slowing now as his power ebbed. Goku's resolution was firm that 18 was not a threat. Shoot! Why did he have to know the truth so well? Cursing, Dai Dioshin got up and started pacing around.
"Once I told you that Frieza killed all the saiyans by destroying planet Vegita," Vegita himself said. "But I just found out I was wrong. There are a lot of saiyans in the Afterlife, needless to say, and they told me the truth."
"Which is that the androids destroyed the entire planet," Trunks finished, smiling at their ace in the hole. "Dr. Gero's first hatred was always of saiyans, after you defeated him. 17 and 18 were still his strongest creations then, and he sent them to mop up the entire planet. And they did, very quickly. If not for planet Vegita's destruction, you would still be among friends. Are you going to care about someone who did that?"
"I can believe you." Goku was a bit shaken up for the first time, but the statement didn't seem false. "Because somehow I know it's true. But I don't believe about the rest of it. If you aren't in control of yourself, you can't be held responsible for your actions." It echoed of Piccolo's words long ago. That was what he had meant. Those words had been meant for now.
"Don't you ever worry that she'll go on another killing spree?" Chou-su asked. Goku shook his head.
"Every time I see her asleep, I look at her face and realize I'm not looking at a machine. I'm looking at a person."
"She hasn't changed," Tien added in. "It's the same person. She's still as likely to rip people to pieces."
"If she rips people like you guys, I don't think I'd mind that much."
"Where has your sense of morals gone?" Goku was surprised Vegita still remembered that about him.
"You lecture me on morals? What morals?" Goku almost laughed, and the thought occurred to him that incessant laughter was one of the first signs of madness. "How can you define that? I sort of like that destructive side."
"So you can love an emotionless killing machine?" Gohan yelled, striking the final blow. Goku stumbled back at the choice of words, but continued on, firm in his position. Did his son understand a bit of truth that he wouldn't believe himself? Did he honestly love 18? Goku covered his emotions with a flippant air.
"Who are you to talk about her killing people?" Goku said mockingly. "I've said before that she wasn't ever in control of herself. Can we say the same for you, Vegita?"
Vegita was about to reply, something that looked like a four-letter word starting with a consonant, but he suddenly faded. They all faded, leaving Goku alone on the red plane. He fell down to his knees. It had hurt, seeing them all there. Seeing them all work against them. Goku wasn't even sure what he was doing, defending 18 like that. His thoughts were in serious turmoil, he wasn't sure what he felt anymore. Had his son been right? If so, he needed to rethink a few things. But did 18 love him back?
Suddenly the plane around him turned black. Piccolo materialized in front of him where the others had been.
"Goku." Piccolo's voice was soft. "I can't stay here long, I'm just using Dai Kioshin's energy to meet you. He was trying to get you to destroy 18, if you haven't already guessed. You're the first person who had ever defied his attempts at complete mind control, congratulations."
"So why was he trying so hard?" Goku asked, getting up to smile at Piccolo.
"I can't really tell you," Piccolo said. "It's part of his plan. Another part we've thwarted."
Suddenly Piccolo wavered and got a bit more transparent.
"His energy is ebbing." Piccolo's voice was softer. The two clasped hands again.
"Just in case he tries again," Piccolo added, "don't worry about 18 killing anyone. She's just as likely to go on a killing spree as you are, if you know what I mean."
"Goodbye, my friend," they both said at the same time. Piccolo vanished, his hand becoming energy, then fading away. A second later, Goku blinked out in another blinding flash of brilliant light.