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 65

Three trails of energy faded away as Goku, Gohan, and Piccolo went their own directions. At their origin a ruined intersection, a destroyed Android, and their blood, was left. Aside from the sound of growing fire, the small battlefield was silent.

Goku stayed low. With his Super Saiyan power pushed to its maximum he shot towards the north end of the island, ready to begin his search once more. Only this time, he knew exactly what he was looking for.

Piccolo went directly up, before hooking towards the center of the island. Crossing his legs and planting his hands on his knees, he closed his eyes and opened his ears and mind.

Gohan, also fully powered, arced up over the city, directly south. Hitting the shore, he turned sharply, beginning to circle the island.

With his ears and mind open, Piccolo was lost in an ocean of energies. He felt every human, heard their terror, and was aware of their continued life. Energies grew and contrasted, like blinking stars, but just as the stars seemed eternal, so did these lives.

From where he placed himself, high enough to see the edge of the island, yet low enough to hear the humans, Piccolo observed. He began to see energies flicker, before going out. Each time his body jolted as adrenaline stabbed its way into his veins. Each time he talked himself down from charging in.

It wasn't the Android. It was a result of the Android, but not the Android. An already fading power would go dark, someone who was barely hanging on had passed. The energies around it didn't flee, they didn't dim, they didn't react, not in the way they would if Android 20 had attacked.

Bright powers were snuffed, boulders crushing campfires. Those were the ones that got to him the most. Healthy, alive, fleeing, then dead. But it wasn't the Androids. Focusing his attention that direction he heard the echo of gunfire or the rolling of traffic. Humans killing each other when an apex predator was already doing so.

He growled as he looked over the Earthlings. He couldn't get wrapped up, not in a burning death here, or a mugging there. No, he had to focus, tune out the background noise, and watch the big picture. He didn't know what to look for, but he would know it happened, if it happened.

To the north, Goku took a far different approach. Gohan was struck from above. He was ambushed. He had been an easy target, not that he should have been. Goku was making himself the same.

Flying low and not nearly as fast as he should have been given the situation, Goku kept his attention on the fleeing people below him.

Gohan was powerful, more powerful than himself. If he was overpowered, Goku had no doubt that he could be as well. His only hope was the Androids themselves, hopefully himself. Android 19 was defeated, and Android 20 fled. Hopefully, with any kind of luck, he would be the weaker of the two. Hopefully, reinforcements would reach him in time.

Continuing his path, only a dozen feet over the streets, Goku cursed Dr. Gero and the entire Red Ribbon Army. He saw red ribbons, he saw them everywhere. On the chests of old men, around the necks of young girls, unraveled down the sidewalk, spread thin by trampling feet. The lives of many spilled out, made obvious by the red ribbon of death that sprang from the punctured hearts, flowed from their slit throats, or didn't even have an identifiable source.

Goku rubbed his eyes. Today was a long day already, and the anger boiling through him was only slowing it further.

Far to the south, after completing his first circle of the island, Gohan adjusted his course slightly. Gradually gaining distance from the island, Gohan continued to circle it.

Large ferries were at dock. Connected to the land, cars lined up to board, but were refused. In their spots, where hundreds of cars would normally park, thousands of people stood. Every seat was occupied, every wall had people pressed into it, everyone would drown if the Android attacked.

Fishing boats, small container ships, and even a fleet of yachts, were in similar positions. Every seaworthy vessel, whether crewed or not, was being flooded by people. Where crew were on hand, people were organized, somewhat calm, and getting packed in like tuna. Where no owner or crew were present, people jumped aboard, cut ropes, and stuck to an everyman for himself procedure. People were jumping, attempting to hold onto the sides of fleeing ships, falling, sinking…

Gohan couldn't be concerned with that though. Individual strangers didn't matter. Thousands of strangers didn't matter. What mattered was the Android, and finding him, and destroying him, before he could strike again. If he was allowed to escape, if he was allowed to attack again, those who were trampled in the streets, those who were plowed over by poorly sailed yachts, and those who were left to burn in the rubble, would be not even a drop in the bucket.

Gohan's stomach churned as he continued his search pattern. Spiraling out he saw dozens of old men, several top hats, but not one Red Ribbon insignia, not one person not giving off an energy signature.

For hours, Piccolo monitored from above. For hours, Goku swept the streets. For hours, Gohan surveyed the water. Little did they know, their target had already escaped.

He had fled down, into the sewers. Disregarding trivial things such as reinforced metal grating, Android 20 reached the coastline in under a minute. Without coming up for air, Android 20 shot through the ocean, cleaning himself from the waste he was forced to cut through to make his escape. In no time, he would have his reinforcements. In no time, Son Goku, Son Gohan, Piccolo, all of them would be dead.

Dozens of miles away

Deep underground, yet high above sea level, Android 20 rushed through a series of unlit caves. The deeper he went, the more stable the environment became. After several minutes of navigating through the darkness he reached his destination, a thick metal door, set into the wall of the cave.

Placing his hand on the cold device to its side, he transmitted. It may have appeared as a simple palm scanner, but in reality it was just another terminal. Unlike his normal workstation though, this one had enough electricity flowing through it to kill any organic human, he was not phased though. Transmitting a series of codes through his finger into the device, confirming his identity, the doors hesitated a moment before opening into yet another dark corridor.

Stepping forward Android 20's boots clanged on the metal floor. Proceeding with haste, he was already down the hall when the door sealed and the lights turned on. Entering his circular lab, one of many, he hesitated.

What he was about to do, could not be undone.

Mindlessly, he walked forward.

The echoes of his next action would ring out over Earth for generations to come, an eternity if his design was correct.

He came to his computer. Placing a hand on it, he communicated directly with his system.

This would be taking over the planet, this would be destroying it. They were barely containable. He doubted they would be able restrain them.

Three metal panels rose seamlessly into the ceiling. Bright rectangles of light framed a trio of coffin like containers.

Sending one last order through his console, deep into the subterranean vault, Android 20 approached the three pods.

Android 18. Android 17. Android 16. Two experimental models, two pieces of the puzzle, and a classic, a proven success.

Android 16 would carry out his mission. He would kill Son Goku. But then, with no further instruction, he, he would be left. If he was provoked, he would defend himself. He would kill anyone who dared mess with him. But that would be it. Goku would be dead, but the world would keep spinning.

Android 17 and Android 18, the failed experiments. Unlike himself and Android 19, unlike himself and all the other created , they weren't strictly manufactured beings. No, they were based on humans, humans with free will, humans with desires of their own.

Android 17 and Android 18 would be able of continuing the fight. But he wouldn't be able to stop them once they got started, assuming if they got started. After that last outburst, he had no idea how well they would obey him. If he had succeeded, if he had crushed their individuality, this would be easy. They would wake up, they would kill Goku, his friends, his family, and then subjugate the world for himself.

But if he failed. If the twins still could think for themselves, could still act for themselves, there was no telling what they would do. Unlike all other models, they weren't limited by their energy storage. No, because of their organic base they were capable of creating their own energy, infinitely.

The girl. She was softer. She was meeker. She was more fragile. He would start with her.

Approaching the third capsule, took her in. Blonde hair, blue eyes, pale skin, so realistic. Old memories, old voices, echoed through his mind. Screaming, begging, offering. The human body was weak. The human body was disgusting. The human body was inefficient. If a machine wasn't functioning properly, you opened it up and did what you had to do to make it right. If a person broke, or if a person needed to be enhanced, you had to be put under, made comfortable. No, that was a waste of time and resources.

Pain. What a wasted sensation. She received more than any human should have been able to stand, and what did she receive for it? Nothing. If she had been unconscious, unaware, she would have turned out exactly the same. Now though, with her artificial hair, mechanical eyes, and synthetic skin, along with so many other changes, she would never feel that waste again without his direct intent.

After all, while pain was a waste for the one receiving it, it was a blessing for the one controlling it. Not a single nerve needed to live, so long as the brain received the signal.

Android 20 removed a small remote from the wall between Android 17's and Android 18's storage units. Wrapping his fist around it, he integrated it into his being. No one could use it except him. No one could control them except him.

Sending the first signal, Android 18's capsule opened slowly. Just as the wall had slid upward, the cover did so as well.

Android 18 remained still, her eyes unblinking.

Android 20 took one last moment to consider her, hoping his modifications had worked, before sending the next signal.

Android 18 blinked. "Greetings." Her voice was smooth, steady, human.

"Greetings, Android 18." Android 20 spoke allowed. "How are you feeling?"

"I am not." A hint of coldness, potentially imagined by Android 20, exited her lips.

"What is your purpose?" Android 20 stayed ready. One signal, that is all it would take.

"To serve you and to bring glory to the Red Ribbon Army." Android 18 still hadn't moved her body. Her eyes blinked once, she spoke words, but aside from that she remained completely motionless.

"And what is your desire?" Android 20 prepared to send the signals for pain. He prepared to light what remained of her humanity on fire, or at least let her brain think he had done so.

"To serve you and to bring glory to the Red Ribbon Army." She repeated.

"Excellent." He gestured for her to remove herself from the storage unit, and she did so. While she stepped beside him, then past him, he removed her from his focus. Turning to face Android 17's chamber, he was far more confident when he broke the seal.

The middle pods lid slipped up and away, revealing the Android within. The black-haired boy looked just as human as his sister, and in reality was just as human as his sister was. He blinked.

"Greetings." His slightly hazier voice spoke.

"Greetings, Android 17." Android 20 spoke allowed again. He should have equipped these two with the same communication software he equipped himself and Android 19 with. Well, if this went properly, then he could do so when he had more time. "How are you feeling?"

"I…" Android 17 began, stepping forward. "I am feeling angry. You..."

Android 20 sent the signal. Twisting to keep the remote far from Android 17, he watched as his creation fell.

Complete agony. That was the only way Android 17 could describe what he was feeling. He had no skin, yet every inch of his was being peeled away by jagged, burning, hooks. He had no eyes, yet they were being crushed between a million needles. He had no lunges, yet they were being filled with burning gasoline. He had no teeth, yet they were being ground to dust within his jaw. He had no tongue yet it was being ripped from his mouth by a cactus textured glove. He had no heart, yet it was being filled with infinitely cooled liquid. He had no nerve endings, yet they were all firing, in every potential manner.

Android 18 did not react, as she did not recognize something was wrong, not something intentionally so, not at first. Less than half a second passed from her brother's comment to her brother collapsing on the floor.

Android 20 transmitted the signal for thirty milliseconds. Android 17 felt the pain for years, decades, centuries. His world went blank, and all he knew, all he ever was, or ever would be, was pain.

"I repeat." Android 20 spoke. "How are you feeling?"

He swung his hand out to the side, prepared to use his device at a moment's notice.

Android 17 rolled to be on all fours. Like a dog at his master's feet, he looked up at Android 20. "I am not."

He couldn't hide the hatred in his voice, and for the slip he was sent back into the eternity of suffering.

This time though, Android 20 did not stop his transmission. Thirty milliseconds wasn't enough, so perhaps thirty seconds would be.

Android 20 kept a tight grip on the remote. If he couldn't get Android 17 in line, he would simply destroy him. Android 18 should be more than enough. If she wasn't, then he'd release the rest, Android 16, Android 15, Android 14, and Android 13. If, by some means, they lost, he still had his backup plan.

Six seconds after her brother's torture began, Android 18 woke up to what was happening. Her brother was supposed to protect her. Her brother was supposed to protect both of them. She would obey, and he would betray. That, that wasn't working though. The tactic that kept them fed for years, kept them healthy, kept them alive, had failed. It was her turn.

Three seconds later, Android 18 knew what she would do. Bringing her hand over her head, as if for a high five, she turned it. Instinctively sharpening a blade of ki on the edge of her hand, she chopped into, and through, Android 20's arm.

He didn't react at first. He felt no pain. He was monitoring Android 17, and diverted all of his attention to the task. He was calculating the chances of successfully beating Android 17 into submission, rather than monitoring his own wellbeing.

Dozens of milliseconds after his arm was detached, Android 20 turned to face Android 18.

"How dare you strike me!" He shouted. Sending a pulse of electricity down his arm, he would bring her to her knees… except she didn't react.

Android 20 brought his right hand back to strike at Android 18. When he brought his hand around to strike her face, another stump entered his field of vision. He'd been distracted. He let his guard down. He never should have released them both at once.

Whirling back around once more, Android 20 caught Android 17's chopping hand with his throat.

With no more fanfare than swatting a fly would induce, they were free.

"Lapis!" Android 18 was at her brother's side before Android 20's head hit the floor. "Are you alright?"

"Lazuli..." Lapis didn't know how to respond. He didn't know if he could respond. She was alive, she was herself. He almost lost her though. He came to, and, Android 20, Dr. Gero, was about to strike her. She saved him. She put herself in danger.

"TRAITORS!" Android 20's head shouted from where it had rolled to a stop, facing away from them. "YOU WILL BOTH PAY FOR THIS! YOU WILL SUFFER UNENDING AGONY FOR..."

"SHUT UP!" Lapis shouted back. Denting the reinforced steel ground as he stomped to Android 20's head, he repeated himself.

"SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!" Reaching down, he lifted Android 20's head, knocking his hat off as he did so. A smooth glass dome was revealed, the good doctor's brain safely inside.

"PUT ME DOWN RIGHT THIS..."

"SHUT UP!" Lapis shouted at the maximum volume he could achieve. Lowering Android 20's head slightly, he brought it smashing back up as he brought his down. His forehead met the glass, and the dome began to crack.

"STOP THAT, ANDROID 17, YOU'RE GOING TO..."

"SHUT UP!" Lapis smashed his skull into Android 20's dome again. The cracks began to spread.

"I AM YOUR CREATOR..."

"SHUT UP!" Lapis smashed his head into Android 20's once more. This time, a mist of glass, fluid, and biological material filled the room, and Android 20 spoke no more. "SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UP!"

Lapis inverted Android 20's head, and sank to his knees. With each utterance he brought the deactivated device into the air, before smashing the rim of the dome into the ground. "SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UP!"

"Lapis..." Lazuli spoke softly. While her voice was barely louder than the sound of glass being crushed between two metals, it reached Lapis' ears.

He turned towards her. Lazuli. He turned back to Android 20's deforming skull. Dr. Gero.

"FUCK!" He lifted the mechanical head over his own once more, before smashing it down a final time, letting it bounce and roll away.

"Lapis." Lazuli repeated, more forcefully, let still gentile, this time. Reaching out, she placed her hand on her brother's shoulder.

She saw her hand on his shoulder. She saw the fabric give way under her grasp. She felt pressure, in that when she applied any kind of pressure she received feedback that something was in her way. She did not feel his warmth. She did not feel his texture. She did not feel her brother.

Looking to her right, at the last, unopened, pod, she saw herself in the reflection on the glass. Blond hair, blue eyes, pale skin. Same nose, same jawline, same ears, and same scowl. Reaching up, she brushed her fingers along her forehead, moving her hair out of her face.

She felt the pressure, in that she was told there was something against her face, and something against her hand, but that was it. She did not feel herself. She was aware, but she was trapped. She could see, but… moving her tongue around she tasted nothing… inhaling, she felt no air enter her lunges, and she detected no scents… growling she heard herself… but she couldn't feel herself, she couldn't feel her brother, she could see, she could hear, and she could move…

"FUCK!" Lazuli shouted. "Fuck is right!"

She released her brother and gazed into the glass on the remaining pod. "I, I can't feel."

She pinched her size, and was told that she was potentially under attack. She brought her right hand to her left bicep, digging in she tried to rip her flesh, but only succeeded in removing her sleeve. Pulling her hand back, she smashed it into her forehead. She felt her head move backwards, her hand bounce away, and she was told she was under attack… but that was it.

"That monster..." She growled under her breath. "He's, he's stolen our humanity..."

She turned to her brother.

He remained on the floor, looking up at her, looking up to her.

"I can't feel you!" She shouted at him. "I can't feel me!"

She ripped her other sleeve off, failing to take her arm with it. "Fuck!"

She thought for a moment before glancing down at her chest. Pulling her shirt back, she swore again. "Fuck!"

The form was correct, but that was all. If he was going to do this to her, to them, why even bother with a shape? It certainly wasn't streamlined.

She shoved her hand down the front of her pants. "Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!"

"What?" Lapis barked his question.

"The fucker made it so I can't even piss in his skull!" Now it was her turn to stomp towards Android 20's skull.

He stole her ability to feel. He took her ability to smell. He took her ability to taste. He took her ability to have children.

She was going to be better. She was going to break the cycle that her brother and her had been born into. He stole that from her.

"We're monsters!" Lazuli shouted at the still unmoved Lapis.

"We're not monsters." Lapis said as his sister reached Android 20's head.

Raising her foot, she stomped on it. Another dent formed, but it did not break. She lifted her foot again. She stomped again. Again, and again, and again, until it more closely resembled a raw, robotic, oyster, then anything close to a human.

"We're not monsters!" Lapis repeated. "We're victims. We're victims of Dr. Gero's. We're victims of the Red Ribbon Army. We're victims of this world!"

Lazuli gave one final stomp to Android 20's skull, this time penetrating through to the ground underneath. "FUCK!"

"Since birth!" Lapis shouted. "We didn't even have a chance!"

He spotted Android 20's body. It wasn't worth it though. It wouldn't make him feel better. "As newborns, as small children, as teens, every step of the way!"

He pounded his fist into the ground. "Our parents! Our family! Our entire race!"

He continued pounding the floor. "They took advantage of us, of me, of, of you. They turned their backs on us. They either wanted us to suffer, or let us suffer."

"FUCK!" Lapis exclaimed yet again. "Fuck the Red Ribbon Army. Fuck the people who… fuck people!"

He was going to be different. He was going to be better.

He was a rock. He was a rock that had been worn down by wave after wave of abuse, neglect, and shattered trust. He was shattered, turned to sand… and that was okay.

He was going to rebuild herself. He and his sister were going to take that sand, and make a beautiful future, for themselves, and anyone they could that was in a situation similar to their own. They were going to make a difference. They were going to change the system to help people like them, and then change the world so there wouldn't be people like them...

But no, that sand was stolen. It was thrown into a heap, heated, shaped, and blown into a pair of glass daggers. Their soft edges, sharpened. Their flexibility, adaptability, made rigid. Everything they wanted, everything they could have been, was stolen by a world that just couldn't give two kids a break.

No, no one helped them then. No one would help them now. They were on their own, in a world that would let something like this happen to someone like them. This world was too much. This world was too far gone. This world would be cleansed. When they were alone, the last two beings on Earth, no one could hurt them. No one could hurt anyone.

"What now, Lazuli?" Lapis asked, still on the ground. "What do we do now, Sis?"

Lazuli returned to her brother's side. Facing away from him, she took in her reflection, and took in what was beyond it. "We get our revenge on those who wronged us. We're already off to a good start. And then, when we're done with that… we change the world. We make sure no one suffers the way we have. Everyone, every last man who would raise their fist to us, every last woman who would sell us, every last child who would shun us, will pay."

Lazuli reached down pressed the release button on the remaining chamber. The lid began to slid up.

"What are you doing? Who is that?" Lapis jumped to his feet.

"All I know..." Lazuli started, looking back to her brother as the large, red-haired, Android came into view. "... is that he is like us. If he is here, he's a victim. He… we all need to work together, to ensure this never happens again."

Lapis hesitated for a moment, before slowly nodding as a smile crossed his lips.

"Android 16?" He asked, recalling what the name plate had said.

"Greetings." His voice was synthetic, artificial. What had they done to him?

Author's note: Yeah, Android 17 and Android 18 had a rough past. Now though, they're strong enough to make sure they don't have a rough future.