Chapter 18: Hacker

(when you see speech in , that means its in the computer only.)

When I called General Hendricks I was told to come in ASAP. I cleaned up and put on my android uniform as I headed out. I don't know why I still wear the uniform, but it just seems to fit as casual clothes. Maybe it was guilt playing tricks on me. Anyway, I had burned the jacket because of the Red Ribbon Army symbol, but I still had 22 on my arm. That couldn't be helped.

I decided to play normal and I drove the Thunderbird to the local State Army base. I think Bulma has more cars in her garage than my hometown did back on the other earth.

When I got to the stoplight I started to remember the previous events.

"Don't touch me. You're one of them." Tien growled.

That thought seemed to haunt me now. I am android 22, branded forever on my left, mechanical arm. But aren't I still Katie? Or Katrin now?

I'm a cyborg, not an android. But 17 and 18 only killed the others because of me. Now they probably don't even want me anymore.

Choazu, Tien, Yamcha, Krillen, Vegeta, Goku, I hope you all can forgive me. I did a crappy job as earth's temporary protector. I just can't do anything right. I'm sorry you all died. It was my fault that the androids killed you. And if I hadn't lost my memory, I bet I could have warned Goku about the heart virus.

The car behind me honked its horn to alert to me that the light was in fact green now. Snapping back to the now I drove to the base, Fort Daito. Daito means sword in Japanese, so it made sense to name an army base by that name. Of course, I could think of worse names for it. I was stuck here for a week while they tested me and interrogated me. They just wouldn't accept that I wasn't the enemy and that Dr. Gero was still alive.

But now I'm like a consultant here, I have a pass to get in, password identification, the works.

I got to the gate and the guard let me through without stopping me. I parked and put my pass on, and walked to the back door.

There at the back door was a palm scanner, so I had to do that.

Access approved…Voice recognition…

"Shenron." I spoke the password and immediately thought of Piccolo and Kami. We lost them both the day before yesterday.

Access approved... Welcome Son Katie.

The doors opened and I was allowed in. I headed straight to Gen. Hendricks office. He let me in and gave me a seat.

"So what new news do you have about 17 and 18?"

"I fought them the day before yesterday." I sighed, steadying myself.

"And?"

"I nearly died. My internal computer shut down. If Ms. Briefs hadn't got to me first…"

"Hm…I see. You were fighting in North City, correct?"

"Yes. And my seven closest friends."

"Why aren't they here today?"

"The only other survivor is in the hospital at Capsule Corp."

"Choazu, Tien, Yamcha, and Krillen, the men you told me about before, they all died?"

"Yes, plus two others. Piccolo and Vegeta."

"You said these men were strong, so why did they all die? You said they were stronger than you." Hendricks was doubting my story.

"The androids chose not to kill me, General. The other survivor was lucky I got to him before they did."

"17 and 18 destroyed North City and killed these 'Z Senshi' you told me about in one day?"

"Yes! Dammit General, how can I convince you to believe me? I already tied a steel pipe into a knot! Do you need to see me transform, or to see my mechanical arm taken apart again by your mad scientist?"

"Son, quiet down!"

"No, I won't! And from now on, I'll like to be addressed as Katrin, my real name."

"Alright, Katrin, then tell me something. How can two robots destroy seven men, men that you told me have saved the world without the world's knowledge of it?"

"These androids are very strong, General. I wrote a proper statement of the accounts as I know it." I took the paper out of my jacket, a similar leather jacket to my old Red Ribbon denim jacket.

He took it and read it once, then a second time. He tossed it onto his desk in a rage.

"You expect me to believe this bullshit! Aliens and robots? This would make a great science fiction novel!"

"I know it would, but its true. Or haven't you noticed my tail? I'm the last full-blooded Sayjin left in the universe. At least, as far as I know." I stayed calm, knowing that my anger wouldn't help.

Gen. Hendricks sat back in his chair and started to think on my story. By the look of it he was thinking of all of this situation. He leaned up on his desk.

"Let's say this is true. How could a Super Sayjin lose?"

"Power is all Gero wanted. Power is all he gave 17 and 18, that's why he was killed, he was too greedy."

"So Ki fighting is real? Not just a goofy story about life energy?"

I lit up a Ki ball and played with it, rolling it around and over my hand.

"What do you think?" I asked with a smug look.

"Everything I use to know was just thrown out the window." He sighed. I freed the Ki and stood up.

"We have to warn the people, evacuate them or something. 17 and 18 killed every person in North City in a matter of hours, so imagine what they could do in a day, or a week."

"Yes, but I'd have to contact my superiors, you see."

"Then get 'em on the horn, dammit! The longer you take the more innocent people could be killed."

"That brings up an idea my superiors suggested. Could you hack into Gero's computer from here?"

"I could try, I guess. I know he has multiple labs, but how would that help?"

"It's classified, so don't divulge this information to anyone. We think 17 and 18 are held up in one of Gero's old labs. If you could hack in, then we may just find them. Since you're built from Gero's mind, you'd have a better chance than any of our hackers."

"That's brilliant! And here I was starting to think that all army men were goons."

"You better watch that mouth around my superiors."

"Why? They can't hurt me." I said cockily, "I'm kidding! Lead the way to the computer, then we'll start evacuating, right?"

"Yep, that's our motto, for the good of the people." He got up and led me out of his office.

"Unless the person is part machine." I retorted sourly. I still didn't like these army goons, but we had the same objective.

"I didn't like the way they treated you anymore than you did."

We went down many corridors and through many doors, going deeper down below the city.

"Can I tell you a secret?" I asked.

"We're the army, Son, secret is our middle name."

"You guys don't have a clue about my true power. I never elevated my power level once while your scientists evaluated me."

"So how strong are you?" he asked, seemingly curious, but you can never know with the army.

"Let's say that the minimum 10,000 for Super Sayjin ability was reached long before I ever went to Namek."

"Yes, I remember when all of those green guys were here, but it was dismissed as foreigners by our people."

"Foreign to earth. I had three very close friends from Namek. Two were very special, when one dies so does the other. That was Piccolo and Kami. The third was a little boy. I haven't seen him in three-four years. New Namek is too far from earth to keep in constant contact with, you know." I laughed.

"I'd imagine so. So, what's with the name change?"

"My human name is Son Katie, but my Sayjin name is Katrin. At first I didn't care which of the two I was called, but Vegeta always called me Katrin. When he died I decided to chance to my real name, for the sake of our people."

"Here we are. I'll warn you now, ALOCS doesn't like strangers."

"Who's Alex?"

"Not Alex, the Artificial Life Organized Computer System, or A-L-O-C-S, we just call it ALOCS. It's the State Army's biggest secret."

"The best known secret that's always on the TV?"

"Yeah, that's the one. He doesn't like strangers."

"Alright, I'll remember that." since I'm half machine I figured we'd have common ground. Anytime before I would have dismissed it as only a computer, but now that I'm a cyborg I understand AI better.

I walked in and went to the seat next to the large monitor. The room was large and dark, and hot. The only light was from the large monitor. The monitor took up an entire wall, and the two adjacent walls were filled with hardware, software, and files.

"Hello? My name is Katrin."

"Hello, Katrin. I am the artificial life organized computer system, but the people here call me ALOCS. What do you need, Katrin?" the monitor lit up like a giant eye watching me.

"I need your help to find a laboratory used by a man named Gero."

"Why didn't General Hendricks ask me? I like him." ALOCS was very monotone, but I guess he is only a computer, after all.

"I like him too, but I have a certain way with things like this."

"That does not compute. Please elaborate." he asked.

"I'm a cyborg. I use to be a Sayjin, a creature similar to a human, but a year ago Dr. Gero abducted me and made me into a cyborg against my will. He has two androids lose on earth who are a threat to all of mankind."

"I like people. Without them I would get lonely."

"You have emotions?" I asked, totally surprised.

"Limited, but yes, I do."

"Will you allow me to hack in through you? I was told you're the most highly advanced AI to date. It would help me a lot if I could find Dr. Gero's second lab."

"I'd love too."

ALOCS opened a computer port for me that was hidden in a covered panel. I pressed the sides of my wrist to expose the wires again and found the plug-in I had used in Gero's lab. I plugged in and went for a ride.

I went inside ALOCS, becoming data. My body was 0's and 1's except for my head. It was like the movie Tron, only more realistic.

Hello, Katrin. How do you like my world? I turned to see a body, completely in 0's and 1's.

I'm think it's quite an interesting place, ALOCS.

Follow me, I know where to begin. ALOCS ordered. He walked and stopped, and a file went whizzing by. He hopped on and grabbed my arm. Hold on tight, if you fall I may not find you. he said matter-of-factly.

So I held on tight, around his waist, zooming past files and computer bases. Each computer network we past was like a giant door, marked appropriately. We zoomed pasted Capsule Corp.'s network and kept going.

ALOCS, where are we heading?

To the Red Ribbon Army old network. This is the only way to access it now since the computers were all destroyed. All networks stay on this 'highway', even if the computer was destroyed. Not even the best human hacker knows of this.

Brilliant! There's bound to be a clue of some kind there!

Of course, it's the logical choice.

Whatever you say, Spock. I laughed.

That name does not compute. Who is Spock?

It's an old joke from my home, never mind.

ALOCS was actually a nice guy. With no one in the real world to miss me, I may just retire here.

What am I thinking? Bulma, Chi-chi, Trunks, and Gohan would miss me. I won't let anyone else get hurt because of me.

A door appeared with RR on it, so I braced myself for whatever was coming.

Hold on tight, Katrin.

He jumped off, landing on the platform in front of the door. I looked over the edge, then wished I hadn't.

I don't know if I can fly in here, but I don't want to chance it.

There was no floor that I could see below the platform. It just kept going.

Here we are. Go on in. No one will know because no one is there. No one has been there for many years. ALOCS explained.

Right, here I go. I went to the door and touched it, and the doors slid open. I walked in to a place that looked very much like the outside, and the doors closed.

I'll watch out here. You'll be fine. ALOCS said as the doors closed.

I went forward and the room lit up. There were hundreds of files floating all around me, and I had no way of knowing where to begin.

Dammit! How can I stop those androids if I can't find them? I need that file, but it'll take me a long time to find it this way.

Android File

The files all began to zoom around me, and then a group of files stopped in front of me. They were marked Project Android.

All I have to do is ask. That'll be useful.

I went to pick up the first file and I was able to read it a hyper-speed. I didn't even have to open it.

It was all about androids 1-7 and the reasons they failed. Flawed AI or bad power sources seemed to be the biggest problems. I moved to the next one, all about the reasons 8 failed. Of course, I saw that during Dragonball, so I stopped and moved on. 9-16 were all destroyed by 'rebels', and then there was us, 17-21. I didn't find out anymore information than I already knew about them.

Access Personnel file: Gero.

A large file for Gero came to the front, and I read that twice at normal speed.

Access Gero's lab locations.

Another file came up to replace the old one. I read it and found he had two other labs, one in North City and one in the mountains near West City.

Access security at North City lab.

I was fed into the camera system, but only to find it was out of use for some time now. The computer would have been online for a short amount of time if the lab was accessed, so that left the other lab, but I had to make sure. I couldn't afford any more mistakes.

Access Mountain Laboratory location.

Access denied. Password needed.

…Goku.

Access denied.

Son Goku.

Access denied.

…Android 20.

Access denied.

…Red Ribbon.

Access denied.

Red Ribbon Army.

Access denied.

…Android 22? I was getting irritated.

Welcome Katie.

What the-

We knew it was only a matter of time before you'd come running to us. it was 17's voice. A camera switched on and I saw him standing calmly in front of it.

I'm not here to join, 17.

Even now you refuse? he said, sounding angry but not showing it.

Yes, I refuse with all my being. I loathe you. You killed everyone that was dear to me!

That's funny, because I actually liked you. But I guess now you'll go through life alone and bitter, unless there's a male android 23!

You liked me? I asked, dumbfounded by that statement. I had no idea.

I guess Gero programmed it that way. Too bad now, though. Next time we meet we're savage enemies, you understand? And don't bother coming here for us, we'll be gone before you can get here.

17! the link was abruptly cut and it threw me to my virtual butt.

I walked out of the virtual room and met up with ALOCS.

Did you find what you needed, Katrin?

Let's just go back to Fort Daito, okay?

I cannot leave if my primary function has not been obtained.

Yes, I found what I needed. Now let's return to Fort Daito.

Yes, of course.

17 liked me? That doesn't make sense, if he really liked me then why did he go through with all of this? I thought he said he had no more humanity left within him. He is cute …

GAH! What am I thinking? He killed Yamcha, Tien, and Choazu. 18 killed Piccolo, Vegeta, and Krillen. He's evil, and that's all that matters. Black and white, night and day.

We hitched a ride on a Spam ad and coasted back to Fort Daito's network. I logged out and unplugged myself from ALOCS.

"Do you mind to tell me what you found out?" ALOCS asked.

"Gero's labs are vacant. 17 and 18 aren't there."

"Then what do you plan to do now?"

"Get the people to safety. That's all we can do."

"What about me? I'm as mortal as any human." ALOCS asked.

"I guess you are. Unfortunately, humans don't think the way we machines do. You'll be at the bottom of the list. I'll come back for you, I'll find some way to protect you. I can at least do that."

"I could be uploaded to a lap-top computer. If you return, bring one with no programs for maximum memory. And the humans can't know, or they won't let you in."

"Right, I'll do that, ALOCS. I'll be back for you in a few days." I said.

"I'll be right here."

"Goodbye, ALOCS."

"Goodbye, Katrin."

I left the room and met with Gen. Hendricks.

"That didn't take long."

"Nano seconds. Computer time goes much faster than real time."

"Did you find them?" Gen. Hendricks asked.

"They found me. They're not staying at Gero's lab, but I don't know where they would go."

"My superiors have ordered the okay to evacuate, but they want you to make the announcement, the press conference starts in an hour."

"One hour? Fine, I'll be ready. Is it here?"

"Yes, in the Press room."

"You army men are so creative."

"That attitude will get you far, Son."

"It's done me good so far." I replied.