Chapter 12: Iron Irony

Warning: This may just be the Longest Chapter!

I woke up flat on my back, staring straight at the ceiling. That seemed odd, because I never sleep on my back.

Or do I? Who am I?

I went to sit up, but I couldn't. I was strapped down, and I started to panic.

"You woke up faster than I thought." I snapped my head over to see an old man with long white hair standing near a large computer. He was dressed in black and shades of yellow.

Now I was really panicking. This room didn't look good, and this man didn't look like someone's favorite grandpa.

"Calm down, my dear. No one is going to hurt you." he smiled, but that still didn't feel right. "No doubt you have many questions, and I'm sure I can answer all of them. Come-" he pressed a button and I was released, "I have much to tell you."

I got up and followed the old man down a hallway. I looked over myself, I was dressed in a red tank top and a denim jacket, and on the back of the jacket was a symbol that looked like a ribbon with RR. I had tight leather shorts and knee-high boots. My long black hair was tied into a braided ponytail.

Before we turned the corner he started to talk.

"I am Dr. Gero, and I use to build androids for the Red Ribbon Army. But sadly the army was destroyed many years ago. I kept on with my research and planned my revenge on the one who destroyed the glorious Red Ribbon Army. But two years he died, so now I am planning to rebuild the Red Ribbon Army, and you are going to help me."

"Why?" my own voice sounded foreign to me.

"Because that's what you're programmed to do. Ah, here we are. You're going to meet your… older brother and sister."

He opened the door and a boy with dark hair and a girl with blonde hair were standing and waiting. They seemed familiar to me.

"This is Android 17," he pointed to the boy, "And Android 18. You are Android 22, my latest creation."

"What happened to all the other numbers?"

"Smart as a whip, you are. 1 through 7 and 13 through 16 were failed experiments, 8 had too much free will, and 9 through 12 and 19 destroyed each other."

"That still leaves 20 and 21."

"Well, my dear, I am Android 20-" he removed his tall hat and under it was a globe containing a brain, "My body became too frail, so I had to get a new one. 21 is still growing over here."

I followed and in an incubator I saw a small bug-like creature hooked up to wires.

"What can you tell me about this one?" Dr. Gero asked me.

"It looks like a dragonfly. Is it bionic?"

"As you are. You are the first, and only, Sayjin cyborg."

"I am." I replied. "But if I'm a cyborg, then wasn't I organic?"

"Yes, you were. You're the last of a dying breed, I'm afraid."

"Then why did you change me? What about my family? I did have a family, didn't I?"

"You have no living relatives. You were found roaming the streets, near death. You agreed to this. I had to erase your memories, though."

"You had to?" I asked. He nodded.

"I had to make room. Come with me, I have much to show you." I followed him out and learned of my new home.

Dr. Gero explained to me that I could gain power, unlike 17 and 18. They have a limit, but because I was a Sayjin I didn't. I still had organic limits, like the need for rest and food, but other than that I was his best creation, though 21 was his favorite.

"Tomorrow you will begin your training. You should rest, and in the morning you'll be served breakfast."

"Dr. Gero, what happened to my family?"

"We're your family now, don't worry about it. The organics are dead, but you could live forever. An immortal family."

"Okay. What about my name? I assume I wasn't 22 then? And my age?"

"Your name is 22 now, and you were 18 years old when we found you. Now goodnight, 22."

"Yeah, goodnight Dr. Gero."

"Kakorot, why haven't you destroyed this world yet? And what happened to your tail?"

"Who are you!" Goku screamed.

"Kakorot, I'm hurt. You don't even recognize your own brother?"

"My brother?" Goku glanced at me, then back to Raditz.

"Yes, and you were sent here to destroy this world. Join me Kakorot, and together we could rule this world!"

"Never!" Goku cried.

"Daddy!" Gohan cried out.

"Get behind me, Gohan." I called as he ran behind me. I was closer to Gohan.

"You have a son? What, who are you!" Raditz noticed my tail for the first time. I had been keeping it wrapped around my waist, but like an animal I swished it around in anger and fear without noticing that I was doing so.

"Oh, that. I go by Katie, and I'm Goku's sister."

"So that's your name, Kakorot?" he said to Goku, then turned to me, "I didn't know I had a sister."

"Well I didn't know I had aliens for brothers!" I lied, keeping up the story. Raditz walked over to Goku and kneed him in the stomach, and he fell.

"No!" I shot up in my bed, suddenly wide-awake.

I was sweating and shaking. The dream was so vivid I could have sworn it to be real.

I'm not Goku's sister, but I…I don't know. He seemed familiar. Maybe it was just a dream.

I laid back down and tried to sleep, but that wasn't going to work. That image kept replaying itself. Over and over again I saw myself, younger, and this Goku and this Raditz guy fighting. If Raditz was my brother, then why would I fight him?

Since the lab was underground I didn't know that the sun was up, but an internal clock read 7:55. That's when a cart rolled into my room, apparently on a track or something, and stopped. Food was piled high and something told me to hope it would be enough.

I ate the food quickly and left my room. 17 met me in the hall.

"I was just coming for you, little sister. Gero is ready for us to train you."

"How's that going to work?" I asked. He sighed like I was an idiot.

"We'll teach you how to use your new body and your new powers. Gero must have really wanted to finish you before the war, because he worked nonstop on you until he was sure you were perfect. It took him months."

"So it's a war to rebuild the Red Ribbon Army?"

"Yes. You know, you're pretty quick. Our old man did good on you."

We walked in silence for a moment, I was following 17 and examining the lab. We turned a corner as I began to speak again.

"17, do you ever dream?"

"No, I'm an Android, not a human." He laughed.

"I think I did last night."

"Well you are a cyborg. A Sayjin cyborg, to be exact."

"Gero must have erased my memories and downloaded other things, like my education. I was very well educated before my… whatever you want to call it."

"Gero calls it a rebirth."

"That seems right. I also know my attacks and how to execute them, so why do I need training? I'm not complaining, Sayjins love to fight, but isn't it a waste of Gero's time?"

"He wants to make sure it all works right. You're lucky, he didn't plant a bomb in you." 17 sighed.

"What?"

"18 and I have bombs so we'll listen to Gero, but you don't. Sayjins are loyal, like dogs if you ask me." He sneered.

"Well watch it, this dog will bite anyone she doesn't like."

"You're alright, kid. You're alright." He laughed. He was testing me. 17 stopped at a door and opened it.

"Here you go. Knock yourself out. Gero will tell you what to do."

I entered a large room with white walls as the door closed behind me. One wall had a window that led to another room, and there I saw 18 and Gero. 17 entered and said something, and Gero nodded. He then hit a switch.

"22, we're going to start with your older Ki attacks. Use your Kamehameha Wave."

I did so and I saw him laugh.

"Well done, 22. Now, try the Final Flash."

Again, I did it no problem.

"Well done indeed. Now, try the Power Blitz."

That one was easy as well. The bright green ball was denser than the others were, but not as powerful. It was meant to do pinpoint damage more than widespread damage.

"Terrific! You're doing exceptional, 22."

"Well why wouldn't I? You did build me." That sounded dumb. He must have programmed me to say things like that, to boost his ego.

"Yes, I did, didn't I? Alright, now try your Dissolver Ray."

I held out my hand and multiple blasts shot out of my hand at once. Two, three, ten at a time. Then my hand jammed up. I hit my lower arm a few times, but nothing changed.

"Gero, we gotta jam here. It won't fire."

"Well, that's to be expected. Come on, I'll fix it."

I left the room and followed Gero back to the lab. 17 and 18 followed close behind us.

"Is this going to hurt?" I asked.

"It might pinch, but since that arm is already fully mechanic it shouldn't."

He pointed to the table and I sat down. He brought over a smaller table with equipment, and instructed me to place my arm palm-up and to stay still. I rested my arm on the table as he looked over my blueprints on the large screen. It was large enough that I could read it clearly from my seat. I removed my jacket and saw for the first time a 22 printed on my upper-left arm.

He hooked my arm up and ran a diagnostic.

"There's the problem, a loose wire."

17 and 18 watched with curiosity as Gero picked up a soldering tool and came over to me. I readied myself for the pain, but something told me I had felt worse before.

He pushed in on both sides of my wrist and my skin seemingly melted away on my arm, all the way up to my shoulder and down to my fingertips. Instead of muscle and bone I had wires and metal.

"Dr. Gero-" but he interrupted me.

"Hush child, let me work." I'd ask him later. He started to work, and I only felt a pinch, like he had said. "There, all done. Now, what was it you were going to say?" he asked as he started to put away his equipment.

I pressed the opposite sides of my wrist as he had and my skin recovered my arm.

"How much of me is still bio?"

"Most of you. Your entire skeleton is made out of a new metal, ten times harder than normal bone. Your new skin is an alloy of the metal as well, though it is only as strong as flesh. Your skin regenerates when you're injured for quick recovery. 17 and 18 are made of the same materials."

"So the rest is bio?"

"Yes, all of your other muscles and organs, but your brain is part mechanical now. It gives you more memory capabilities and quicker thinking. The left arm is your greatest weapon; it fires both your Dissolver Ray and your Photon Volley. If you'd like to read your blueprints...?"

"Oh, sure." I got up and looked them over. My skin could reform, but not my body parts. I had extendable claws, like Lady Death-strike from X-men. A lot of my body reminded me of Wolverine. I had an internal breathing apparatus that worked so I could breathe under water, and besides that the rest was bio. I also had a stealth element, to a bio it would be invisibility, but it's simply a play on the optical nerve.

"Well, what do you think, 22?"

"You did a great job combining the bionics and mechanics together. And my entire skeleton was rebuilt?"

"Yes, it took careful work. I had to make sure every bone was replaced with a new one. Your backbone and tail took me three weeks alone. You are totally immune to radiation and your Sayjin genes make you more powerful after every injury. You're much stronger now then when you came here."

"I guess I should thank you, but something just doesn't seem right."

"What is it, 22?" he asked.

"I had a dream last night."

"Just zeros and ones, I assure you. Nothing to worry about." He replied quickly, as though he was covering something up or expecting this.

"But 17 and 18 don't dream." I added.

"But they're not cyborgs, either."

"Yeah, I guess that makes sense."

"So, you survived the fall after all. Well that's fine with me, because I'm going to destroy this planet. You'll all be dead soon enough."

"That sounded vaguely like Frieza. I think I know what you're really doing here, Kooler. You're here to prove that you are better than Frieza. Its basic sibling rivalry, I get that. I feel the same way with Goku and Vegeta."

"Well, aren't you smart. I hated my brother, true, but I only came here to avenge the family honor."

"Your kind has no honor." I spat.

"You seem quite brave. Or foolish. Now step aside and I promise to give this planet a painless end."

"No. I won't move. Either way I'm dead, right? So why not go out fighting?" I got into my fighting stance, waiting.

"How very much like a Sayjin. But I guess I'll humor you." he charged and we began to fight. I knew I had regained some of my power from earlier, but I also knew it wouldn't be enough to stop Kooler.

"You fight well, for an Icejin." I said. We were in the air now, but that seemed to help me better. Most people move easier in the air.

"Funny, I was going to say the same thing about you, Sayjin. You know you can't win, so why do you fight?"

"For one, I'm a Sayjin, and for two, I promised Goku I'd protect him until he could fight again."

"Then I've decided you're just a fool."

"You think I care what you think?"

Three weeks of training, but I still had dreams. Or memories. This Goku was almost always in these dreams. So was a guy named Vegeta. They were Sayjins, like me but older.

Who are these people? And why do they know my attacks? I thought Kamehameha Wave and Final Flash were my attacks, but what if Gero programmed them into me so I'd be able to fight these guys?

What if he erased my memory so I would fight these guys and not hold back? What if they're my friends, or family? Maybe they aren't dead. Gero won't let me leave the lab, not until D-day. I need to know who I am, or who these people are.

I got out of my bed and started out. My internal clock read 2 a.m., so normally no one would be up, but I was the only one who needed sleep. I switched on the cloaking device and crept out of my room.

I came to the room where 17 and 18 stayed and stopped. They were talking about me.

"I don't know, 17. She seems too nosy."

How ironic…

"She's strong and she's loyal to Gero. Sayjins are instinctually loyal to a parent figure, and Gero was the first person she saw when she woke up."

"But she's still Sayjin? Don't you remember that Sayjins dream of past battles so they can see mistakes and learn from it? What if she remembers?"

"She won't, 18. She thinks its nothing but computer code. Gero erased everything. Though why he made a back file, I'll never know."

"Maybe so he could read and learn from it. I still don't trust her, 17."

"She's our sister."

"Only half, if you want to get technical."

"What if you tried talking to her? You seem to find an excuse to leave every time she enters the room."

"If she somehow finds out-"

"She won't, understand? We keep her busy during the day, and she has to sleep sometime."

"17, do you think she'd help us stop Gero?"

I decided to go now before I was caught, though they couldn't have seen me anyway. I didn't want to hear this, but I needed it.

So my dreams are memories of past battles. That means I'm working for the wrong side, and my friends are looking for me.

Damn Gero to HFIL and back! I gotta find that file!

I went to the main lab, right to the computer and stopped dead on my feet. Gero was still working, it looked like he was working on 21.

He may not need sleep, but eventually he'll leave. Hopefully sooner than later.

Shortly after he stood up and stretched. He left, heading toward 17 and 18's room.

I went inside and accessed my files. That's when I learned the truth.

Android 22:

Son Katie, or Katrin. The Sayjin fosterling related to Son Goku. His cousin and protege.

Then my blueprints came up. I already knew that, but there was a reference link at the bottom of the screen. Lucky me, no bombs or tracking devices.

Gero Journal:

Though Son Goku died two years ago, I still feel the need to avenge the Red Ribbon army. I will do this by turning his protege into my newest weapon. Son Katie, or Katrin, is the best choice for an android and she'll be stronger. Recently I have discovered that Vegeta has become a Super Sayjin, and he would undoubtedly resist to the treatment, unlike her. Also, her youth makes it opportune to work with, adolescence, with her body still maturing she'll take to the treatment more easily than someone older. She'll be Android 22, and she will destroy everything Goku stood for so the Red Ribbon Army can regain its former glory.

I went to another link with photos, and there I was, with Goku and Vegeta, fighting Cyborg Frieza and Kooler.

Then I saw a disk laying about the papers. It was labeled back-up memory.

I found it! Great!

A program came up. It was named 'Son Katie's memory back-up'. I froze.

Do I really want what is on this disk? Do I want to know the people I have lost? Wouldn't it be easier to go on like this?

Isn't this all too easy?

Then I remembered something, a dream I had. A little boy, crying, and Vegeta was standing over him. I had sworn in the dream to protect that child, and I couldn't do that right now.

I have to know, I have to be me, the real me. Without my memories I'm not Son Katie, but 22, and something tells me I'd rather be Son Katie.

I pressed the sides of my wrist and the skin melted away. I moved the wires and a placed the plug-in into Gero's computer. I selected the program. All that I had to do now was press enter and I would be myself again.

"22, what are you doing?" Dr. Gero, 17, and 18 walked in.

"You lied to me. This whole time I was told I was alone, but this says I've got friends out there. They need me, and they need me to stop you."

"22, don't do this. Stay with us." 18 said.

"I'm Katie. Son Katie. Goku's cousin, and his student. There's a child out there I have to protect and another I have to train. And Vegeta needs me, too. He needs me for something."

"If you push that button you'll become the enemy, 22." Gero said.

"So be it." I snarled.

"No!" 17 screamed as I hit the button.

My memories flashed before my eyes like a TV show. I saw who I really was, and I saw 17 and 18 capturing me. I saw Goku die, and I saw Vegeta die, then come back. I saw the one I needed to protect, Trunks. It ended as quickly as it began, and I was Katie again.

"22-"

"Katie. I'm 22 no more. You miscalculated the Sayjin factor, Gero. I'm not loyal to anyone in particular except myself. That's why I was able to do all of this. Your ego is bigger than Vegeta's, why else would you leave all of these files wide open for anyone to read? You didn't even use a password." I hissed. I returned my arm to normal and then took out the disk, throwing it aside.

"Katie, now we'll have to kill you."

"I doubt that." I took off. I headed out of the lab and down the hall. 17, 18, and Gero were all behind me.

I turned a corner and met with 17. I ran another way and met with 18. I ran another way and met with Gero. Finally I was back in the lab.

"You can't escape, Katie." Gero said.

"Then I'll take something as a souvenir to Otherworld!" I blasted the container that held 21, my older brother. I knew that if he was completed then we were all in trouble.

"No!" Gero screamed. "17, 18, attack!"

The twins came after me and once again I ran. I knew that as of now I couldn't defeat them, but one day, if I made it, I would.

Of course, I could just teleport away, but then I wouldn't know where this place was for later. All I had to do was make it outside and I'd been home free.

I ran as fast as I could, and I actually thanked Gero for the enhancements that made me faster, or else I wouldn't be able to get away.

I made it to the exit door I had seen 17 and 18 use and I ran even harder. I used all my energy and broke out the door so I wouldn't have to slow down.

I ran up the stairs and took in my surroundings. I wasn't far from West City. The underground lab was unknown to the city people completely.

I got to the fresh air and inhaled it deeply.

17 and 18 took me by surprise and attacked. It was all I could do to hold them off.

"Little sister, aren't you tired of playing games?" 18 asked. I didn't let her distract me.

"No, I'm not. Why don't you let me help you? I can come back and remove the bombs, and you'll be free."

"No thanks, we have other things in store for this planet." 17 said.

"Well, I'll have to stop you, but I think we've had enough excitement for tonight." I managed to back away from them, "Goodbye, my brother and sister." Then I locked-on to Capsule Corp. and teleported out.