Chapter 15: The End of the Z Senshi Part 1
A few hours later everyone had gathered, some more reluctant than others (glance at Vegeta), and everyone was uneasy with Vegeta being there. No one knew the goodness I had seen, that I knew was there. Bulma gave me a conference room to use for privacy. Tien, Choazu, Yamcha, Krillen, Gohan, and Vegeta, who was standing against the wall, were silent as I decided to tell them all the events that had taken place and what we needed to do. Its kind of silly now that I think about it, but I felt like I was briefing the troops. I guess all of my recent military exposure was the cause.
"As you all know, over a year ago I disappeared. Four weeks ago I woke up in a laboratory and I wasn't myself anymore. To get to the point, Dr. Gero of the Red Ribbon Army abducted me and transformed me into a Sayjin cyborg, whom he named Android 22. He replaced my entire skeleton and most of my organs with Dextryte, a new metal ten times harder than normal bone. My skin can regenerate because it is made of an alloy of Dextryte. And last, my entire left arm has been replaced with a robotic one." I paused, and saw recognition on the faces of everyone but Vegeta at Gero's name, "Dr. Gero created two more androids, and the three of us were going to help Gero rebuild the Red Ribbon Army. Androids 17 and 18 killed Gero at some point in the past week, and today we lost Piccolo to them as well."
"No, not Piccolo…" Tien said. I was upset over Piccolo's loss, but I kept stern as I continued to explain the situation.
"That not only means we lost a good friend… but that means we no longer have the Dragonballs, and no access to the ones on New Namek since no one knows where it is. Also today, Gohan transformed into a Super Sayjin." I paused when I saw Vegeta's reaction, but he remained silent. "But 17 and 18 still defeated us. They weren't even scared of Super Sayjin form. Unlike me, 17 and 18 no longer have any humanity left within them. They are as cold as the metal they are built from. We are earth's strongest fighters, and without the Dragonballs any death is now permanent. We need to stop them, but I'm not any sort of leader, so I can't make you go. It's your choice. All I can say is one person could make all the difference."
I sat down and waited as the others thought out their decisions. I felt like I was going to lead them to their deaths.
"I'll warn you know, only I can sense their Ki because we're all androids, and they are a lot tougher than they look. But technically I can't read their Ki levels, only sense where they are. I have no idea how to explain to you their power levels because I don't know what they are. What we do know is that 18 killed Piccolo before anyone could react."
I'm not a leader, and I'm not even that powerful, but I know the situation better than the others. I only hope they can forgive me. We really do need Goku, but he's gone, and we're all that stands against these androids.
"Well, I'm in." Krillen said.
"Me too." Tien added.
"If Tien goes, I go." Choazu said.
"You can count on me." Yamcha gave a thumb's up.
"And you know I'm in." Gohan said sternly.
"Right, and you Vegeta?" I turned to him, and the others did as well.
"Just stay out of my way."
"Alright, lets do this before someone gets hurt." I left the room as the others followed.
"Katie, you're doing a great job as a leader." Tien said.
"I'm no leader, I just know what we have to do. There's not a doubt in my mind we're going to suffer casualties in this battle."
"Don't beat yourself up over it. You know us, and we wouldn't go through with this if we didn't think you could lead us."
"That's the thing, Piccolo died so quick, and even with Gohan as a Super Sayjin we didn't stand a chance."
"We'll do what we can to stop them. It's our duty."
"Thanks, Tien."
We got to the lobby and Bulma, Chi-chi, and Trunks were all there. Trunks was standing behind Bulma, but when he saw me he flopped down onto his butt and crawled over. I picked him up.
"I gotta go now, but I promise I'll be back. You're my reason to fight."
I heard Vegeta scoff at me, but he kept staring at Trunks like he was something he wasn't allowed to touch. We all said our good-byes, fearing we may not come back.
"Vegeta-" Bulma said, and Vegeta stopped and looked at he for just a moment, then he looked at Trunks again. Without a word he was out the door. Bulma was holding back tears, I could tell by the look on her face. I handed Trunks over to her and followed Vegeta outside.
We stepped out into the sun lit yard of Capsule Corp., and I turned to address them one more time.
"This is it, if you want to turn back this is the time to do it."
"What, and miss all the action?" Yamcha asked.
"It'll be faster if we teleport, so everyone connect to me. We're in for the fight of our lives, guys."
"Let's just go already." Vegeta sneered.
So we made a human/Sayjin chain and I located 17 and 18's Ki.
"Here we go, hold on tight." Then I teleported the seven of us to the sight. I hoped 7 would be a lucky number this time.
When we came out of the Void the area was quiet. And that was bad because we were in the heart of North City, the next biggest city on the planet after West City. Buildings were completely demolished, blood pooled in the streets, and bodies littered the streets as well.
"What happened here?" Krillen said with disgust.
"17 and 18." Gohan spat.
I too kin a large breath, steadying myself. The smell of blood was intoxicating, but at the same time it was disgusting.
"Alright, everyone get a buddy and split up. We'll report back here in an hour if no one finds anything. If you do find something, send up a signal flare with a Ki blast."
"Someone's not going to have a buddy." Gohan said.
"That's me." I said.
"Like HFIL it is." Vegeta snapped.
"Thank you for volunteering then, Vegeta. Alright, I really don't want any of us to be alone, so Gohan and Krillen will be one group and the rest in another."
The others headed off, and I still had the feeling of doom tugging at the back of my head. What would I do if we lost?
I was really taking charge, I didn't doubt myself or anything. I could be a good leader if I only asserted myself more often.
"So, which way fearless leader?" Vegeta asked with acid in his tone.
"What's your deal? You want to lead, fine. Which way?" well, he wasn't expecting that. "Come on, oh mighty Prince. You've lead teams to foreign planets for Frieza, so why can't you lead me?"
"This is your mission." He said flatly.
"Then stop complaining. I'm the only one who knows what they can really do, and I've got an advantage over you boys now." I headed down the street and Vegeta followed calmly with his arms crossed.
We went down many streets, but found nothing. Nothing but carnage, anyway.
"Katrin, I wanted to tell you something."
"What?" I asked, looking inside a building.
"I normally don't do stuff like this, but I want you to know that I worried about you when you disappeared."
"You did?" now he had my full attention.
"Yes, I did. I realized, you and Bulma were the only ones on this planet that didn't hate me. Normally I don't care, but there's something about you and the woman…"
"I think its called love, Vegeta."
"I wouldn't push it." Vegeta went ahead, looking through more streets.
I feel the same way, Vegeta. I love you too.
"Hey, I think I found something." Vegeta called to me. I went over to the wrecked building he had entered and went inside.
The room was dark, but I expected that. There were signs of a struggle, and as I looked I saw a picture of the family that lived here. There was a couple and a daughter. The androids had killed them as well.
"Katrin, get up here!" I kept Vegeta waiting too long. I went up the stairs, and stepped in something wet. I looked down to see blood. I went to the room Vegeta was in.
"What did you find?"
"Look." He pointed to the wall, and there was writing in red. The scent told me it was blood, blood from someone in this family.
Oh 22, where are you? When you said we wanted blood, you were right.
"What does that mean?" Vegeta asked, examining the writing closely.
"This is my fault. They wanted me." I fell to my knees, and when I did I felt something under my legs. I looked down and found a tiny rag doll. I looked closer to the room, and it was the daughter's room. They purposely killed a child for her blood so they could write a message to me. I got up, shook off the guilt, and put the doll on my belt.
"We're done here, let's move on." I said as I walked out of the room, down the stairs and out the door, Vegeta following behind quietly.
We went down the block before Vegeta said anything.
"I guess even as a machine you still have emotion."
"No shit Sherlock. I'm only half machine, remember? On the inside-" I placed my hand on my chest, "-I'm still Katie. My bones and flesh have been altered, but not this."
"So you're still a Sayjin, huh?"
"Yes, my blood is still as red as your's. I know one day I'll reach a level of power like your's as well. Don't you dare mock me for believing that. This body may not be fully Sayjin anymore, but if Gohan can do it, so can I."
"I know you can, Katrin. You're blood is still Sayjin. If a Baka like Kakorot can do it, so can you."
"Thanks, I think." We all met back at the city square, all with nothing.
"Do you think they left?" Choazu asked.
"No, I don't. We went in a house with fresh blood on the floors." Gohan said.
"Same with us. Dammit, where are they?" I said.
"Up here, 22." I turned, and behind me, on the tallest standing building, was 17 and 18.
"Its them!" Gohan cried.
"They don't look so tough." Yamcha said, then he charged the, along with Tien and Choazu.
"No, wait!" I called, but they went anyway, and in an instant were shot down.
"No!" Krillen called. I ran over and checked them, and Choazu was gone. Yamcha and Tien got up.
"Why those two-" Yamcha went to charge again, but this time I grabbed his arm.
"Wait." I said it sternly, and he stopped, "I told you they were tougher than they looked."
"Choazu? Come on buddy, get up." Tien was stunned. I placed a hand on his shoulder, but he pulled away.
"Don't touch me. You're one of them." Tien growled as Choazu's body disappeared.
"I'm sorry Tien, I really am. No, I'm not one of them, I'm still Katie. He'll be avenged."
That wasn't good enough for Tien. He wanted revenge, not to avenge. He knocked me back on my butt and charged again.
"Tien, don't do it!" Krillen called, but 17 shot a blast, and it went straight through Tien's third eye and out the back of his head. His body disappeared to Otherworld before it could hit the ground.
"Dammit Tien." I said, my voice shaking. We were never very close before today, and now I lost the chance to get to know him better.
"Two down, five to go." 18 said with a smirk. The rest of us charged at once, and 17 and 18 grabbed each other's hands. When we got close enough they attacked.
"Field on!" they both cried, and a large energy shield knocked everyone but me away.
"Good, now we're alone." 18 said as she moved a piece of hair. The Energy Field attack repels organic life, perfect for androids to use.
"Damn you to HFIL and back!" I turned to check on the others, and Gohan and Vegeta got up. Krillen and Yamcha weren't moving, and as I watched their bodies vanished. "Damn you to hell!" I said when I turned back.
"Don't you know any better curses?" 17 laughed.
"You really do think this is funny, don't you? You laugh at other's deaths? Those four you just killed were my comrades and my friends. Piccolo was a mentor to Gohan and me. And you did this!" I took the doll off my belt and held it up, "You killed the little girl who owned this doll just to write a message in blood."
"Yeah, it was easy. Her neck just snapped in two, like—that." 17 snapped his fingers.
"You're sick, the both of you." Gohan and Vegeta landed next to me.
"Three little Sayjins, all in a row… who will be the first to go?" 17 and 18 said together.
