Chapter 19: Forward Shadows
Dark clouds passed over the sun, shrouding all in gloom. The scene in the lab was a dim tableau. Robbie faced the Androids across the expanse, his face a mask. The Androids stared back, uncertainty etched in every feature. Bulma and Trunks looked on.
The gloom passed in a breath as the clouds moved on and the sunlight crashed down to the floor. Everything shone glossy: the Android's blue eyes, Trunk's sword, Bulma's hair. Robbie drew a breath, taking in every detail, expecting anything. He was taut and focused in the silence, his gaze taking in the room but arrow-focused on the Androids above all. The silence stood as firm as a stone wall until Eighteen blinked.
"Can we go outside? I haven't felt the sun in a while." She asked quietly. Seventeen looked pained.
"Yes," he said, "You've had us locked up awhile." Robbie's face was a mask. Bulma and Trunks merely stared. Robbie was ready to respond, but Trunks spoke first.
"Sure." He said nothing more. The Androids walked slowly past Robbie, and out into the light. Robbie's pace quickened as the quarry were escaping. He stiffened as a hand touched his shoulder.
"I think we did it." Bulma said quietly. Robbie shook his head.
"I think you and Trunks did it. I just watched." Robbie said.
"And flew me halfway around the world. There's that." Bulma laughed, but Robbie could only sigh.
"Now if we could only be sure it worked. It never went like this before."
"Before?" Bulma asked quizzically, "Has something like this happened to you before?"
"If by 'something else' you mean 'turned two maniacal killers into productive members of society…hopefully' then no. I don't know what I said. Forget it." Robbie growled back in a whisper.
"Hopefully," Bulma huffed, "Try definitely. Their urge to kill is gone. On the other hand, they may seem a little…restless." Trunks turned with a questioning look.
"Restless?"
"Yeah…I had to fool Gero's programming to make it think the Androids were looking for Goku when they weren't. I couldn't just have them look because then they wouldn't sit still. But I couldn't suppress the programming without triggering the…other…programming. It was a delicate operation, okay?" Robbie almost laughed. Almost. He remembered how delicate programming was after he missed a semicolon for the fifteenth time and almost threw his laptop off the roof.
But he couldn't laugh. Or smile. Or even feel joy. He looked outside at the Androids, Seventeen and Eighteen…Lapis and Lazuli…their names are Lapis and Lazuli…staring up at the gentle sky. A sunlit day and his heart was dark. The real battle was about to begin, he knew it was beginning for months, and he said nothing. Cell was out there, maybe even had been all the months he'd been here, and he could've said something. Robbie simply waited.
The time for waiting was over. He knew the story and it was time for the next chapter to begin. Even in-universe, the Android Saga was a prelude to the real saga: Cell. Imperfect, Semi-Perfect, Perfect, the Cell Games…all of it was hanging above him like an avalanche one breath away from crashing down the mountain. Somehow he had to stop it before innocent lives were destroyed.
Lost in his own head, he looked up to reality and found the front walkway of Capsule Corp empty. No Androids. The sun beat down on empty pavement. They were not there. They were gone. Robbie screamed.
"What?! Where are they?!" Robbie yelled, his form already a blur as he rushed outside. The front doors exploded in a flash of shattered glass and twisted metal as he erupted into the sun, dark streaks scoring the pavement in a rush of speed. He looked up and shielded his eyes against the glare. His heart stopped.
Hands clasped together, Seventeen and Eighteen wheeled in the sky. Like two children on a playground carousel, they spun in midair laughing together. Oblivious to Robbie, they went on with their game.
What…the actual hell, Robbie thought to himself as Trunks arrived close behind, with Bulma gasping as she came up many seconds later. Scientist and not sprinter, she was clearly winded. They both looked up with Robbie, and similarly stopped cold.
"What…are they doing?" Trunks asked. The Androids had now split up and were racing through the sky over the domes of Capsule Corp. They darted to and fro, then turned to rapidly lunge at the other. It looked almost like a midair fight until a cry of "Tag! You're it!" rang down. The game continued as Bulma, Trunks, and Robbie looked on.
"They look like," Bulma said between gasps for breath, "they're playing tag." Robbie shook his head.
"If they have energy for tag, then they have energy to fight." He scowled darkly and crossed his arms over his tightly wrapped tail.
"Relax," Trunks said, "The Androids are on our side now. And we can't go to your world for another few months. I think everyone needs a breather." Robbie glanced at Trunks, then resumed scowling. Robbie didn't need a breather, but he did need a shower and some new clothes. Some R and R would be great, but he had work to do. He suddenly wondered if he could do both.
"Hey Trunks," Robbie asked with a markedly cheerier tone, "Any chance we could go on a day trip somewhere today? A breather would be great actually, once I get cleaned up."
"Sounds good, as long as we take our new friends with us," he said darkly, "and they cooperate. Mom, what do you think?" He glanced at Bulma.
"A picnic sounds great! Depending on how far we have to fly." Robbie smiled.
"Not far. How does Ginger Town sound?" Bulma's eyes brightened.
"That would be perfect. There's a great picnic spot there and the shopping is killer." Robbie's smile faded for a moment. The twins continued to wheel about overhead.
"Wonder when they're coming down?" Trunks said. Robbie growled.
In a rush of wind he leapt into the sky, tearing toward the twins above him. In a flash, he floated in the sky as the twins danced around him. Seventeen was the first to stop midair, hands on hips and a smile across his face.
"Can we help you?" Seventeen said with a smirk. Robbie only stared back. Eighteen had also ceased her dance and glanced quietly at the young Saiya-jin. Robbie glanced from Seventeen to Eighteen and back. His face was a tight mask and his tail was wound even tighter. His form radiated tension. His voice was low and even.
"While I am glad to see you in better spirits, I would like to stay focused if that's okay with you." Robbie's eyes glared out under shadowed brows. Seventeen's mask held steady.
"Sure thing," Seventeen said steadily, "is there anything you need?"
"Nothing has changed," Robbie began, "and there is still a fight ahead of us. Are you ready?" Eighteen drifted next to her brother, her face now a mask.
"Against who? Or what?"
"I told you. It's an android, a real android, and we don't know anything about it except that it came from outside my solar system."
"What do you mean 'mine'?" Seventeen asked.
"Remember when you found me? Didn't you think it was odd that I was out in the middle of nowhere with nothing but my clothes?" Seventeen's brows darkened.
"Yes, but neither of us were thinking clearly." Eighteen's face fell as well.
"Where did you come from? First you were a kid who needed saving and now you're a Saiya-jin. What happened?"
"Never mind. Long story." Robbie said. "But what's important is that you're ready for anything, even in this world. You weren't Gero's only experiment." Seventeen and Eighteen's eyes locked onto Robbie.
"You mean the clown in the junk room? Or that big guy we blew up? There was that bug thing but Gero flushed it. How did you know about that?" Robbie only stared back.
"Just be ready for anything. Now, good news is that Bulma and Trunks are in the mood for some R and R. You up for a picnic?" Seventeen and Eighteen only stared.
"You tell us to be ready for anything, and a picnic is your bright idea?" Eighteen asked incredulously.
"Sure. As long as you're on your best behavior. We're going to a nice little place called Ginger Town."
"I heard the shopping there is killer." Eighteen said.
"That's exactly why we didn't blow it up." Seventeen said wryly. "And how are we going to join you on this little excursion? We didn't exactly destroy the world incognito."
"We don't have to hang out on main street," Robbie said, "We'll look for a nice little spot outside of town. Preferably high ground with a view." A good view, Robbie thought. Seventeen and Eighteen shared a glance, then turned back to Robbie.
"Sure." Eighteen said. Robbie waited for more, and was greeted with a serene expression from both Androids. He stared a moment longer, waiting for some flicker behind the mask but their expressions were as opaque as the future ahead. Robbie was never sure what he expected from this moment, but it probably wasn't this. Now he was heading to goddamned Ginger Town with two Androids he didn't understand to face another thing he didn't understand that wanted to eat said Androids. If he shook his head as hard as he wanted to, he would break his Saiya-jin neck.
"Good," Robbie replied, "I'll let Bulma know, and we can head out in an hour or so. Carry on…whatever the hell you were doing." Both Androids continued to stare serenely as Robbie leapt back to the earth in front of a mildly stunned Trunks and Bulma. "All set," Robbie said, "They're ready to go when we are. Now, any chance I can get a shower and some clothes? I keep forgetting to pack before I leave somewhere." Bulma chuckled.
"Sure, kid. Follow me." Bulma led the way back into Capsule Corp. A silver-lined elevator, once shiny and new, now old and pitted, carried them up to Bulma's living quarters. Robbie waited in the living room while Bulma went for some new clothes. Her voice rang out from a room he could only guess was Trunks' room.
"Any preferences on style?"
"Nothing much," Robbie called back, "Just nothing in pink." Bulma chuckled lightly.
"Too bad. You can't wear most of Vegeta's old shirts." Bulma came back with a pair of gray pants and a capsule t-shirt. Robbie mentally sighed at the prospect of looking like 13-year old Trunks. But beggars could not be choosers. And he was mostly sure that he would not fit into anything Vegeta wore. With a mumble of thanks, he took the clothes from Bulma and started towards the bathroom. Which he could locate now that he had seen it, despite circumstances.
"Hey," Bulma called out, "Don't forget your underwear!" Robbie turned in time to catch a gray-washed wad of undergarments thrown at him from across the room. The yellow letters CAPSULE glared from the seat of the underwear. Robbie sighed again and stepped into the bathroom. He practically slammed the door behind him.
For the first time he took a breath of fresh solitude. Walking to a simple vanity in the glass-and-metal cavern of the bathroom, he glared into the mirror for the first time in ages. What stared back surprised him. It wasn't a boy, and it wasn't a boy-turned-Saiya-jin. It was a Saiya-jin with a hardened, haggard look bearing the weight of worlds. Worlds which would die if he failed. He scraped a hand through ragged, dirty hair spikes and sighed deeply.
After stripping off the rags he had left after the most eventful week of his life, he padded slowly to the shower. The water came down in a warming stream and still he was faintly cold. While he washed himself clean, even at the very moment, death could be stalking toward Ginger Town. And whenever he did show up, it would be a battle to make their fight with the Androids look like a sparring match in comparison. Oh, and there was the tiny matter of what sparring with the Androids would look like now that they had a power increase that was as freakishly huge as it was unknown. Robbie sighed and let the water run down his face.
Breathing in and out, the steam relaxed him as much as heated water vapor possibly could. He took a moment to look at himself, truly, for almost the first time since becoming a Saiya-jin. And since almost dying from two robotic assassins. He had a few new scars, and a few new muscles. So it balanced out to a degree. He wondered what mom and dad would say, or Mike and Dan, or…her face floated up through his memory again. Along with a few not unpleasant feelings, and a few new urges he would have rather not discussed. He quickly finished washing and ran the water cold before he left the shower.
Stepping out refreshed and just the least bit relaxed, Robbie finished getting ready. Looking around the brightly lit bathroom, he realized he was completely lost. He had no towel, barely any idea how to turn water on, and he thanked his lucky stars body wash was the same no matter which universe you were in. In short, he was clean but had no way to dry that was conventional. So he decided that unconventional was the way to go. Powering up his ki ever so slightly, he began to levitate each droplet of water off his skin like the tiniest stone. This went fine until the water vapor flashed into steam and set off alarms in the apartment. Robbie had to spin to shut them down. Sighing deeply, he quickly dressed and stepped out in front of a frazzled Bulma.
Down in the foyer, Trunks and the Androids waited in a web of tension. Bulma followed close behind Robbie and only added to the feeling. Robbie's tail wrapped tightly around him did nothing to lighten the mood. Still, he almost beamed as he stepped off the elevator and into the room. All eyes were on him as they waited to leave on their outing. And Robbie wouldn't have it any other way. The time for action had come again, and it would be good to go on the hunt. Cell was the last of Gero's insanity to wrap up in this world, unless Android 13 was lurking around somewhere waiting to punch him in the…nevermind.
"Nice clothes, kid." Trunks said, the hint of a smirk across his face.
"Thanks," Robbie shot back, "I think your mom pulled them out of your preschool drawer." Both laughed.
"Now are you ready to go?" Trunks said.
"Of course. We just need to wait for your mom to get her capsules or whatever." Bulma arrived moments later. Her hair up in a bun wrapped in a rainbow hairband and her bright yellow dress billowing around her, she looked every bit ready for a picnic. She lowered her oversized sunglasses and called out a sunny "Everyone ready?" A chorus of silence and grumbles greeted her, with a half-hearted grunt from Robbie. He was running low on enthusiasm and he sensed that Trunks was fresh out.
That world's saddest parade filed out of the front doors of Capsule Corp and gathered in the quad. A rusted flagpole with a crumbling base that had not seen a flag in years presided over the scene in the sunlight. Bulma stepped forward and tossed a capsule into the expanse, and a yellow jet appeared on the concrete. The shining new metal parted into a doorway into which Bulma tossed her oversized basket and sunglasses. She turned and yelled to Trunks.
"See you there! Meet me at the rabbit!" Bulma jumped into the jet and was airborne in moments. Robbie stared quizzically at Trunks.
"We used to go to this park in the hills overlooking town. Had a tree shaped like a rabbit. My mom is weird." Robbie snorted. Bulma was weird.
"Yes she is. So, we ready to go?" The Androids looked on with a glassy stare. As they readied to leap into the sky after Bulma, Eighteen called out.
"Which direction are we going?" Robbie blinked. Trunks answered.
"North, why?"
"No reason." Seventeen said warily.
They leapt into the sky as one and flew across the emerald fields to the soaring yellow jet, its engines screaming and trailing hot contrails behind. Robbie's enhanced hearing could pick up something like Megadeth echoing from the cockpit. Robbie had to tell his Dad that they had metal in this world; it was a vital part of his Saturday morning routine.
A few minutes of flying brought the group within sight of the small city of Ginger Town, where the shopping was killer. Robbie looked around intensely while trying to hide his intensity from everyone. Seventeen and Eighteen flew quietly, eyes focused ahead. They didn't notice when Robbie noticed them look at each other and exchange a sad smile. Trunks was in a reverie; focused but in another place. Bulma's jet screamed ahead, but Robbie could still hear over it to the sounds coming from below. He heard cars, footsteps, huge machines, and the steady breathing of many thousands. Robbie was not too late. Death had not yet come for them.
The hilltop loomed into view, topped by a vaguely rabbit-shaped tree, and Robbie dropped gracefully from the sky. Landing on the ground, he sprung swiftly to the edge of the cliff where Ginger Town lay spread out. He looked in all directions for any sound, any threat. His tail twitched in the wind as he checked every breath for its final catch, listened for any scream, for any human sign that death had arrived. Straining every sense, he remained rapt on the scene below as Trunks, Bulma, and the Androids touched down behind him. The hunt for Cell was about to begin.
The low hum of the elevator was overshadowed only by the low hum of Phill Collins' voice as they passed floor after floor. With nothing else to do and a tense silence firmly in place, Catherine could only watch the numbers pass in red above the door. The 10th floor passed by slowly. Only at the 15th did the elevator start to slow, coming to a slow stop at number 21. Phil Collins' voice was replaced by a frantic staccato burst of drums as they stepped into the room.
The command center continued to hum long after the tests were over. Assistants and lieutenants rushed from task to task, switching gears seamlessly from a weapons test to preparation for the real threat. Beyond the open glass of the window, floodlight rushed in as work continued on the ground. As the group drew nearer to the window, Catherine could see grey-suited troops deploying equipment in concentrated points around the city. She stood, arms crossed, quietly surveying Earth's defenses. And for a moment, she looked above them at the shrouded sky and quietly willed her son to come home.
"Catherine." A voice called gently behind her. She turned to see her husband Malcolm waiting. She almost rushed to him, but the decorum of the setting prevented her.
"Malcolm. You're looking busy." She stepped close to him and took his hand. He sighed deeply.
"You have no idea, dearest. But why are you here? I wanted you to flee the city before everything started."
"And miss the moment my son returns with our greatest heroes? Not a chance. Besides, my husband needs me and he knows it." Malcolm sighed again.
"And you brought your mother?" Catherine suppressed a laugh.
"She needs to get out of the house." They both laughed again. Maureen was excitedly chatting up an assistant as she showed her a bank of displays. She nodded politely at the latest explanation and turned her gaze to Catherine. "And I think she may be ready to sleep soon."
"Fair enough. I have enough quarters here for all of us. My bed is only a full unfortunately."
"Cozy. Reminds me of our first apartment." They both smiled faintly and Malcolm scratched the back of his head nervously.
"We should get your mother situated. ZeDi has a tent camp at street level and most of Innova is locked down at home, so we have plenty of spaces to choose from."
"Zedi? Sounds like dinner."
"I thought the same. It stands for Zero Division. These are 1000 special forces operatives on loan from across the armed forces. The best of the best, ready to meet the threat at ground zero."
"But shouldn't their armor be black because…" Malcolm grunted.
"Exactly!"
"Sir!" A rough voice called from behind. Captain Reese trotted up urgently to the pair. "The Pentagon is coming online. We have 5 minutes." Malcolm sighed deeply and scratched his head again.
"The Pentagon?" Catherine said flatly.
"Yes, they are waiting for my latest report on our final test. It went well. Even the pulse cannons carried by the soldiers had sufficient range and power."
"Pulse cannons? I thought you said you weren't working on weapons here?" Catherine's brow furrowed. Malcolm shrugged.
"I wasn't. I was trying to create a beam that could deliver a high amount of force per square centimeter. I succeeded and we were trying to market the device to a few large mining companies. Then this happened. They turned out to be our best weapon against a metal android."
"And everything else?"
"The same story. Even the shield dome (we call it the 'frag shield' since it looks like a field of broken glass) was originally designed for underground construction. Of course the Pentagon had other ideas. When you're looking to pound nails, everything looks like a hammer I guess."
"Indeed. So now they want to know how their weapons test went?"
"Exactly. We need to get to the briefing room." Catherine smiled. He never wanted her left out.
"How can I help?" Malcolm turned to a large cabinet and pulled out a white lab coat. "Dr. Barnes" stood out in blue stitching.
"Here, put this on Dr. Barnes." Catherine slid the coat on, tightening the voluminous coat around her waist. "Now, I'll spare you the pain of dealing with the government. Afterwards, though, we can introduce you to your team. I have just the place for you."
Catherine smiled again. If her husband knew her as well as she thought, she knew exactly where she would be going. But for now, they walked together with purpose toward the video conference room. Already, the tables were filled with assistants, officers, and a few gray-suited ZeDi guards with their large cylindrical rifles. Catherine mentally noted to call them 'pulse cannons' from now on. The screen on the far wall showed an unnamed room with the DOD symbol emblazoned across a back wall. The heads of each branch of the armed forces of the US sat waiting, their lieutenants arrayed behind them. Catherine briefly noted their appearance, then took her place in the dimness of the back wall next to a row of less seasoned assistants. Catherine would have to feel like an intern for the duration of the report. Malcolm took his place at the podium front and center, nervously sorting through his notes. Maybe she should have taken his place.
An assistant held up 5 fingers, then lowered them in a countdown to zero. The camera in the conference flicked on, and Malcolm Barnes faced his second-most dangerous opponent of the day. He calmly faced them as they focused on him. The grizzled Marine general's face pinched in a look of disgust, but at least he wasn't screaming yet. The others regarded him coolly. He expected as much from soldiers used to war, dealing with a scientist who had never touched a true weapon in his life. He remembered buying splatball guns for Robbie when he was 10, then never touched them again. He sighed.
"Doctor Barnes," the Air Force General said, "We hope you have some good news for us." Silence choked the room. Malcolm Barnes spoke evenly.
"Indeed, and thank you for checking in. Have you had a chance to review the test data?" The Marine general spoke up.
"We have our eggheads looking it over. But let's get straight to the point: we've given you men and we've given you funding. Can you take down the bastard or not?" Catherine watched as he clutched his notes tighter. His right foot began a slow tap against the podium. Her heart ran cold as she realized he was about to lie.
"The core question, without a doubt. We have deployed our defensive solution and tested all weapon emplacements to specifications. And I can confirm the final test was a complete success. We are ready for the arrival of the invader, codenamed Orion." The general of the Army spoke up next.
"That's good to hear doctor. But how do you know you can do any damage to this thing? Do you have any idea what it's made of?"
"Also a good question. Allow me to present a visual." Catherine suppressed a gasp as the creature of her nightmares suddenly flashed into view. An image of the android, Gundam-shaped surrounded by inky blackness, appeared on the screen but now with a name to go with the shadowy being: Orion. Its body shone coldly with a reflected sunlight that could not overpower a vague sense of darkness within. The bright darkness was broken only by a cold blue visor and a few small plates on its body. Catherine wondered in her mind what material made up those plates, but her heart wondered what alien eyes stared back behind that visor. She shuddered as she imagined the monster within. Her thoughts were interrupted as Malcolm finished his summary.
"…and aside from some rather common metals and plastics, along with some interesting density readings from its core, the shield is the only element of the being we anticipate being a problem."
"And do you have a countermeasure for the shield?" The naval chief spoke up.
"Bullets will be useless until the shield is brought down. Our weapons, therefore, are sonic and optimized to a frequency intended to disrupt the shield and overload its power supply."
"Intended?" The Air Force general asked.
"Intended," Malcolm Barnes replied, "based on all available data provided by SETI and the capable assets you have provided." Catherine smiled. Malcolm was much better at delivering less-than-good news than he was in college. Still, she wondered what he thought he was hiding. He wasn't entirely being accurate, but how could he against an enemy no one understood?
Unless, Catherine thought with panic, He knows none of this can work. She remembered that their son was still out there, and that he may yet be the only hope to beat the invader. And the US military had no idea this was part of the plan. Nor could they, since that would call into question not only the actual defense plan, but also potentially world-altering technology.
Catherine gasped again. He never told them about the Gate. And how could he? That kind of technology could save or destroy countless worlds and open the Earth to even more unknown threats. It had to be kept secret. Catherine snapped back to reality just in time to hear Malcolm wish the generals good luck.
"We'll do our part, Doctor, and you do yours." The Marine commander shot back irritably. The Navy and Army commanders were already leaving the room. The Air Force commander stood, then faced the camera again.
"And doctor, one last thing. We've received some technical reports regarding an unknown power signature in one of your basement labs. Anything we should worry about?" Catherine gasped softly. Malcolm's foot stopped dead against the podium.
"A power source? Was it somewhere in the 1.21 gW range?"
"I don't remember offhand, but possibly. Are you aware of this power source?"
"Oh yes, that's the power amplifier for the frag shield. It's supposed to be shielded from detection so I will look into the stealth module. Thank you." The commander nodded. The screen went black. Malcolm stopped his foot and Catherine released a breath she did not realize she was holding. Assistants and officers were already filing out and some paid no attention to the last exchange. Perhaps Malcolm kept them in the dark as well. Finally, Malcolm turned and walked to the back of the room.
"If only your thesis had been so convincing." Catherine said with a smile.
"As long as they buy it for 12 more hours, all is well." Malcolm said back with a sigh. "And it's imperative to keep that machine secret and safe, because that is Robbie's only way home."
"Then we'll protect it with our lives. Now, where do we start?"
"I thought you'd never ask. The electrical grid required to power everything will be using most of the power provided by the city. Because of this, I will need an expert leading the power control team. Know anyone?" Catherine smiled.
"You know me all too well. I'm ready."
"Well then, dearest, let me introduce you to your team."
Robbie stared so hard at the city below that his eyes could bleed from the strain. Even though he knew that by all accounts the monster would not be there. At least not on the very day he arrived. At the same time, he stared down scarcely believing the worst had not already happened. Even amid disaster after disaster, at least one good day was still possible. And on this good day, even for even a moment, the sun was shining and these people were still alive.
A hand touched him lightly from behind. He turned, startled to look into Bulma's worried face.
"You OK?" Bulma said.
"OK," Robbie said, "just checking the scenery."
"Good. If you're done checking the scenery can you help me unload the jet?" Robbie nodded. Turning away from the scene below and toward the grassy hilltop, he saw Trunks already stepping off the jet with a table and chairs. Seventeen and Eighteen glanced at each other, then stepped in to help. By the time Robbie stepped on the jet, only a single picnic basket remained. The scent of fried chicken was overpowering, sending his mouth watering. He stepped outside to find lunch set up and ready.
Robbie sat down next to Trunks and across from Bulma. Eighteen sat on his other side with Seventeen on the far head of the table. Quiet reigned amid folded hands and shifting glances. The Androids had barely been awake two hours and now they were seated at the same table for the first time in history. It was at this moment that Robbie remembered his Saiya-jin senses, and that he could smell impressions from everyone around him. As he processed scents from each of them, he inwardly shook his head. It was a fine time to forget a key part of his own anatomy, whether he was born with it or not.
Trunks was the most obvious bundle of emotion. He was nervous. The problem was he couldn't tell who he was more nervous about: the Androids or his mother. The Androids, contrary to Robbie's belief, did have a scent. Seventeen's carried a sense of relief mixed with worry, while Eighteen's carried a sense of worry mixed with…resolve? Robbie was confused. He thought it was a better idea to down some chicken and think about this later.
By the time Robbie came to his senses, Trunks and Bulma were already halfway done. They had been talking about the Rabbit again and Robbie had the vague suspicion he missed the entire story. Trunks laughed and turned from Bulma to Robbie.
"Did your mom ever do anything like that?" Trunks asked with a smile. Robbie stared back with what must have been dumb shock because Trunks cleared his throat. "Did your mom ever set you up in a practical joke?" Robbie almost laughed at what practical joke Bulma might have done. But humor had not yet come back to mind.
"Other than making me believe in Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny, not really." He managed to laugh weakly. Trunks had obviously never heard of either, so he turned to Seventeen and Eighteen, eating silently at the far end of the table. Robbie hung his head sullenly as Trunks admirably tried to engage the twins in conversation.
"What about your parents?" Trunks asked innocently. The silence hung heavy like a dark cloud. Eighteen looked at Seventeen as Seventeen looked away. Robbie could see Eighteen reach for Seventeen's hand under the table. Trunks looked visibly uncomfortable while Bulma only looked on intently. She smelled…resolute. But the scent of pity also hung heavy around her. Finally, Eighteen broke the silence.
"We don't really talk about them. We left home when we were 12 and have been on our own since." Robbie frowned, but no one looked his direction. Eighteen turned her gaze from Trunks to Bulma. "What were your parents like?"
Robbie watched as Bulma's breath caught, and he silently cursed himself as he went on finishing his lunch. He knew little about what happened to the parents of Seventeen and Eighteen, with the exception of finding Eighteen mumbling about them in an abandoned supermarket. Which still creeped him out. And he knew even less about what happened to Bulma's parents in the future timeline. All he knew is that they were gone and it probably had something to do with the state of the world.
"My parents," Bulma said steadily, "were great. My dad was a scientist and my mom was a mom. And they taught me how to be good at both." Robbie looked down and pretended not to notice. Stealing a glance up at Trunks, Robbie saw that Trunks mostly felt the same way. Looking at Seventeen, he could see that he didn't like the conversation either. Only Eighteen looked at Bulma. She smelled…something between scared and hopeful. Robbie inwardly shook his head and prayed for this meal to be over. If Cell could just attack already, that would be great.
A scream pierced the air. Robbie jerked his head to the right, along with everyone else, only to find a wrinkled old grandmother smiling happily as her granddaughter bounded over to her. The false alarm almost made Robbie sad. The conversation continued for a few more moments until Bulma began taking empty plates. Robbie had stacked a few, and sat sullen but satisfied.
"Trunks," Bulma said lightly, "Why don't you show our guests the view while I clean up? Robbie, do you want to join them?" Robbie nodded and rose to his feet as everyone filed away. The sound of clinking plates fell away behind him as he walked toward the overlook where Trunks, Seventeen, and Eighteen stood silently. Conversation had become as dead as the world would be if they failed to stop Cell. Robbie stepped up sullenly beside Trunks and surveyed the scene below.
Robbie remembered the Z world as a modern metropolis filled with flying vehicles, soaring skyscrapers, and superhighways careening high above the ground. So far, he had only seen the ruins of those in West City and Bridgetown. But here was a quiet town with a main street and cul-de-sacs, and quiet everywhere. Aside from traffic noise, voices, and a radio station blaring something about The Wombat, all was quiet. Not only had Cell not destroyed this place, but Androids had spared it as well. These people were either supremely lucky or unbelievably boring.
Robbie's eyes pierced the horizon. He wanted peace; but he also wanted to end Cell and finish the last threat to this world barring any new threat dropping out of orbit. The sooner the fight with Cell happened, the sooner Robbie could stop looking over his shoulder and waking up in a cold sweat. And if the four of them could beat Cell, then that boded unwell for the monster heading to his home.
But for now, on this sunny day, there was no sign of Cell. Trunks seemed more relaxed than ever, and Seventeen and Eighteen stood quietly surveying the town below. The sun shined, the breeze blew, and everything was fine for now. Robbie felt at least some of the mountain of tension on his shoulders fall away, and it felt like a mountain all on its own. Robbie fell back to the ground, crossed a leg over, and closed his eyes.
"That's a good idea." Trunks said. And collapsed alongside. Seventeen and Eighteen sat down. Eighteen picked a flowering weed, stuck it in Seventeen's ear, and laughed. Seventeen soon joined her. Robbie just laid on the cool grass, taking in the sounds around him. Movement next to him caused him to open his eyes. Bulma sat down next to him, a smile on her face. The dimmest traces of streaks across her cheeks the only sign of any trouble.
"So Trunks," she said beaming, "are we cloud watching again?"
"Great idea! I see…a rabbit!" He pointed excitedly at a puffy cumulus cloud off in the distance. Bulma laughed. Seventeen and Eighteen were quiet. Robbie continued to lay down with his eyes closed. As much as he wanted to join the merriment, he continued to carry a weight. As much as he wanted to join these people, his heroes, he had to carry the knowledge he was lying to them.
He knew about Cell. He knew and said nothing. As many times as they spoke of the Androids, as many times as they had trained, planned, discussed, and schemed to bring them down, Robbie had kept silent about the looming threat. He knew the entire timeline, from the time larval Cell emerged to the time…to the time he would be unbeatable in this timeline. And now that Seventeen and Eighteen were alive in this timeline, the risks could not be greater. And here they sat, oblivious. The weight was more than Robbie could bear. He stood up. Walking over to the cliff and looking out, he kicked a rock angrily and watched it soar to the horizon. The laughing stopped.
"Robbie," Trunks started, "you okay? Something we said?" Robbie said nothing. He stood on the precipice and look out over a steep drop. There was no turning back, and no running from the truth. It was time to come clean with his heroes, and to formally introduce himself to Seventeen and Eighteen. He turned and looked Trunks in the eyes.
"Trunks, Bulma…I have something to tell you." Trunks and Bulma nodded. Seventeen and Eighteen stared.
"I'll be brief: we're in danger. A new threat is near and it might already be here."
"You mean the android coming to your world?" Trunks asked.
"No," Robbie replied, "something else. Gero created another Android." Robbie let the shock set in. Everyone had to understand the importance of what he said. "His name is Cell." Eighteen turned pale.
"That name…Gero said it. He was talking about an Android; biological not mechanical. But we thought it was destroyed."
"It's not," Robbie said slowly, "and it's coming for you and Seventeen." Seventeen scoffed.
"And how do you know? You just showed up out of nowhere." Now it was Robbie's turn to scoff.
"Yes I did. And did you ever wonder where I come from? And why I was a human when we first met?" Shock dawned on both Seventeen and Eighteen. Eighteen eyes widened.
"You…were the kid at Myrrh Lake. The one Trunks saved. How does a human turn Saiya-jin?"
"That's a long story," Robbie said, "And one I'll try to tell as quickly as I can. But first, you need to understand what Cell is. He isn't just another Android. He's biological, and he feeds on life to get stronger."
"Then what does he want with us? We're not living." Seventeen said.
"Cell's goal isn't just to get stronger. He wants to become perfect. And he needs to consume you to do it. If he succeeds, it's over for everyone on Earth." Eighteen turned more pale than normal. "Cell is out there, trying to gather enough energy. Once he's strong enough, he'll come after you. If he absorbs one of you, he'll be Semi-Perfect. If he absorbs both of you, he'll be Perfect." Trunks had sat for several moments, calmly digesting the situation. He looked up at Robbie.
"Not to be direct, but why are you just telling us now? You and I have trained together for months and you never mentioned Cell or your home. Why wait until a picnic with the Androids?" Robbie stopped and took a heavy breath.
"Trunks, remember how I told you another Android is coming to my world? Another world?"
"Yes," Trunks said, "and it's still a bit to swallow." Robbie took another breath.
"That Android…" Robbie's breath quavered, "could destroy everything. My home…my family. I saw what happened to your world, and I couldn't let it happen to mine." Robbie stopped abruptly, his face pained. "I had to make sure you would come back to help me. I didn't tell you because I couldn't risk you becoming distracted."
Trunks' face was a mask. Bulma looked concerned. Seventeen and Eighteen stared. Finally, Trunks stood up and walked over to Robbie. His back to everyone, he looked out over the city. Robbie turned to look out with him.
"I don't blame you." Trunks said. The wind whipped up from below as the words hung in the air. Trunks face and aura were both calm.
"Not at all?" Robbie said.
"Nope. I would have done the same. All I ever wanted was to defeat the Androids and save my world. And I wasn't going to help you until I did. Only now that the world is safe would I even think of a new mission. We're the same." Trunks fell silent. Bulma stood up and crossed her arms.
"You know, it would be nice to hear about your home. And how you know so much about us." Eighteen and Seventeen also stood.
"Yes," Eighteen said, "that would be nice to hear." Robbie swallowed and sighed deeply. It was time to blow some minds.
"Bulma, Trunks, remember I said I'm not from this world? And remember the message from my father?" Trunks nodded. Bulma frowned.
"And how you were just a goofy little boy until you stole my time machine?"
"Yes," Robbie replied sheepishly, "still feel bad about that. Anyway, I was able to use the time machine because I knew where the dragon balls would be, even years before you were born. I knew because I've seen it before."
"Where?" Seventeen asked.
"On TV." Every eyebrow on the cliffside raised.
"Come again?" Eighteen asked incredulously. Robbie suppressed a snort, then continued.
"On TV on Earth. My Earth. It's nothing special; there's no dinosaurs, flying cars, Saiya-jins, or capsule tech. Just cities and farms, cell phones, and In-N-Out Burger. It's pretty nice most of the time. Then the android came and we knew we weren't alone. My father knew we needed heroes."
"Your Earth doesn't have warriors like you?" Trunks asked.
"My Earth has plenty of heroes. My Dad told me he was pulling together the best we have. But none of us can stand up to something like an Android. Especially if it's built by a psychopath like Gero."
"So your father saw us on TV?" Bulma asked.
"Yes."
"Did you really see us? Or actors playing us?" Trunks asked.
"Um…neither. You were animated." Everyone turned pale.
"We were…cartoons?" Eighteen said, her face the closest to angry she had been since waking up. Robbie immediately reacted.
"Anime isn't cartoons!" Robbie's shout, louder than intended, echoed across the now-hushed group of heroes. "Anyway, don't ask me how some guy in Japan wrote Goku's entire story in a comic-book-turned-anime because I don't know. All I know is that the Dragon Ball story became one of the most famous anime of all time. And when my father saw it he knew we needed you. And that's why he sent me here."
"Wait," Bulma said, "you said 'Goku's story' but he passed away. Is that where the series ended?" Robbie suppressed the urge to punch himself in the face.
"Um…no." Robbie clamped his mouth shut.
"I see." Bulma said as she momentarily glanced at Trunks. Robbie hoped that look meant what he thought it meant. But that was a thought for later. Way later.
"So," Robbie continued, "my father built the gate, sent me through, and the rest is history. Any questions?" Four blank faces stared back. The silence blew across the cliffside in a wave.
"Yeah," Trunks said, "how do we beat Cell?" Bulma nodded. Seventeen and Eighteen seemed uneasy but determined.
"Yes," Eighteen said, "We want to help. Especially if he's coming for us." Seventeen nodded in agreement. Bulma looked determined.
"Another Android. And it's more powerful than the first two. Gero was a real piece of work." She huffed. Seventeen sighed and looked at Trunks and Robbie.
"She's not wrong."
"So," Trunks said, "Any idea where can find a deadly bio-Android?"
"As of right now," Robbie replied, "no idea. But if he gets a whiff of the Androids he'll come running. And he'll be hungry." Seventeen jumped to his feet.
"So you're saying we ring the dinner bell?" Robbie turned pale.
"That isn't exactly what I…" Eighteen jumped up, cutting him off.
"If we let Cell know where we are, then he'll come out of hiding. Then we kill him." Trunks and Bulma were equally determined. Robbie turned cold with dread. Imperfect Cell defeated Tien, Piccolo, and three Androids to consume Seventeen. Semi-Perfect Cell defeated Super-Saiya-jin Trunks and Krillin to consume Eighteen, even though Vegeta was being a dumbass. And Perfect Cell beat literally everyone. If Cell went Perfect in this world, there would be no Goku, no Vegeta, no Super-Saiya-jin 2 Gohan to save them. There was only Trunks and a Dragon-born Super-Saiya-jin dork with questionable fighting abilities. The odds were not good. Robbie sighed.
"Then you'll be worse than dead. Cell will consume you and become powerful enough to destroy everything." Trunks' and Bulma's faces went pale with shock. Seventeen and Eighteen fell silent. Robbie continued. "Cell can also absorb people. Once he's made a meal of a town or two, he'll be strong enough to come after you two, and it will take all of us and a shit-ton of luck to win. The key is that he can't be allowed to absorb either of you. That means you'll have to leave the fighting to Trunks and me." Seventeen growled.
"You mean we have to hide in a cave and hope you two amateurs can crush the bug?" Robbie looked down and chuckled.
"We beat you, didn't we?" Robbie looked up as Seventeen's face twisted into frown.
"Listen you little up…" Eighteen cut of Seventeen's outburst.
"Can it, Seventeen! We'll do what they say. We've done it our way long enough." Eighteen's eyes were calm, but steely. Robbie hadn't seen this much edge out of Eighteen since Bridgetown.
"Now," Bulma said, "We just need to lure him out. And we need to lure him out in a place clear of people. Maybe the mountains around Gero's Lab?"
"Please no." Robbie growled more irritably than intended.
"Bad episode?" Bulma said, laughing. Against his will, Robbie cracked a tired smile.
"Piccolo was having a bad day." Bulma and Robbie both laughed, as if they were laughing over an old friend. Trunks interrupted the moment.
"So it's settled. We'll lure Cell to us then take him out. We should probably get home and plan our trap. This place suddenly feels exposed." Trunks said.
And his final words were cut off by a scream.
Across the hillside, the family which was joyfully reunited earlier suddenly pointed in horror. And their gaze fell squarely on Seventeen and Eighteen. Before either of the twins could react, the screaming family rushed toward them as one. The twins now stared into the glinting lenses of several phones, their cameras hungrily devouring first Seventeen, then Eighteen. Seventeen stood staring, like prey that had been cornered by a cunning predator. Trunks and Robbie stared, nearly in shock, at the crowd.
"It's them!" The grandmother screamed.
"The monsters are here!" A younger man yelled. The yelling continued as phones were pointed and each person frantically narrated the doom that stood in front of them to their presumably large online followings. Robbie recovered himself long enough to shout angrily.
"Excuse me! Can I have your attention please!" The cacophony stopped as the crowd turned to process the newcomer. Wide eyes stared him down. The youngest girl's eyes suddenly went wider.
"The spiky kid has a tail!" The crowd lurched toward Robbie, phones extended, and began frantically narrating the spiky-haired youth with a tail. They breathlessly explained that, indeed, he had a tail. Robbie's aura turned hazy and he held back a golden hair change by sheer force of will. Instead, he merely growled.
"If you don't mind, we were getting ready to…" Robbie was in the process of announcing their departure with an expletive, but was cut off by a look from Trunks. A small headshake stopped Robbie's stream of consciousness. Trunks turned from Robbie to Bulma, who nodded slightly. They both turned to Seventeen and Eighteen, who also nodded after wordlessly conferring among themselves. Robbie wasn't sure of the details, but he knew one thing: it was time to ring the dinner bell. Bulma stepped up to finish Robbie's statement.
"We were just getting our friends ready for their exclusive with you!" Seventeen and Eighteen smiled nervously. Eighteen waved. All cameras swiveled to her in unison. Bulma continued. "Who wants to be the first to ask a question?" The crowd pressed forward like a hungry tide. As the crowd pelted Seventeen and Eighteen with questions and Bulma played MC, Trunks and Robbie hung back and watched the horizon warily.
"So," Trunks whispered, "you think he's listening?" Robbie sniffed.
"We're about to find out."