Chapter XIV

Bulma froze as she darted back into her lab, astounded by the new form. She was sure that they hadn't hired any new hands as of late and they made a habit not to hire new workers and then stick them on the night shift, not right away. Besides, this one looked to be little older than his late teens. Besides, this was her private lab, not the lab of the company. Only a choice few were allowed in here.

"Hey! Excuse me but you're not permitted in here. This isn't the company lab."

The masculine form didn't honor her with a reply, just focused on what ever his task was.

"Hey!"

The figure finally turned when she touched his shoulder. His brown hair fluttered into his eyes but that's not what Bulma was focused on. It was the vial he had clasped tightly in one of his hands. She panicked, her skin turning pale. "Put that back! Now!"

He gave her such a cynical glare that she backed up. His dark voice frightened her enough that she half glanced back; to make sure she still had a way out. He took a step closer to her and she knew immediately by the lack of soul in his eyes that this was an Android but that only succeeded in making her heart throb like mad. She eyed her cure in his hand though a brief surge of courage pushed its way through her terror. She stood up straight and took a step towards him.

"Give it back."

"Oh, I don't believe I can do that."

Bulma gritted her teeth, "Give it here."

"You're going to have to come and get it, milady." He teased her, waving the vial back and forth. "My Doctor has a need for this himself."

"Your "Doctor" can go to Hell." Bulma charged at the Android, her thoughts solely on little Gohan and the adrenaline rush gave her a courage she would not normally have had. She struck out at the Android with her fist but it hardly made any reaction and now he grasped her hand himself, squeezing with inhuman strength. The human scientist screamed, trying to wretch her arm free.

"The Doctor warned me, through his researching of your Son Goku's acquaintances that you would be trouble. Smart girl, you should have kept to your own business."

"Goku…and his family…are my business!" she hissed and jerked her knee up, a move she'd picked up from watching Vegeta train nonstop. Nailing the Android, right in the groin, the machine, luckily, was not immune to such an attack and released her. Furious and afraid, the human woman turned around and imitated Goku and Vegeta's roundhouse kicks, hitting the machine's left hand, effectively knocking the vial loose. Jumping over him, she snagged it off the ground and ran down the stairs.

Android Ten hissed through his teeth. Apparently, some of his data had been inaccurate. He had been programmed with the knowledge that Bulma Briefs had no way of defending herself. That without some type of weaponry like a gun, that she was helpless. Well, judging from the pain vibrating through his body, that had been not one hundred percent correct. He stumbled to his feet, gathered his composure and chased the human woman downstairs.

Bulma was already a ways ahead. She had to get this to Gohan and quickly. There would be no time to coax the child to swallow it. The human woman grabbed a sealed needle from a lab table on her way out of Capsule Corporation. She dug into her pocket, searching for her keys. She didn't have dynocaps with her but she could at least get to her car. That might give her a head start on the blasted Android.

The dirt stirred in front of her as the Android dropped down in front of her. She hissed, cursing under her breath. Her ability to fight back was hardly something to be afraid of and she knew that all too well. Her adrenaline rush and the brief learning she'd received from watching a group of martial artists most of her life would keep her alive for a bit but not for too long.

Sure enough, the Android struck out at her with a speed that she could hardly fandom. A sharp pain rushed through her face but she kept her hands firmly clasped around the vial in her shirt, refusing to release it for anything. Her face felt warm as blood trickled down from her temple and nose but she closed her eyes tightly, wrapped one elbow around her head and braced herself.

Her cheek hit the dirt and concrete as a second blow sent her flying. Repressing the urge to scream out, she tightened her grip on the vial and tried to sit up. A second kick in the face sent her sprawling. She felt blood fill her mouth and she spat it up, groaning as she turned and saw through a blackened eye the Android approaching her. Elbows trembling, she forced herself up.

"The vial please…"

"N..No." she spat out with as much venom as she could muster. The Android's hand began to glow with power and Bulma winced, drawing her head away at least so she wouldn't have to see herself get barbequed. She waited, knowing all too well what those types of blasts could do, having seen them used in battles many a time. She waited but the pain never came.

However, she did hear a thud and turned behind her. Her eyes widened.

"Vegeta!"

"Don't misunderstand, Woman." He spat coldly as ever. "I don't give a damn if you live or die but you can cure the brat and that brat is a Saiyan. There aren't many of us left. That's all. Nothing more, nothing less, female."

Bulma opted not to argue with her rescuer's reasons. She really didn't care why he had chosen to save her at the moment. All that nattered was that now the Android's attentions were focused on the Saiyan Prince which gave her the time she needed to stand up and run, snagging her getaway in a hovercar. She set her sights on Mount Paouz and ignored the Saiyan Prince and Android who were facing off, calm as if they were going to gossip amongst themselves about the day's events.

Vegeta scowled. "The woman is nothing. Your fight is with me now, Android."

The Android blinked. "So, you are aware I'm not human, an impressive observation. That was quicker than most others."

"You expected less from a Saiyan Prince? Your deceptions are easily detectable by even the lowest Saiyan eyes."

"So there is no need for introductions."

"Hardly, now you die."

Vegeta charged the Android, who responded by taking to the air. The Saiyan Prince smirked. "Already running? You won't get away from me that easily."

That said, he powered up and took off, skyborn, after the monstrosity. Number Ten smirked. He knew all too well that the Saiyans could be dangerous. He hadn't the ability to defeat them alone, given that he and Nine were designed to be a partner group. Together, they could be quite lethal because they were designed to be parts of a whole. If need be, they could combine together. If they could bring all these enemies together, they could get rid of all the nuisances at once. Yes, that was the best thing.

Number Ten homed in on Number Nine's circuits. She was on Mount Paouz…no, she was on the mountain's lands but now her energy signal was moving. He zeroed in on her plausible destination and found it to be the Diablo Desert. Of course, that was Nine for you. She was the thinker of the group. Gero had designed them like that on purpose. He didn't want to give one too much independence. Ten couldn't think in long term while Nine couldn't think in short. Number Nine worked with weapons as she lacked a great deal of physical strength while he was powerful muscularly but didn't have her agility. The doctor had been clever and careful in his design. They needed each other.

He looked behind, firing another blast to keep the Saiyan pursuing and set his sights for the harsh desert landscape.

OOO

"Krillin, look out!"

The human warrior ducked, narrowly missing a katana blade. Why? Why did the Android have to be a girl? She was attractive! Had he not been so angry at her, he doubted he would have been able to fight as well as he was. This Android didn't use many ki attacks but her skill with the sword was excellent. Krillin had almost forgotten how effective a sword could be at ending one's life. He'd gotten so used to ki blasts.

Goku, always one step ahead of him, hadn't forgotten it so easily, probably due to his lifestyle. As soon as she'd wiped out a katana, Goku had jerked out his powerpole, effectively blocking most of her strikes. However, even the pole was showing sign of damages as the katana's blade was sharp, cutting out a few chunks of the enchanted weapon.

Goku dove in front of Krillin, catching the Android's katana with his powerpole and throwing her off. He threw out a quick ki blast as her but she easily dodged it. Krillin picked himself off the ground, "Thanks Goku."

"Don't thank me yet."

Krillin refocused his attention and nodded. "Right."

The Android landed a few feet away, snatching her katana from the air. Her face never changed, it was always so calm and unemotional that it made Goku tense. He couldn't read her possible actions that way. He could usually learn to read any enemy's action pattern and fighting style after a few minutes of fighting. It was one of his gifts. But he couldn't do that with her.

He hissed at one of the deep gashes on his left arm. She was quick with the blade; he had to give her that. Almost as fast as he was. That made her dangerous because he knew all too well that one well aimed blow with a katana would be more than sufficient to kill either him or Krillin. That slice on his arm had been aimed for his neck but his reflexes were too quick for that. Luckily.

However, he kept eyeing his unconscious wife on the ground outside the house. As luck would have it, she wasn't dead, thank goodness but Goku was worried about the stray blasts and battle scars that were being to litter the mountaintop hitting her. She was helpless as she was and Goku had no time to go and move her. The Android was taking far too much of his energy.

"You fight well, Son Goku, Krillin." She said in a voice so soft and cold it made Goku shudder. He narrowed his eyes. Normally, he didn't mind exchanging banter with an opponent. It made for a more interesting battle and sometimes it helped him to see an enemy's intentions which made their actions a tad more predictable. However, there was too much on the line for him to even think about that right now. His son was dying, his wife was in the danger zone and this opponent was fast, clever and cold.

All in all, it hadn't been a very good week so far. In fact, it had been horrific. He hadn't slept much, he'd only eaten some and he felt like his heart was going to be ripped out of his chest every moment he didn't know what Gohan was like. If his son died while he was away, if he died at all…well, Goku was pretty sure that he would be following him. He couldn't stand the thought.

Krillin scoffed at the Android. "A lot more than you, Android…pretty low, attacking a child."

"I attack what the Doctor tells me to attack."

Goku growled "that's just like Gero. Attack someone when they're helpless."

The Android tossed her hair. "And it won't take me long to track him down either."

Goku's heart froze in his chest. She was still after his son! His child, his life. And in Gohan's present state, the poor boy was vulnerable. His baby was helpless right now! Yet this…this…THING….was going to track him down like a hunter on a rabbit? Gohan was innocent, completely. He was just a little boy who was loyal to the bone. Now, he was paying for it. Goku blinked, not even realizing the tears that were starting down his face. His baby was in danger…and that terrified him.

Four Years Ago…

"Gohan!"

Goku cupped his hands around his mouth and called for his son again. It wasn't like Gohan to be out this late. It was past dinner, which had been Goku's first alarm. Now, it was a good hour past his bedtime and Gohan still wasn't home. Goku's mind was doing all sorts of horrific plays. He saw all sorts of possibilities. His son was only three years old, barely turned three less than a month ago.

"Gohan!"

Nothing.

"Son Gohan!" Goku hated using Gohan's full name because he usually reserved it for when he was in trouble. Still, he was terrified that his son was in trouble, or hurt. There were dozens of animals that paraded about Mount Paouz at night. Animals that Gohan had no clue even existed. There were creatures that sometimes even gave Goku the creeps.

He shook that thought out of his mind, "GOHAN!"

Nothing.

"SON GOHAN! ANSWER ME!"

Nothing.

Goku bit his lip and pressed onward. The dark night was starting to scare him. He feared for his little toddler. They had just started to potty train the child and the boy was proud of his newfound independence. As Goku trailed through the woods, he came to the conclusion perhaps they should have established firmer guidelines but it was hard with such a determined toddler.

Besides, Goku hated to restrain Gohan. He'd been a lot like Gohan, always anxious to find answers all around him. His son was an explorer, plain and simple and unfortunately, after a nap, he was always ready for trouble. He had crawled into the open oven once. If not for ChiChi's chance sighting of a brow tail tip, they probably would have cooked their son for dinner that night! Thank goodness for the insights of a new mother and father!

He'd have thought their paranoia would have prevented an event like this from happening but that was not to be. After dinner and his bath, the little toddler had wandered outside while Goku and ChiChi cleaned up the kitchen. As soon as they had realized he was gone, the two had rushed outside, ChiChi searching around the house while Goku pursued their child into the forests.

Goku paused when his boot fell on something too spongy to be natural. Looking down, he dug his fingers into the firt and pulled up something wet and flexible. Brushing off grass and soil, he recognized the blue and green markings. It was one of his son's pacifiers. ChiChi didn't like the fact he still used them but Goku insisted he would grow out of them on his own. This was Gohan's daytime one.

Trailing his finger on the green ring that hung out of it, he found the strap still connected but the clip had obviously come undone from his son's clothes. But this was a better clue than he had previously had. He had a better idea of where to find his tracks now. Sure enough, he soon saw little footprints, with small fibers lodged in the mud, no doubt from his son's pajamas.

He took off that direction, silent for right now, listening for any other clues or signs. His persistence paid off and before long, he heard a faint whimpering that escalated into sobs. He ran in that direction, fixing his eyes to follow the origin of the sounds. He found it to be in a patch of trees off a good mile. Gohan had quite the set of lungs, just like Goku had had.

Pushing aside a branch or two, he found his little toddler.

Gohan was curled up into a tight ball, wailing out as loud as he could. His pajamas were soaked through with sweat and water, probably from the mud puddles that were around the forest floor. He was sitting there, sucking on his fist like mad, screaming out every so often for his father. Goku broke into a run, "Gohan! You're okay!"

"DADDY! SCARED!"

Goku snatched him up, cradling him, "I know baby. Daddy's here, Daddy's here."

"Daddy, I was so scared! I cold, I hungry, I tired. LOST IVY!"

"No, no, you didn't, little man. Daddy found Ivy but she needs a bath. Here, take her twin Iggy for now, okay?" Goku pulled Iggy out of his pocket: Gohan's red and orange pacifier. Gohan whimpered, took the item offered and stuck it into his mouth. He suckled it loudly and madly for about five minutes before the speed slowed and he laid his head onto Goku's shoulder.

Goku stroked his son's back as he slowly walked back towards the house, silently thanking King Yemma or whoever was watching over his family.

Present

Goku's eyes narrowed intensely with the thought of his innocent little boy being slaughtered like an animal in a meat factory. The Android regarded him with such soulless and uncaring eyes. Krillin caught the shift in Goku's ki and turned around, eyeing the Saiyan father who was very near panting with rage, something he'd never seen him do. "Goku?"

Hands curled together, moving behind his back, "Ka…me….ha….me….HA!"

The blue white blast soared towards the humanoid machine. She tossed her hair behind her and held up one hands. She wasn't an absorbent model completely but she could absorb blasts as a safety. The burning blast stung for a moment before it disappeared into her skin. She enjoyed seeing their faces light up with shock and horror. It was quite satisfying.

Goku growled through his teeth, "Damn." Krillin shared his best friend's sentiments.

"She absorbed that like it was nothing!"

Tossing her red hair back, Nine smirked "Can you do a little better than that or is it my turn?"

Without waiting for a reply, she powered her hands up, generating a blue white ball in her hands that grew to about the size of a small boulder. She took aim and threw but she missed Goku and Krillin by a good foot or two and it went sailing past them. Goku scoffed, surprised by her bad aim but then his mind turned to something else. Or more accurately, someone else.

"CHICHI!"

He turned around, and sure enough, his unconscious wife was the source of the Android's attack. He put two fingers to his forehead, vanished and reappeared, snatching ChiChi up from the ground before willing himself out of the way just before the attack connected with the ground, taking out a good thirty square feet of land.

Goku willed himself back in by his Grandfather's old hut and laid his unconscious wife on the same mat. She was alive, just knocked out and her black hair was a little singed from the blast. But she was alive and that was all Goku cared about at the moment. He checked her breathing one more time before he willed himself back in front of the Android.

"I don't believe the depths you sink to."

"The woman's expendable."

Goku ground his teeth. "You want a battle with me? You got it. But not here."

The Android considered before she replied "Very well." Upping her ki, she led the way off. Krillin and Goku gave chase after her.

OOO

"Faster, just a little faster…"

Gohan gritted his teeth, putting one hand to his chest, over his heart. It was starting to throb and pound, even more intensely than it had before. It felt like a fire trying to break out of his ribs. He was faltering in his flight, almost like he couldn't stay airborne. He was going to have to rest soon but he didn't want to. What if when he rested, Daddy was getting killed?

No, his body needed the rest. He landed, pressing his hand against a rock overhanging, giving him a little shade. He was approaching the desert land so the sun was going to start working like an energy sponge soon. He could already feel it starting to work. His golden aura faltered and he steadied his ki, making the golden hair shade and glimmers strengthen and solidify.

His eyes flickered up, seeing two different groups breeze past. He narrowed his eyes, recognizing Krillin and Goku and a female form in one and in the other group a ways off…a male form and Vegeta. Two Androids…he couldn't feel any ki from them. But he could tell by how tense Daddy and Krillin were that this would not be an easy fight.

"Go on Gohan….get up…fly…"

It was hard, so hard. His heart hurt worse and worse the longer he tried to fly. But his Daddy was going to need him. His feet then his toes left the dusty ground and he slowly rose into the air, gathering his breath and strength before pressing himself onward towards the imminent battle. He bit his lip, resisting the urge to cry out in agony.

Digging his nails into the skin, he drew small drops of red blood from his skin. He closed his eyes, focusing as much as he could. It took most of his willpower but he pressed onward, focusing on coming up amongst Goku and Krillin. He paused a moment, getting his ki and strength up as much as he could before he charged.

OOO

"Vegeta!"

The Saiyan Prince scoffed. "Hmph. Deal with your own problems Kakarrot. I have a score to settle with these Androids. Just stay out of my way."

Goku chose not to reply. He hardly had the time to think about Vegeta's ego. He focused his thoughts and energy on the female Android for now. She had a partner obviously because that's who Vegeta's cold gaze was focused on.

Together, the two Androids coursed,

"Shall we begin?"

The light of blasts ignited and the warriors collided.