Chapter Nine - Arrival of the Androids

The day of the androids arrival had come. Mizuna had refrained from her morning exercise and had spent the past 3 hours since dawn meditating outside the Son family home. Gohan was inside getting ready and attending to Goku. She needed quiet moments like this before a big battle, to center her mind and her heart. She knew they would defeat these androids. She had pushed herself incredibly hard and everyone else as well for this.

She knew Trunks would be returning some time today as well. Having him would be reassuring. She wasn't sure if Vegeta would show or not, he still hadn't come back to Earth after checking in with Bulma last night. She sighed. There was still a niggling feeling in her gut. That something was going to go wrong despite everything. Oh well, it was probably just excitement at wanting to test for new power. The air was brisk but refreshing. She shivered as a stiff breeze hit her, only wearing a tank most days wasn't great but if she was too comfortable it'd make her feel weak.

The sun was low in the sky when Gohan had stepped outside to meet her. It was obvious he was much more confident in himself then ever before. He was almost glowing with positivity. He had decided on fully taking up Gokus place today, he even had a similar orange gi on with a black undershirt. It suited him well. "You look good, Gohan. You ready?" Gohan nodded in earnest. "I sure am! Those androids don't stand a chance." Mizuna chuckled as she floated off the ground. "I like the confidence. Let's get there early and scope out the city." Then Gohan followed her as they both quickly moved through the dim morning sky.

Apparently they were't the only ones wanting an early start. After they been flown a few dozen miles. Krillin and Yamcha came into place beside them. The scar faced bandit was the first to greet them. While Krillin fell back to chat with Gohan. "Hey guys! Gohan, good look." He said with a wink. "Mizuna, I see you finally got a haircut like I suggested." Mizuna sighed, he tried so hard but it just wasn't going to happen. Especially after that falling out he had with Bulma after being a player. "It was the first decent suggestion you've had for me since we've met." Mizuna looked ahead to see the island quickly approaching, she could feel Piccolo and Tien already there. "Looks like we're here."

They all touched down simultaneously on a high rocky outcrop overlooking the city. Piccolo and Tien were standing side by side by the edge and watching everything cautiously. "Any sign of them yet?" Gohan asked as he raced to

Piccolos side. "Nothing yet, everything looks normal so far."

"They'll be here, I'm sure." Mizuna asked as she joined them and looked down. At the citizens of the city were moving around, unfazed and uncaring. No idea of the that threat loomed over their heads.

Tien looked over his shoulder at Yamcha. "Did you bring the Senzu Beans?" Krillin and Yamcha had grabbed the Senzu from Yajirobe earlier, as he had no desire of coming close to the androids.

Yamcha nodded. "Yeah, there's 8. That should be enough for us to get by on today." He then dispersed one to each of them and kept the extras in the bag.

Another ki appeared above them suddenly, putting everyone on edge. It was a false alarm though, Trunks had finally shown up. He touched down on the ground a few feet away from them. He was visibly sweating, nervous about what laid ahead today. "I'm glad I made it before you all left. I didn't think I'd get here before the fighting started." Everyone greeted him happily. Having another Super Saiyan on the team was a big relief for everyone. "I'm glad you could make it Trunks. We were just about to start sweeping the city for them." Trunks inclined his head. "Let's get moving then."

Mizuna looked around at the huddled group. "It's time. We have no idea where they'll strike first, but we'll definitely see it. If everyone comes across them, draw them away from the city. Don't want anyone dying today. We'll feel your power flare and come running. Let's go." Everyone solemnly nodded and took off to the city beneath them.

Yamcha landed in a not so busy street and starting strolling down it, trying to play it cool but keep a look out. He was eager to help and despite her intense training. Hr was still nervous, but he had a much better chance now then he would've otherwise.

Piccolo landed on a building rooftop, he scanned the streets below and kept his incredible hearing on the lookout as much as his eyes. He was hoping no one would get snuck up on and taken out before the rest of them could help. If these androids were as strong as Trunks had described, he had his concerns. But they had been unprepared in his timeline, they were ready this time. He kept his physic link with Gohan open. "Eyes open, Gohan. We can feel their energy so they could take us by surprise."

"I will, Mr. Piccolo! You too!"

Gohan was leaning against a building nonchalantly. He had been scanning every passerby closely for any sign of the Reb Ribbin logo, but Trunks had mentioned that there was chance they'd be wearing something else, though it was unlikely. His description of them were that there was a dark haired teenager with an orange scarf and carried a handgun and a blonde with a blue jacket.

Mizuna was floating in the air above the city. Keeping an eye on the whole picture, if there was an explosion or something. She'd be the first to notice.

Trunks was also flying across the sky, scanning everything and thinking to himself. I wish I had stayed here instead of being back, I'm a bit stronger then I was, but not nearly as much as I could be if I had proper training. His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden crash, then the sound of a car hitting something and a scream following that.

There were three figures in the street below him, one of them was holding a civilian by his neck after ripping him through the roof of his car. On closer inspection, a gut wrenching dread set in his stomach. Three androids and none of them were #17 or #18. Impossible. Did I really change events this much by coming here? He flared his energy and landed on the ground across from them. His ever burning anger building in him. "Let him go!" The androids all looked up at him at once. The old looking one spoke first with the red ribbon hat spoke up. "Ah, I see. One of Earths defenders to the rescue. I have no idea who you are though." Trunks' hand went to his sword hilt. "You will."

Just then, Piccolo, Mizuna, Gohan, and the three humans all arrived and landed in a half circle alongside Trunks.

Gohan looked at the tall, strongly built android, with white hair and a hat, then he looked at the plump, white as snow skinned one. "Strange looking bunch.."

Mizuna chuckled at the trio of supposed terror, then looked at Trunks. Her worry about the day quickly melting away. This was ridiculous. They weren't even the ones he had told them about. "These are the terrible androids? You got us all worried for nothing."

Trunks appeared to be shuttering in fear. "These aren't the right ones. The other two are two young looking teenagers. I don't know who they are."

"Most curious," The aged android spoke again. "You seem to know what we are, where we were going to be and even about #17 and #18. They haven't even been activated yet. Who are you, boy?"

Trunks clenched his fists and angrily responded to him. "You'll be dead before you know. I'll never let you activate them!"

Android 20 wasn't concerned, even if they had unforeseen aforementioned knowledge. They still wouldn't be capable of stopping any of them. His calculations had been perfect. None of their powers currently were anything to fret about. 19 could handle them all himself. 15 wouldn't even be needed. 17 and 18 were too unpredictable to bother with.

The pudgy Android 19 seemed to read his mind. "Goku is not here, shall I wipe away this trash while we wait for him? His voice was mechanical but sounded like it came from a child, more then a little disturbing.

20 knew his sensors weren't going to help here, they all concealed their power levels as they fault, but it mattered little.

"I approve. Go ahead and wipe them out." Android number 20 replied.

"We have to move them somewhere else away from the civilians before this gets out of hand." Piccolo stated, looking back at the group. "I can oblige you." 20 said, his eyes glinting and bolts of energy shooting out into the city, but arched high into the sky before they hit anything. Mizuna reappeared back into her original spot. "Not happening. You won't be killing anyone else today." She pointed to the sky. "Follow me." Her aura appeared around her as she took to the sky, the androids hot on her heels as the group of them took off towards the sea. After about 10 minutes of flying, the androids stopped dead in the air. "This is far enough. You won't stall us." 20, clearly the one in charge spoke. Then they all landed on the ground. They were over a grassy field with a rocky mountainous area not far off. They'll probably want to use the rocks for cover. Piccolo thought to himself. Not good since we aren't able to sense them.

It didn't take long before Yamcha stepped forward, putting fist closed fist in his open palm. "You guys can decide who you want to fight. I'm going first, I'll take down this creepy clown one."

Piccolo sighed. "Are you sure? You didn't do too well the last time we did this."

Yamcha nodded, fire was in his eyes. "Positive. I've been training like hell just for the occasion. I won't make the same mistake." Both android 19 and Yamcha stepped forward simultaneously. Yamcha then clenched his fists and began powering up, a fire aura consumed his body as his power skyrocketed.

"This is rather unexpected. We have no data on Yamcha knowing the technique known as Kaio-Ken. But no matter, he's still too weak to make a difference." 20 stated.

"Oh yeah?! I'll be happy to prove you wrong!" Yamcha yelled defiantly as he charged forward landing a blow on the fat androids face and knocking him backward and followed up with a barrage of blows that the android appeared incapable of stopping.

Krillin whooped in triumph. "Look at him go! He's got that android on the ropes!"

Piccolo grunted unsure. "I don't think so. He hasn't even tried fighting back and the other two over there don't seem to be worried at all."

Mizuna stepped over next to Trunks. Deciding to see what else she could learn from him. "These aren't the androids you described to us before. Why is that?

Trunks shook his head, just as confused. "I have no idea. I've never seen or heard of these androids. The ones who appeared in my time were #17 and #18 and they were much stronger then these guys."

Gohan piped up next. "Maybe they're just prototypes or something."

Trunks shrugged. "It's a possibility, sure. But let's be careful just to be safe."

The android smiled as Yamcha continued his assault. His calculations had been completely off, Yamcha was much more powerful then his predicted potential had shown in Dr. Gero expectations. But his current power output was nothing to worry about. He'd absorb his energy and crush the others. He increased his power to half of his maximum power stores and caught Yamcha by surprise with a punch to the face and a knee to his gut. Then clobbered him into the ground with a two handed haymaker.

Yamcha quickly picked himself off the ground and rubbed the trail of blood from his lip, still smiling. "You've been holding back I see. Well, that's alright. I was getting bored knocking you around anyway. Let's finish this!" With a burst of speed Yamcha rejoined the fight, amplifying his power with the 8x Kaio-Ken, it was the most he had been able to master, and he didn't want to push it. It wasn't enough. The android caught blocked each of his blows effortlessly. Time for a different approach. He broke away suddenly and cupped his hands at his side. "Kamehameha!" He shouted as the full power familiar blue blast of energy shot from his cupped hands towards the android.

Android 20 grinned to himself as he watched. "The beginning of the end."

The brilliant blue beam launched made contact with the android and seemed to warp unnaturally as it immediately was sucked into his waiting palms. "Ahah!" His childlike laugh echoed through the air.

"Uh, he can absorb attacks?" Mizuna asked shocked. "That'll make things more difficult."

Trunks, standing silently watching the fight. "Damn androids!"

"I think absorbing energy will power then up even more too. Yamcha put a lot of his energy into that attack." Gohan added. "This might get bad."

Yamcha's hands dropped to his side in shock. "What the hell? You can absorb our energy? That's a cheap trick." He was starting to grow tired. He hadn't expected that, and the Kaio-Ken was beginning to wear him out a bit now.

"You see, pathetic human? We can use your energy against you. Now you will die, Yamcha." Then charged forward, much faster then Yamcha could track and punched him in the gut, knocking the wind out of him, and seizing him by the throat. Despite Yamchas attempts to fight back, he was completely overpowered and he felt himself growing weaker by the second. They could absorb energy by touch too, it seemed. His arms went slack as he grew weaker and weaker. A foot came out of nowhere and knocked the android away into the ground. It was Gohan. "You alright, Yamcha?"

Yamcha nodded weakly. "Yeah, I'll be fine kid. Thanks for the save." He sounded as defeated as he looked.

"You did fine, Yamcha, I'll handle this now." Gohan confidently, and lowered himself to the ground by the android. Yamcha returned to the group and ate a Senzu. "Pick yourself up, it's my turn." The android quickly jumped back up to his feet and stared intently at Gohan. "Son Gohan, son of Goku." He stated in his annoying childlike voice. "A poor fighter and prone to running away. Come to die?"

Gohan clenched his fists as his white aura surrounded him. "No, I've come to kill you. You'll see just wrong your data is."

The foolish android only chuckled, whatever this boy had in store. He was sure it was nothing he couldn't handle. He knew Gohan was a coward at heart.

The wind suddenly picked up as Gohan felt deeper into himself releasing his full power.

"Haaaahhh!" With a huge shock wave of power that rippled across the land. He flashed into his Super Saiyan form. He was in complete control of this power now, it had taken him awhile to be able to call on it at will, but it had figure it out some time ago. It hardly took a thought now. Android 19 started to look a little unnerved now.

Android 20 was audibly worried. "This isn't right, he's also supposed to be one of the weaker fighters and he completely dwarfs 19 now. We only anticpated the great ape transformation. This is completely different.

The until now silent android 15 shifted slightly. Gero had created him earlier as a prototype to the total robotic type like 16, but had moved on. He was the strongest of the three of them but his power was capped, he wasn't capable of getting stronger by absorbing energy.

Gohan assumed his fighting stance and 19 came charging in, overly confidant in himself after absorbing so much from Yamcha, he was the superior being here. He unleashed his maximum power as he charged at Gohan, cocking his fist back and throwing a punch at the short half breed. Gohan caught his fist easily. Momentarily surprised at himself, then he smiled and tightened his grip on the androids fist. Then he returned a punch that knocked his pudgy foe a mile away, one arm shorter then a moment ago.

"That's Gohan?" Trunks said, flabbergasted. "He's still only a kid but he's just as powerful as he was in my time. I didn't know he had such potential."

"Having a proper sparing partner and the right motivation is important." Mizuna added in. "He was pushed incredibly hard to get to this point."

Gohan dropped the androids sparking arm and pursued him. He was sitting in a crater looking at his stump. There was fear in his eyes now. Gohan closed in, unleashing a savage flurry of blows that left the android quivering in pain he couldn't feel. Oil leaking from various points on his body. "Im..possible. Data..doesn't lie. I am stronger."

Gohan sighed. "We're much more then simple numbers. You can't rely on figures and expect to win." Then he launched a bright ball of energy, completely annihilating the white pudgy android.