The group made it back to the lab.
While 17 and 18 waited in another room, 16 carried his unconscious companion somewhere else, and the duo followed him down the hallway.
"I take it that you two are already aware of 21's true nature?", asked the large android.
Both of the duo's eyes widened in surprise. 16 caught on that fast?!
"Um...y-yes.", Mafin awkwardly replied, "How did you know?"
16 answered, "Over the course of our mission, I noticed that she has taken a liking to the both of you."
Mafin then asked, "So, is it okay if we help 21 recover?"
16 nodded and replied, "It is fine with me."
They all entered a new room, which looked a lot different from the others.
It looked more like an actual bedroom.
To the duo, this was quite a big contrast from the original room they were in earlier today.
The new room had warm lighting, a nice, comfortable bed, a writing desk, a black swivel chair, and a large shelf filled with dozens of novels and notebooks. A mesh steel basket, which held various different writing utensils, was located at the very top of the shelf.
Sitting near the edge of the bed was an old MP3 player, hooked up to a white charger. A pair of blue headphones, as well as a small loudspeaker, sat next to it.
16 carefully laid his companion down onto the bed, then turned to the duo.
He instructed, "Make sure she gets some rest. She must recover her strength for the remainder of our mission. This is my best method at healing 21 for right now. "
Begu's eyes widened, "Wait a minute, we're not done with this whole thing yet?!"
16 replied, "Negative. There are still dozens of other clones wandering all around the world."
Begu groaned and thought, "This is gonna take forever!"
16 then stated, "I need to inform 17 and 18 on the truth about 21's unstable nature, so I will not be here for a while. Be sure to keep an eye on her until I return."
"Right! We won't let you down!", exclaimed Mafin, his fists clenched with determination.
Knowing that his companion was in good hands, the large android smiled softly at the duo, and walked out of the room.
Mafin sat down next to 21's unconscious body, prompting Begu to let out another disappointed groan.
"What's wrong?", asked Mafin.
Begu complained, "Man, why do you get to sit next to 21?!"
Mafin responded, "No big reason. What's the issue?"
Begu pointed at the chair nearby, "I have to sit on another stupid chair like the one I have back home!"
Mafin chuckled and said, "Well, that's the only one that's available right now, so..."
Begu grumbled in annoyance, and plopped himself onto the chair.
He asked, "So, what are we gonna do while she rests up?"
Mafin shrugged, and replied, "Looks like we'll have to wait until she makes a successful recovery."
Begu sighed, "Alright-y then..."
After 10 minutes of sitting around doing nothing, the duo heard a soft groan. They each turned around, and saw that 21 was starting to wake up. She slowly sat herself up, and rubbed her head.
Her eyes widened upon seeing the duo.
21 stammered, "M-Mafin? Begu? What happened? Why are the both of you in my room?"
Both men looked at one another, unsure of how to respond.
Begu asked, "Do you wanna tell her, or should I?"
Mafin replied, "I should tell her."
The Pesutorian proceeded to explain everything that recently happened. 21 gained an expression of pure horror as she learned of her most unsavory slip up yet.
Hearing all of this stuff honestly made her stomach churn. How could she act so cruel and vicious?!
"Oh, no...", whispered 21 as she covered her face in shame, "I'm...I'm sorry!"
She started to apologize for her violent actions over and over, her voice quivering with sadness.
Mafin exclaimed, "21, it's okay! It's okay! Please don't apologize!"
"But I should!", replied 21, who continued to cover her face, "I hate myself for giving into this animalistic mindset!"
Mafin said, "But still! Don't blame yourself!"
Yeah, dude!", Begu added as he walked over to 21, "Don't beat yourself up!"
"Why do you gentlemen even continue to care about me?!", the researcher questioned, "I feel like I've caused nothing but pain and suffering while on this mission!"
Mafin sighed deeply, and said, "It's because throughout the entire time Begu and I have been here, you have treated us with respect, friendliness, and kindness. I know it sounds stupid and cheesy...but it's true."
Begu nodded in agreement, "Heck, earlier today, you found us near our ship, brought us all the way over to the lab, AND asked us if we were okay! You really didn't need to do that, but you did!"
Mafin continued, "I know that we barely know each other...but you've been suffering for far too long now. We want to help you out."
Taking in the duo's words, 21 slowly uncovered her face, and she let out a deep sigh.
She looked at both men, and asked, "You gentlemen still trust me? Even after all the times I terrified you?"
Mafin and Begu each nodded yes in response.
21 stared at the two of them in shock.
To see that these people were giving her another chance...made her feel really happy on the inside.
A warm smile grew on 21's face.
She pulled the duo into one massive hug, much to their surprise (especially Mafin, who started blushing in response).
"Thank you.", whispered an emotional 21, "Thank you both so much. I'm deeply grateful for this."
The researcher held onto the duo for several more moments, then let go of them soon after.
Mafin asked, "So, how do you feel right now? I mean, regarding your hunger urge?"
"I feel like it's subsided a bit.", 21 answered, "I need to pull myself together so that 16 won't have to worry anymore. Make no mistake, I didn't repair him just so he could worry about me."
Begu exclaimed, "Wait, you 'repaired' him?! That big guy was, like, damaged?!"
21 clarified, "Well, more accurately, he was destroyed. The laboratory's computer informed me that 16's original body was blasted apart by another bio-android, named Cell."
Mafin fearfully questioned, "Um, is this Cell person still alive?"
21 replied, "No. According to the computer, he was vaporized by the son of Goku, twelve years ago."
The Pesutorian sighed with relief, "Thank goodness..."
Begu asked, "Where the heck did this all happen, anyway?"
21 explained, "All of this took place at a tournament called the Cell Games. I flew over to that location, and after hours and hours of digging there, I gathered up all of 16's pieces. With the help of the laboratory's documents, I began restoring his body. It took about a year, but I managed to get him working again."
Begu commented, "Weird. I never really saw you as a repairing kind of person."
21 said, "I'm not. At least, normally I'm not. But that was a circumstance where I had to learn about repairing another android. And it worked out well."
Mafin inquired, "Although, I'm curious. Why did you repair Android 16 to begin with?"
21 took a deep breath, and explained, "There was a time, before I was created...when my human model was a mother, and she had a son."
The duo's eyes widened in shock at this new revelation.
21 continued, "Later, he became the model for Android 16, and all that it would achieve. When I realized that, I wanted so badly to see him, and have him by my side. So after I repaired 16, I explained that I wanted to treat him like family. That is why I want to stop the clones...so we may live in peace as a family!"
Mafin smiled, "That's really sweet, 21."
Begu happily added, "I agree! That's a pretty awesome reason!"
21 smiled warmly, "Thank you, gentlemen."
Mafin then questioned, "So, this might sound like an odd question, and I don't mean to sound rude...but why do you still have a ring on?"
21 briefly examined her ring finger, then looked back at the Pesutorian, "Huh. I don't know. I never really thought about that. I just...wore it out of instinct, I guess?"
She let out a sigh, "It's probably another thing my human model wore. And to be honest, I don't even have any memories of that former life. The only thing that I can remember...is that I am Android 21."
The researcher perked up and continued, "But, there is no point in getting depressed just because I have no memories. I can easily fix that problem by making new memories. Like for instance, sometimes I use my MP3, and my loudspeaker, and I engage in a little dancing session with 16. I think it's fun. He doesn't understand what's so fun about it, though."
Begu chuckled, "Isn't that 16 in general?"
Mafin glared at the Octorian for that comment.
Begu incredulously asked, "What'd I say now?!"
Mafin scolded, "Don't insult him like that!"
Begu scoffed, "How is that an insult? I'm just sayin' he's a pretty stoic dude!"
21 chuckled, "It's alright. I'm sure he won't mind."
She then stated, "Although, I'll still need help in trying to control my urges. Destroying the clones' bodies won't be enough."
Mafin proposed, "How about I help out by using my technique? It worked out once, right?"
21 gasped in realization, "Yes, it did! Let's use that method!"
Mafin nodded, "Alright!"
Begu smirked, and gave an A-OK sign, "Nice! I like this neat little synergy you guys are having so far! I mean, I know you just thought out your plan, but still!"
Both Mafin and 21 bashfully smiled at the Octorian's compliment.
"Thanks, Begu!", they each said in unison.
With a determined expression, 21 then declared, "Right! I swear that starting now, I'm not gonna let my hunger best me! So, Mafin, Begu...please keep cheering me on, okay?"
Mafin exclaimed, "We will!"
Begu nodded, "Sure thing, dude!"
At that moment, 16 walked back into the room.
21 smiled at the large android, "Hello, 16."
16 said, "Greetings, 21. It's good to see that you're awake now.
"Thank you."
"Are you ready to proceed with the rest of the mission?"
21 stood up, and replied, "Yes. Yes, I am."
