Author's note: Hey, guys, thanks for the reads, & the reviews. I love getting those alerts. Please feel free to keep them coming, & let me know your thoughts as the story progresses.
Written by: SparkerLightning.
Edited by: StevenBodner
Chapter 63
Back on Earth
Four warriors were blasting through the sky. The elder Gohan lead the pack, followed by his father, his younger self, and Piccolo. Slowing slightly, the younger Gohan allowed his mentor to catch up to him. Knowing they could only move as fast as their slowest member, Goku dropped back as well, and moments later the elder Gohan did so too.
With concern crossing his face, Gohan addressed Piccolo.
"I can't sense anything." He raised his voice over the wind. "No unusual energies at all. I… I think I can feel people dying, but that's it."
"Neither can I." Piccolo nodded to Gohan on his left, while turning to Goku on his right. "What's going on here? Have you ever seen something like this before?"
Gohan responded while his father was considering the options. "Tien said they mentioned the Red Ribbon Army, right?"
"Yeah." Piccolo nodded to the elder Gohan. "That's right. We should still be able to feel them though, even if they're humans. I mean, we can detect Roshi, and whoever is doing this has to be more powerful than the old man."
"Not necessarily." Gohan averted his gaze to once again focus on the horizon. "We can sense energy from humans, well, biological creatures. We can't necessarily detect energy from non-organic creatures."
Goku turned to his older son, slightly frowning. "I think I know where you're going with this, and I don't like it."
"Something like Tien's arm?" Gohan asked. "Or, like Eighter? We know technology can produce ki-like energy, energy that we can't detect. Maybe the Red Ribbon Army took that to the next level? Created more powerful versions of Eighter?"
"What are you two talking about?" Piccolo butted in. "What's an Eighter?"
"Eighter was, is, a friend of mine." Goku smiled at the memory. "He was a robot created by the Red Ribbon Army. He was created to defend Muscle Tower, to the north. When I stormed the tower, he didn't want to fight, so we became friends. He was really strong compared to me, but looking back, I don't think I could have sensed him if I could sense energy back then."
His frown deepened slightly. "And, compared to when Tien and I fought in the tournament, he wasn't really that strong. But compared to where we are now, Tien's arm isn't really that strong. Who knows what the Red Ribbon Army has come up with over the last decade."
Piccolo let out a sigh of frustration. "So, it's not just us. Amenbo is under attack by people we can't even sense. That puts us at a huge disadvantage."
"Not really." Goku chimed in. "Back when I fought the Red Ribbon Army the first time, I couldn't sense energy. I still won."
The younger Gohan, beside Piccolo, shouted over the wind. "How strong are these robots? If we can't detect them, how can we know we will win?"
From the far side of the line, the other Gohan responded. "We won't be able to tell how strong they are, but that can't stop us. If anyone can defeat them, we can." He swallowed through a dry throat. "Plus, Gohan, we are Super Saiyans. So far the Red Ribbon Army was barely able to create something as strong as Dad used to be, before he had us. I'm sure we'll mop the floor with these tin cans, and be home in time for cake."
Reassured, the younger Gohan put on a small burst of speed. The other Saiyans easily kept pace, while Piccolo struggled to do so. "How are we going to find them then?" He asked, looking over his shoulder.
"We'll have to split up." Goku sped up even further. With a short lead on the others, he spun to face them while continuing flying backwards. "We'll cover more ground that way." Nodding at his elder son, to his left, he pointed his thumb at himself. "Gohan, you'll be with me." Nodding at his younger son, he gestured to Piccolo. "Gohan, you stay with Piccolo. Watch each other's backs, and no matter what, do not split up. Understood?"
Piccolo grinned in a grim satisfaction. Of course Goku would leave his weaker son with him, and of course the son would gladly accept that.
"Sure." Piccolo looked over Gohan out of the corner of his eye. "Gohan, I'll keep you alive." He couldn't help but chuckle to himself at the implication.
"Sure." The younger Gohan smiled back at his slower mentor. "Please, Mr. Piccolo, please protect me."
He flexed his energy for a moment, quickly elevating himself to a level far beyond Piccolo's maximum.
"Brat." Piccolo sneered. "Power isn't everything. You should know that." Making eye contact with his pupil, the pair smiled warmly at each other.
Over Amenbo Island
Piccolo and the younger Gohan peeled away from the other team as they approached the island. They would start their search here, and Goku and Gohan would fly to the other shore, before searching back towards them. When they came to the city though, they weren't certain if things would be easier or harder than they expected.
Several dozen buildings, across the island, were spewing pillars of smoke into the air, being chased by inferno like fires. Between the obviously attacked buildings though, life could have been normal. There was no mass death, there was no rampaging enemy, there was panic, but nothing more. It appeared as if the attackers weren't out for blood, they weren't out to cause destruction. No, they were toying the inhabitants of Amenbo Island.
Passing over the empty beach, the pair touched down on the waterfront street, in front of a flaming building. The gathered crowd scattered, running for their lives from the powerful monsters that had landed, and in a matter of seconds they were alone.
"I don't see anything." Gohan said, looking both directions. "Nothing. Nothing I wouldn't expect anyway."
"What did you expect to see?" Piccolo barked, his eyes closed. He was regretfully pleased to hear only screaming, panic, and suffering. He was displeased not to hear explosions, energy attacks, or active combat. "We can't sense the attackers, but we can sense their victims. We'll start traveling to the far end of the island, sweeping back and forth. Keep your eyes open for the insignia, and stay aware of the life around you. Any mass death, and we've found our target. Understood?"
"Yes, Mr. Piccolo." Gohan nodded.
The street in both directions was clear. No one was actively dying. No one was actively hunting. They weren't here. Picking a direction, they ran until they hit a dead end, before moving up a street, and running back the opposite direction.
The enemy could have spotted them, could be in hiding. Once they pass, they could start again. This was like hunting a needle in a haystack while playing Whack-A-Mole with a potential landmine.
Piccolo kept his head low and his eyes shut as he ran. His hearing was an advantage he wasn't going to disregard. The boy could search for the insignia. He could listen for the screams of fresh death. They would both keep sensing for anything they could.
On the far side of Amenbo Island
Not allowing any time to be wasted, Gohan and Goku dove low over the city. They would formally start their search on the far side, but they would do a preliminary search on their way. Hopefully, with some luck, they'd spot something, spot someone, spot their targets.
"Gohan!" Goku called as they zigged and zagged through the skyscrapers.
Gohan's energy spiked.
"Where?" His eyes darted from side to side as he immediately appeared beside his father. "Where are they?" Without active thought, a ki ball was in his hand, ready to destroy.
Goku shook his head. "No, I haven't found them yet." He closed his eyes in momentary frustration. "Would you be comfortable splitting up, the two of us? We'd be able to cover a lot more ground a lot quicker if we did."
Gohan clinched his fist over the ki ball, detonating it harmlessly against himself. "Split up? What about my brother, and Piccolo? They're both strong, but they shouldn't..."
"Not them." Goku shook his head. "No, just us. They'll be safe as long as they stick together. If they weren't together, I wouldn't have wanted them to come along."
"Do you think we may be over thinking this, just a little?" Gohan interrupted his father. "My brother is, well, me. He killed Frieza, by himself, and he's stronger now than he was then. And, Piccolo may not be on our level, but he is still stronger than any of Frieza's top minions. Do we really think the Red Ribbon Army could pose a threat to either of them, or us?"
Goku took a deep breath, before shaking his head yet again. "No, I'm not overreacting." He glanced back towards the direction they came from, towards Capsule Corp. "With what you've told me about what the Bulma in your timeline has done with technology, I think, and I can't believe I'm saying this, we should be careful here."
"The Bulma from my timeline is on a completely different level than the Red Ribbon Army." Gohan interrupted once again.
"She was." Goku agreed. "But if the Red Ribbon Army caught up, and I let your brother get into any danger, your mother would kill me, and then the robots, and then the entire Red Ribbon Army."
"Good point." Gohan submitted. "So, you need to keep my younger brother and Piccolo safe, but me?"
A proud smile crossed Goku's lips. "Don't kid yourself, Gohan. You're stronger than me. If anything, you're keeping me safe. No, I trust that you will be completely fine, and hope that you trust me to do the same. But, if you'd like to stay together, I'm okay with that. I wouldn't..."
"No." Gohan smiled back. "I'm okay splitting up. You take the East, and I'll take the West?"
"Perfect." Goku clapped before preparing to head off to his left. "If you find them, or get into any trouble, transform, power up, send up a flare, do whatever it takes to get our attention. Okay, son?"
"Sure thing, Dad." Gohan returned his father's smile before heading off to his right.
Lowering himself to just a dozen meters over the streets, Gohan continued his hunt by himself. He was still heading south, he'd reach the shore, and then carpet his quarter of the island, before heading north to cover the ground Piccolo and his brother had already gone over. A third set of eyes wouldn't hurt, although a set on the back of his head would have helped.
As Gohan rushed through the city, he looked down. Cars turned the wide streets into virtual parking lots. People were running in any and all directions, with seemingly no logic in their decisions. Overhead, behind his back, shadows kept flicking behind him. From one building to the next, from rooftop to rooftop, Gohan was hunted.
Closing in on Gohan, the two shadows grew distinct. The larger of the two got in front of the smaller, and narrowed the distance between himself and his target. At three blocks away, he began to analyze the boy. At two blocks away he began reviewing everything he knew of the son of Son Goku. At one block away, he prepared to strike, before dropping silently towards the teen.
Not bothering with aerodynamics, letting his limited energy carry him towards his target, the snow-white attacker lead with his knee. Just as he expected, his attack made contact halfway between the boy's tail and the base of his neck. Spotting his next target, he wrapped his cold, hard, hands around Gohan's throat.
Keeping his energy pointed downward, the still unseen attacker drove Gohan towards the ground. Maintaining a solid grip on his first real victims body, he drove him into the ground. Dust and rubble flew in all directions. Cars, and people, were scattered as if they were leaves in a tornado. As the nearly spherical attacker tightened his grip further, attempted to strangle the life out of his target, Gohan began to chuckle.
"Thanks." Gohan muffled through the dirt as he planted a hand on either side of his head. "I appreciate you saving me the effort of having to find you." Reaching deep within, he pulled his energy to the surface.
That attack hurt, but it was a surprise attack. The attacker brought him to the ground, but he was trying to stay low profile. He couldn't feel the attacker's energy, but he wasn't powered up and he was still alive. He wouldn't need to transform, although as he kept gaining in strength, he began to feel odd. He wouldn't need to transform, but he'd need more energy than he expected. After two seconds of gaining power, Gohan pushed against the Earth. He expected the dead weight on his back to go flying, but instead, all he did was dig his hands into the ground. That was okay, he was still gaining in power, but slowly.
Realizing the potential danger, the attacker released Gohan for a moment. His hands flew from the teen's throat to the teen's hands. It wouldn't be as easy to kill him, but it would be easier to restrain him in case he got too powerful.
While maintaining downward force with his energy, the cold creature lifted his right knee. As a result, he only maintained three points of contact with Gohan. While Gohan's hands were already in the ground, they were buried deeper, furthermore, his back began to arch as if he were in free fall.
Holding Gohan's hands tight, digging his knee deeper into the boy's back, he spoke.
"Human, Saiyan, Namekian." His voice was cold. Leaning close to Gohan's ear, he continued to drone. "All inferior to myself, to my creator. Natural organic being s such as yourself, created by mere evolution, cannot compete with an Android such as myself."
"Called… it." Gohan growled through gritted teeth. Giving up on subtlety, he crashed through a mental barrier, releasing his Super Saiyan energy to burst to the surface. As air escapes a breached hull in a vacuum, so too did the power from Gohan. Forming a ki ball in each hand, he let the blast go off against the ground.
Turning to rubble, the concrete and Earth below Gohan gave way. For a moment, he was unsupported. But, before he could take advantage of the opening, he was driven down once more, and returned to the same situation he was in a moment ago. But his energy spiked, a flare was sent out.
Continuing to growl in frustration, Gohan slammed his head back. While he felt the material give way slightly, the Android's grip did not. He, on the other hand, recoiled forward in pain. He knew robots could be strong, Bulma proved that in his timeline, but here, on Earth, how could something like this be here?
The Android's artificial expression remained stoic. His sensors detected a rerouting in the other notable power levels in the area, but it didn't matter. They monitored Gohan, and while for a moment his power was dangerously high, it was quickly coming under control. And at the same time, his own was climbing higher and higher. But at the current rate of absorption, he wouldn't be able to finish Gohan himself. Silently he spoke to his superior. "I will run out of capacity in six seconds. He will be able to raise his energy at that point."
As Android 19's charging tapered off, Gohan reached inside himself once more. Without the constant drain, he was able to raise his power once again. In one explosive burst, he sent his attacker flying.
Instantly Gohan was on his feet, hands over his head. A bright green energy ball was forming. "Masenko!" He declared with less muster than he would have liked.
"No." The elderly man wordlessly responded as he dropped out of the sky beside their first target. "I'll take over from here."
Not quite touching the ground, he approached Gohan.
"Before I destroy you." Gohan snarled. "Tell me, you bucket of bolts, what did you do to me?" With every heartbeat, he pulsed more ki into his attack. With every heartbeat, he lowered his reserves. With every heartbeat, he made himself more vulnerable, he lowered the odds of not just his survival, but everyone's.
With no more noise than the ruffling of fabric, the gray mustached, top hat wearing, Android 20 made his move. Gently, almost passively, he tapped Gohan's shoulder.
Completely enraged, ready to kill, Gohan lashed out. Spinning on the spot he prepared to destroy whoever interrupted him with just the force of his voice. Instead, he was at eye level with a bold RR insignia.
Android 20 wrapped one hand around Gohan's throat. The other plunged into his mouth, wrapping around his tongue. The energy he had prepared dissipated into the void, but he still had plenty to spare. He, he almost certainly had too much, but that was no bother. He would reach his capacity, as Android 19 had already done. At that point, he would kill the son of Son Goku, followed by the rest of those who dared to oppose the Red Ribbon Army.
"You are something else." Android 20 spoke allowed as he continued to squeeze Gohan's throat and push further into his mouth with his fist. "I expected your father to be strong. I expected you to be strong. But this? This is something else."
Gohan couldn't tell if it was fear or excitement in his attacker's voice. All he knew, is he had to get out of there. Swinging wildly he crashed his fists into the Android's face. The Android flinched with the first several punches, but slowly his attacks were having less and less of an impact.
"Thankfully for my associate and I..." Android 20 spoke as if Gohan was an eager student, not a frantically lashing out teenager. "... I always account for rounding errors, and build in comfortable safety margins." He lowered Gohan slightly, letting him fall to his knees.
His fists stilled by his side as his vision began to go dark, Gohan's mind began to race.
"As long as you are still the strongest in your group, we should be perfectly capable of finishing our tasks." Android 20 seemed to take a deep breath, a disturbing visual with his motionless chest. Silently he signaled to Android 19. "If the others have this much power, return to the lab and release the others."
"Yes." Android 19 responded motionlessly. Hovering over Gohan's shoulder, he focused his attention on the others. They would arrive any moment now. "Ninety-five seconds until the others arrive."
Ninety-five seconds. Gohan could survive. He could hold his breath longer than that, no issue… but, but this wasn't holding his breath, this was having it pulled from his body...
"Almost complete." Android 20 transmitted. "Calculate our impact."
"Calculating." Android 19's dead eyes glazed over for a moment. "Substantial. Estimated reduction to thirty percent original capacity."
"Wonderful." Android 20 spoke allowed as he reached capacity. Dropping Gohan to the ground, watching him fall into a heap, he stepped back. "Thank you, Son Gohan."
He quickly ran an internal analysis, and Android 19 was correct. Adjusting for their base line energy stores, they both received roughly a third of the Super Saiyan's power.
Gasping for air as he flailed to get off of his back, Gohan fought the urge to vomit. He felt as if he had a sandpaper wrapped cylinder rammed down his throat. His eyes were tearing, and his vision had returned its state from directly after his uncle first came to Earth. He wasn't blinded, not again, but his vision was useless, at least until he had oxygen in his blood and his mind slowed once more.
Rolling onto his stomach, completely unaware of where the Androids were, he pushed himself to his hands and knees. Once more pulling his energy to the surface, he maintained his Super Saiyan form. He was still powerful, still strong. He could still fight, but something was wrong. He was weaker than he should be. He felt as if he had been fighting for his life for hours, like he was back on Earth, like Cold's armies were invading. He felt exhausted. He had fuel to burn, but the fireplace was full of half charcoal logs. It, it was a struggle for him to get to his feet.
Rubbing his eyes, his vision slowly returned. The Androids were still here. The Androids were in front of him. The Androids were looking at him in the same manner he looked at a rare steak. He felt like prey, and his hair stood on end.
"I don't know what you did to me." He rasped. "But I can still fight." He pulsed his aura as if to prove a point, but in reality to signal to his friends, his family, that he was still alive… and with how weak the flare was, they would know he needed help, urgently. "Why don't you fight me?"
He punched his fists together. "Or are you too afraid I'd crush you into scrap metal?"
Mechanically raising his left hand to Gohan, Android 20 shook his head. "We are done with you. Prepare to die." Slowly he uncurled his index finger, pointing it directly at Gohan's heart. "Android 19, kill him."
Not wanting to give the Android a chance to show how powerful he really was, Gohan braced himself and shot forward. Pulling his fist back as he closed the short distance, Gohan decided on the perfect target. The creatures belly was over-sized, likely soft, but one good punch and a bit of ki is all it would take. Sink his fist as far as it would go, and detonate a ki bomb inside of him. He'd be metallic confetti in no time. As his fist approach its target, Android 19 shifted slightly to the side, before vanishing outright.
Instinctively checking his blind spot, Gohan whirled around. He couldn't sense the Androids, but his lifetime of battle taught him well. Android 19 was behind him, or at least his fist was. That is all Gohan saw before being forced down and backwards, skidding along the ground.
Rolling with the tumble, Gohan spun to land somewhat upright. His left foot was extended behind him, his right foot was firmly planted. The boy's left hand was on the ground, and a ki ball was forming in his right. As he was processing what he was seeing, Android 19 appeared in front of him once more, delivering a powerful knee to his nose. Managing to stay upright this time, Gohan skidded to a stop several yards away once more.
Seemingly without moving, Android 19 began to close in on the half-Saiyan. "Your chances of defeating me are virtually zero. Your chances of defeating myself and my creator are nonexistent. Accept your defeat and let us be efficient in your death."
Not bothering to respond to the static voice, Gohan charged forward once more. His target didn't evade this time. Leading with a left hook, Gohan's attack was brushed off. Following with a jab from his right fist, Gohan's fist was caught. Continuing with a series of kicks and elbow strikes, Gohan failed to make damaging contact even once.
Calculating that defense was not the best option, Android 19 allowed Gohan's fist to connect with his chin. As he disregarded the force, Android 19 countered with a gut-wrenching left jab to Gohan's stomach, and a savage haymaker to Gohan's jaw.
Using his ki to anchor himself in place, Gohan continued his assault. Those blows weren't impressive. They didn't have good technique. They felt no worse than Cooler's, but they were devastating him. It didn't make sense. What was happening to him?
Aiming a powerful kick, one that would send a soccer ball into orbit, Gohan attempted to shatter Android 19's nuts, and bolts. To his dismay, his foot seemed to be the only thing hurt in that moment. Shifting his stance Gohan knew he didn't lower his guard, not for a moment, yet Android 19 effortlessly slipped through once again.
Android 19's forehead collided with Gohan's.
While Gohan still didn't move, his ki still anchoring him to the ground, the blow was still critical. A veil of blood sprayed from Gohan's forehead, bleeding down into his eyes and over his face. Screaming in rage Gohan opened himself up.
Lifting his hands over his head, Gohan fired a weak pair of eye beams. Instantly, his vision was clear. Android 19 was in front of him, closed fist extended towards Gohan's forming attack.
"Masenko!" Gohan cried out, still weaker than he was comfortable with. "HA!" Bringing his arms down he uncrossed them.
At the same time, Android 19 opened his fist.
The attack smashed into Android 19's hand, and then, nothing.
Gohan blinked in surprise, in confusion, in horror, and when he saw a small red lens, in comprehension. The attack vanished into thin air. His energy was vanishing into thin air. This Android, he, it, was…
"You're neutralizing my energy." Gohan growled.
"Not quite." Android 20 spoke from behind him. "We're not neutralizing it. We're draining it, absorbing it. The energy we use to kill you, kill your father, kill all that oppose the Red Ribbon Army, is yours, Son Gohan."
"Cowards!" Gohan shouted as he spun in place to face Android 20, before deciding Android 19 was a more active threat and turning to face him once again. Thankfully, the Android hadn't moved. "You know your own strength isn't enough. Instead of training, or building better I guess, you leach off of others? You are nothing! You have earned nothing! Even if you win, it is by deception and trickery! Why don't you fight me for real? Your strength, against mine? Defeat me with your own power, not stolen energy!"
"Son Gohan." Android 20 crossed his arms, unseen to Gohan. "This is our strength. Just as you harness energy from the moon, or training, and food, just as humans harness energy from oil, from the wind and the sun, we harness energy from you." He paused for a moment. "Even more, there are no rules of conduct in war. If you win, you win. How you win, does not matter." He paused for another moment before broadcasting privately to Android 19, and his laboratory. "New tactic, discover where Son Goku lives, and kill him, and his family, while they sleep. They cannot detect us. Decapitation. Instant death."
Not willing to get into a debate of battlefield ethics, Gohan blasted himself into the air. As Android 19 materialized in front of him, he instantly regretted his decision.
Ninety-five seconds? They were supposed to be here in ninety-five seconds? Where was everyone?
"Acknowledged." Android 19 transmitted back to his creator. Without blinking he fired a pair of eye beams
Bringing up a cross guard, Gohan caught the attack. Forcing his ki into his forearms, he stopped himself from being pierced clean through. He couldn't stop the force though, and was driven back to the ground. Due to the angle of his approach, he was forced onto his back. As soon as the attack was released though, he rolled and was back on his feet.
Back on his feet, Gohan's instincts kicked in once more. Nothing was in front of him, he thought he felt movement behind him, he jumped.
Android 19 chopped through the empty space that Gohan had been in moments prior, his attack barely missing. But as his failed chopped shot downward, into the cracked concrete, his other hand lashed out upward. Grabbing onto Gohan's ankle, he whipped his hand back down again, slamming Gohan into the ground. Rolling through the air, over the prone Gohan, Android 19 slammed his heal into the boy's chest.
Gohan wheezed as his breath was forced out. Along with the humid air, large drops of blood shot from the boy, covering himself, as well as the pale white Android.
"The chance of you winning is zero." Android 19 smirked down at his victim. "And yet your odds of victory continue to fall every moment you live."
"I don't care about the odds." Gohan growled as he wrapped both of his arms around Android 19's ankle. Giving a quick twist, he tried to rip the chunk of metal free. Unfortunately, the Android was built far more solidly than he anticipated. Fortunately, due to the rigid build quality, Android 19 was forced to release his grip on Gohan, and was thrown off balance.
Still on his back, now free from Android 19's grasp, Gohan kicked out. Scoring a direct hit on the back of Android 19's head, the artificial warrior was sent hurtling away.
Once more getting to his feet, Gohan lost sight of his target. Finding a new one, Android 20, he rushed forward. He was smaller, his defenses were down, and he wasn't warmed up. This wasn't really a fair attack, but these Androids were too powerful to get a fair battle.
As Gohan neared his new target, ki ball forming in his clinched fist, a powerful blast came from behind, bursting on his back.
Lightly singed and in moderate pain, Gohan whirled around to throw his attack at Android 19. He wasn't there either. Following through with his spin, he returned to facing Android 20, now eye to eye with Android 19 once more.
Frantically bringing his non charged hand up, Gohan managed to catch a heavy blow from Android 19. While the attack didn't make contact with its intended target, his skull, it still pushed him backwards through the air. As he was pushed away though, he brought his overcharged attack to the creations head, dazing the combatant.
Taking full advantage of the Android's momentary lapse in processing power, as well as his grip on its fist, Gohan unleashed a fresh assault. Kicking out with both legs, as well as his free hand, Gohan landed several dozen blows on Android 19 before he began to recover. While he was recovering, Gohan charged a ki ball between his feet with what felt like the beginning of the last of his power. Rising into the air, he delivered it directly to Android 19's chest, launching the brute away.
Rotating his feet back under him, Gohan landed on his knee. Standing as he crossed his arms over his head, he charged his Masenko for the third time in this battle, still without any sign of reinforcements.
"Masenko!" He drew out the last syllable, infusing as much power into the attack as he could, while Android 19 was still off kilter. As the enemy began to right himself, he fired the blast. "HA!"
As the beam raced towards Android 19, he didn't prepare a block. Instead, to Gohan's renewed horror, he simply opened one of his palms towards the attack, and the other, outstretched to the side, but facing the same direction.
Panic coursed through Gohan as he choked off the attack. They said they were full, at capacity, how could they absorb more energy?
As the remaining, already released, attack flowed into Android 19's outstretched palm, it began to flow out of his other, back at Gohan.
Crossing his arms once again, Gohan let his own energy wash over him. Thankfully, it wasn't nearly as powerful as it could have, should have, been. The attack was weaker than when he fired it, the edge was taken off.
Slowly, Gohan began to chuckle.
"What's so funny, boy?" Android 20 slowly rose to the same level as Android 19.
"You're absorbing my energy, but not well." Gohan turned to face Android 20. "You can take all you like, but if that, that mockery of my Masenko, is the best you can do? Well, you're dead, Android."
Android 20's face slowly morphed into a smile. "Is that what you think just happened?" He slowly began to move towards Gohan, as Android 19 did the same. "No, what happened is that my companion here wasn't quite fully charged after your exchange. So, he simply took the energy he needed, before redirecting the remaining bit of your attack bat at you."
Android 19's hands closed around Gohan's throat once more. At this point, he was charged, he was powerful, and he wasn't interested in Gohan's energy. Every motor in his body was moving towards one goal, closing his hands, tightening his grip, crushing this half Saiyan warrior.
Gohan's mouth opened and closed as he tried to breath, speak, scream, but no sound escaped. He threw his elbows behind him, and kicked out as well, but couldn't influence his attacker. As his vision began to black out once more, he found himself riding a fireball towards the ground, Android 19 being carried past him.
As Gohan's vision went from slightly faded to dark, he was comforted by several familiar energies. His father, his brother, and his mentor, touched down beside him.
"Are you alright?" Piccolo knelt to rest a hand on Gohan's heaving back as Goku stepped ahead of them.
Gohan gagged as he tried to respond, but that was something, that was life, that was breath.
"Analyzing." Android 19 transmitted to Android 20.
"Relax." Piccolo tightened his hand on Gohan's gi. "You're okay, we're here." His eyes flicked to the younger Gohan. "How did they do this to you?"
"Confirmed." Android 19 transmitted. "This is Son Goku, Son Gohan, and Piccolo."
"Perfect." Android 20 spoke as he lowered himself to the other's level. "Son Goku, we meet at last."
Confusion flashed across Gohan's face before being replaced with anger. "Am I supposed to know you?"
"BE CAREFUL!" Gohan screamed internally, silently. He tried to push himself up, to do anything, but he found himself unable to move.
Goku glanced at his downed son, not hearing the unspoken warning, before returning his attention to the matter at hand. "Seriously, are you saying we've met before?"
"Yes, we've met before." Android 20's voice took on a slight tone of frustration. "You, Son Goku, destroyed everything. You ruined my life." He pointed a finger at Goku's heart. "You, you are the reasoning for this."
He threw his palm out to the side, a massive ki firing into a nearby building. Distantly, panicked screams rang out.
"STOP THAT!" Goku shouted, his Super Saiyan energy immediately raging to the surface.
Piccolo stretched a hand out towards Goku's shoulder. As quietly as possible, he reassured his former enemy. "It was empty. The people are on the far side of the block, running. It's fine."
Breathing out his reflexive anger, Goku centered himself. "I have no idea who you are, or what you're talking about."
Piccolo turned his attention back to Gohan. His chest was moving, but that was it. Reaching out with his senses, he could feel the boy's energy. It was low, but solid. Slowly, he began to feed his energy into Gohan. Why didn't they get Senzu beans?
Turning his finger on himself, Android 20 tapped the brim of his top hat. "The Red Ribbon Army. They had a brilliant scientist working for them, leading their technological development. Dr. Gero."
"I've never heard of Dr. Gero." Goku interrupted.
"SILENCE!" Android 20 snapped. "You may not have heard the name before, but you met him, and you met his creations. He was a brilliant scientist. He developed incredible advancements in the world of robotics. One of his most powerful creations of the time, Android 8, was..."
"A friend of mine." Goku interrupted once more.
"Weak-minded, unable to battle. Scrap metal." Android 20 continued. "He was working on hardening the Android, when you set him free. You destroyed Dr. Gero's creations, you destroyed his laboratory, you destroyed the Red Ribbon Army, you destroyed his life, my life." He narrowed his eyes at Goku. "Guess who's back? Gero's back."
Author's note: Next upload may be something a bit different, if I can work it out properly.