A/N: Any one still here? Good...
Disclaimer: I Own Nothing
Reckless
Cell was impressed… no he was astounded at the overwhelming power coming from the Saiyan boy, who stood firmly in front of his injured mentor as a means to protect him just as the Namek did years ago. To be frank, he was becoming nervous since the child has now surpassed him in power ten folds and well if he didn't finish him off before he completed his transformation, he would be history.
But then he realized something.
"Hmmm, he has no control of himself whatsoever. Maybe I have nothing to worry about after all." The ivory insect-like creature said, cupping his hands into a well-known stance, a bluish-white ball of light developing within his palms.
Vegeta observed the son of his rival with disbelief, not willing to believe the amount of energy coming from his person. He knew the child had great hidden potential from seeing it first hand when he took on Frieze by his lonesome, but he never thought he had this much. However, the major flaw of this great power of his was that he could only utilize it when he angers, usually when his allies or loved one's are in grave danger, like when Frieze pieced the bald midget right through his chest and was in the verge of death.
The Prince frowned as he took note of the blood pouring down the boy's eyes, nose, ears, and mouth. "Stupid brat, at this rate he's going to get himself killed."
Piccolo, who was back first on the ground and behind Gohan, coughed harshly as the debris in the surrounding area crawled down his throat. What the heck's wrong? He's clearly stronger than Cell right now so why isn't he able to deflect the attack!? It doesn't make any sense!
As the Namek averted his gaze from the half Saiyan, he's sights fell on Cell, who was preparing to use the-
"Gohan! You have to send that attack back to him! He's going to use the Kameha-wave!"
"Wh-what do you th-think I'm doing!" The young Saiyan sneered out as blood emitted out of his mouth, which was so unlike him, however given the circumstances nobody could really blame him. The strain coursing through his body was unlike anything he ever felt before and he knew that if he didn't put a stop to this, he and Piccolo were goners.
"KAAAAA-"
Gohan, despite almost having his entire attention on deflecting the attack, began to feel dread when he heard the creature start the chant of the Turtle-Hermit's signature move, thus causing his concentration to falter. His long wild blond hair flickered off like a light switch, returning to jet black, his golden aura going along with it. Fortunately, the wild blue bolts of lightning and shrunken turquoise orbs were still present, indication that some of the waken power remained.
"MMEEEEEEE-"
Piccolo, noticing the change, narrowed his eyes. "Gohan! Listen! Block out all distractions and just focus on maintaining your power under control!" He hollered, as a means to encourage him.
Too bad the half Saiyan was at this point too dazed to comprehend anything his mentor was saying, the blood loss and numbness making him feel like a sheet of paper being flattened by a paperweight.
"HAAAAAAMMMEEEEEE-"
The monster's chanting seemed to have brought him back from wherever his mind wondered off to because the next thing Piccolo knew, Gohan's aura reignited, this time with unnatural red bolts of lightning snap and crackling against his form. Then with a mighty roar, he sent his foe's attack soaring back to him, his shrunken turquoise orbs briefly flickering crimson red before winking out.
Cell, not expecting the turn of events, hastily extinguished his energy wave, swatting the fast incoming repelled attack, sending it off miles away, detonating a mere few seconds later.
"I did it…" the child gurgled, a wad of blood expelling from his lips as his trembling legs gave out. Luckily, the injured Namekian was about to sit up and catch the Saiyan before he could reach the ground
That's when Vegeta acted.
"Hey freak!"
Upon hearing the voice, the ivory beast, who was still airborne, turned around only to come face to face with the Prince's gloved right palm.
"Big Bang-"
Cell's confused expression warped to a horrified one, his dropped jaw successfully making Vegeta's lips curve into a smirked.
"Nnnnnooo-"
"ATTACKKK!"
The Prince of Saiyan's yelled, releasing the round blue ball of energy point blank range, causing quiet a large explosion that even sent the user himself hurling through the air, however he was able to use a small Kiai to regain control of his flight. He let loose a gust of air from his lungs, his Super Saiyan power vanishing do to the fact that he had put pretty much all his power into that one attack.
Piccolo, with the unconscious Gohan in hand, stared intensely at the spot Cell's clouded form was in, Bra, Bulma, and Vegeta mirroring the Namek's actions. When the smoke cleared, all the four witnesses could do is stare in astonishment at what remained of the ivory creature.
"Ewwwww! His whole upper body is missing!" Bulma gaged out, turning almost as green as Piccolo.
Bra winced. "I'll say, but that's not what's odd! How is he still levitating!?"
Vegeta growled angrily when he felt the monster's ki steadily rising. "Blast! He's still alive! How?! I put everything I had in that attack and on top of that, he's-" He paused. "Wait! Didn't the hideous thing say he has all our cells!? Then that means-"
Piccolo, with Gohan held within his left arm, stretched his free hand forward and grasped his right leg, which was shriveled up like an over dried vegetable, and yanked it off. As he tossed it to the side, he tightened up his muscles, veins becoming visible on his forehead as he began shouting loudly from the pain that was burning down his thigh. Not even ten seconds later did a limb explode from the exposed thigh, revealing a brand new leg identical to the previous.
"That he could do just what I did now…only his must obviously be in a whole other level since even I can't grow anything back if my head's missing."
The group of four, not counting Gohan, could only stare anxiously at the hovering form, the tension in the air strong as Cell's body began to vibrate violently, the hole where his upper body used to be beginning to strain almost as if it was going to burst at any moment. Burst it did as without warning a sickening crunching sound erupted from the gaping hole, revealing a brand new upper body and head disgustingly covered in sticky green slim. The ivory creature gasped loudly upon taking his first breath, feeling like he had run for miles for hours on end. After regaining his composure, his piercing blue-green irises set sights on his foes, narrowing to mere slits when they landed on the Saiyan Prince.
I shouldn't have let my guard down… the insect-like creature chastened himself as he flew high into the bright blue sky, eclipsing the ever burning sun. Though this made me realize something…I over estimated my abilities and almost got myself killed yet again he added, the fleeting memories of the Trunks from his timeline bringing him to near death from the powerful energy wave that had overwhelmed him.
As his enemies eyed him curiously, awaiting for his next move, Cell spat a glob of purple blood, then spread his fingers apart and opened his palms. I think it would be good to retreat for now and instead search for the Androids. Once I absorb them, fighting these fools will be mere child's play! I would have had enough power to kill them all if it were not for Vegeta's surprise attack!
Cell grinned wickedly as he flung his hands near each side of his forehead, a throaty chuckle escaping from his lips. "We will continue this is the near future so be prepared, because next time I will not toy with any of you!"
The three fighters realized the monster's next course of actions too late as Cell roared out an all too familiar attack. "Solar Flare!"
The vision burning flare of light stung the unfortunate four victims as the ivory beast landed on the ground before high tailing it out of the city, determined to find the Androids as soon as possible since he already felt like he had wasted enough time.
"Gahhh! I can't believe we fell for that! It's like the most obvious trick in the book!" Bra hollered furiously as she tried desperately to blink her sights back in working order.
"Oh my god! I can't be blind! I'll never be able to use my genius to create again! Or see my gorgeous self every morning or-"
"Oh will you shut up woman!" The Saiyan Prince, the first to regain his sights, shouted as a means to quiet the woman.
Bulma gasped in astonishment when she felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her form, successfully silencing her, causing her to blush horribly. Unfortunately before she could return the gesture she was released, the warmth disappearing altogether as if it was never there. When she was able to see again she noticed that Vegeta was indeed in front of her, but he had a look of indifference, the ever present scowl pasted across his lips.
Vegeta… she whispered inwardly, flashing the Saiyan a radiant smile. The Prince just scoffed at her and then turned away.
When the Princess of Saiyans's vision returned, the first thing she saw was her father with his back turned to her mother, the latter's lip's curved into a smile strong enough to brighten the darkest of caves.
"Uhhh did I miss something?" Bra asked, her brows furrowing in confusion.
Bulma opened her mouth, ready to spew what her 'Prince Charming' had done for her but unfortunately (fortunate for Vegeta though) Piccolo appeared with the unconscious Gohan over his shoulder, landing near the female half Saiyan.
Bra eyed the boy, flinching slightly when her aqua orbs saw the caked blood streaks down his cheeks, nose, ears, and lips. "Is he alright?"
Piccolo nodded. "Yes, he just passed out from over exhaustion. My concerns are of his transformation. I'm sure you all noticed that his power surpassed that of a Super Saiyan, well above mine also."
Bra's jaw dropped but then snapped back shut. She wasn't sure if it was a good idea to spill of what she know about the transformation, fearing that the outcome would do more damage than good. Vegeta's eyes narrowed at his daughter's hesitation.
"You know something don't you?" The Prince voiced.
"No!" She responded a little too quickly.
"Don't lie! Are you not from the future?! The power we just witnessed coming from Kakarot's brat was something you've seen before isn't it?!" Vegeta interrogated, only to have the half Saiyan look away, her fists tightening to the point they turned white.
"Vegeta! Leave her alone! She clearly doesn't-"
"No! I've had enough of this!" The Saiyan Prince snapped out, index finger pointing at the young Saiyan. "She has been living with us for over three years, yet we know nothing about her, other than coming from the future and perhaps her name, though I believe that's a lie! Your name isn't 'Bulla' is it?!"
"I-I-I ummm-" Bra took a step back upon her father's escalating voice, as he all but stomping towards her.
"I can smell a liar when I see one! Why did you come from the future!? Trunks told us of the Androids, in fact that's really the only reason he came at all! He's not here to, how the human's say, 'crash' for the night!"
"Dad I-I-I c-can't…" What the hell was wrong with her? She never stutters! " I wish I could-"
"What the hell are you hiding?! Are you running from something?! Is that it?"
Bra stiffened, eyes widened with panic, causing Vegeta to smirk with triumph. "Ah that's it! Something happened in your timeline and now you're running away from whatever it is!"
The trembling Saiyan Princess stumbled backwards as Vegeta closed in on her.
"No-that's not-it's not-wha-"
"Spit it out!" the angry Saiyan thundered out as Bulma looked on incredulity while Piccolo remained silent.
"I can't-" Bra shut her eyes, as fleeting memories of a pink monster turning billions of innocent people into small pieces of jawbreakers, consuming them with no remorse whatsoever flashed before her. She suddenly found herself unable to speak, the lump in her throat choking her as she watched her family and friends meet their end to the beast, becoming forever one with 'him'.
"Coward!"
"It's Bra!" She blurted out, tears beginning to leak down her cheeks as her form shook feverishly. "My name is Bra and I came because it's gone!? All fucking gone!"
"Gone?" He echoed.
"Yes all gone! Nothing! There is nothing left for me in my timeline!" The half Saiyan shouted out as her tears begin to wither away into mere specks, engulfed by a yellow-ish glow that sprung from her form. "You're all dead! Along with Earth! I didn't want to leave! I was ready to follow you all! I-I-I."
And then the dam broke, her dimly lit turquoise eyes fading back to her normal ones as she dropped to the ground in defeat, a heart wrenching cry merging with the wind. The night that Goku caught her sobbing was nothing compared to this, since her father's relentless interrogation had caused her to briefly recall the painful memories of her past life, digging them from the little box she placed them in three years ago, as a means to bury them to finally move on.
Bulma gasped as a choked cry burst from her lips at seeing her daughter in such an emotional state. Without a second thought, she broke into a small sprint, huddling the bawling young woman within her arms, making sure to rub her back soothingly. Bra held onto her mother as if her life depended on it, feeling that if she were to let go, everything would fall apart yet again.
Vegeta, not liking the display of emotion in front of him turned away, arms crossed tightly, his left brow twitching with irritation. "Pathetic…" he hissed out.
After what felt like hours, a gruff voice cut through the silence.
"Bra…Listen maybe it would be a good idea to tell us something from your timeline. It may prove to aid us in defeating the Androids. You don't have to tell us the events that caused you to travel to this timeline, since it's obviously a painful subject to touch upon, but it would do us good if you could inform us of a…secret achievable power…something beyond a Super Saiyan…beyond my power."
The female Saiyan lifted her head from her mother's chest, which now was damped with tears. Her glistening aqua orbs now faced the Namekian who waited for her response patiently. She wiped the last of her tears from her redden eyes and then finally spoke. "Piccolo…I really want to…truly do…but I fear that it will do more harm than-"
The Namekian grunted. "I highly doubt that, since your presence here has also done the damage you speak of. Worse because unlike Trunks, you've been here for more than three years, so I can assure you that all the harm you say that could happen, already will happen whether it be a minute, a month or years from now, everything is already 'set in stone'.
Bra hesitated for a second, clearing debating if it truly was a good and safe- safe, we are all everything but safe! With a defeated sigh, she pushed her fears aside with a small nod as she rose from her spot next to her mother, the latter mimicking her.
"Okay, shoot."
"You can start by answering the question Vegeta asked. Have you seen the power Gohan displayed?"
"Yeah…I have… in fact-" Bra paused as she, along with the Prince and Namek felt the energy signatures of Krillin, Tien, and Yamcha flare to life.
Seconds later, they felt Goku's stable one drop to almost non-existent, making dreadful chills to race down the Princess's spine, causing her stomach to lurch unpleasantly.
Without a second thought, Bra was gone, leaving behind a jagged trail of golden light. Piccolo followed on after with breakneck speed and so did Vegeta, but not before yanking 'his woman' from the ground, taking her shrilling form.
"Oh shut up or I'll drop you!"
"Y-you wouldn't dare?!"
"Wouldn't I?" he challenged, his lips curling into a tiny smirk.
Bulma kept quiet, knowing that he actually would, even if he'd stop her from falling to her death. The feel of gravity pulling her down was simply not worth the argument in her opinion. Instead, she just held on tightly, pressing her face to the Prince's tone chest, sighing in content at the close contact, her cheeks burning into a bright red hue.
DBZDBZDBZDBZxxxxxxxxxDBZDBZDBZDBZ
A jittering red convertible huffed and whined pitifully as it just made it to their desired destination, fulfilling its purpose. The vehicle hackled and coughed a few more times before finally winding down to its death.
"Well will you look at that! We made it just in the nick of time!" Seventeen exclaimed as he hopped out of the poor car, her sister doing the same while Sixteen casually stepped down.
Seventeen eyed the car with a pained expression, his jaded orbs suspiciously moistening. "Well buddy it was a blast…I remember when I first stole yo-"
Eighteen growled with annoyance as her hand lit up briefly, hurled a pink orb of energy at the red vehicle.
Everything slowed down in Seventeen's eyes as he watched in horror as his sister's attack all but slammed into his precious car's visible worn-out battery, making the entire car explode, the pieces scattering all over Capsule Corp's front yard.
"Wha-What-the-Hell Eighteen! How could you!? She didn't deserve that! Have you no soul!?"
The brunette just rolled her eyes, pushing her hair behind her ear. "Stop being so dramatic Seventeen. 'She' was already dead."
Her brother huffed angrily. "You're really a bitch sometimes, you know that?"
"I know." She agreed, smiling ever-so-brightly.
Before Seventeen could respond to her blunt dismissal, Sixteen's monotone voice interjected.
"Son Goku is here." He spoke, his soft gentle kind hearted appearance changing to that of a cold hearted killer.
DBZDBZDBZDBZxxxxxxxxxDBZDBZDBZDBZ
"This is Mikey Ruth from ZTV News, reporting to you live from Nicky Town! As you can see all around me, there is nothing but uhhh clothes…on the streets, sidewalks, lawns seriously everywhere almost as if people were literally sucked right out of them!" the news reporter said, microphone in hand as the camera man shifted the camera from side to side, showing clear shots of the mass of clothes scattered about.
"It has been reported that similar incidents happened in Gingertown, along with other small towns such as-Billy? What's that behind you?" Mikey asked Billy, his camera man.
Mikey suddenly turned pale as he took a few steps back in retreats, staring right behind Billy in utter terror. "I-it's a mon-monster!"
A bone chilling scream harshly cut through the air as the camera dropped to the hard concrete with a heavy thud, causing the lens to flicker briefly before normalizing. Unfortunately, the camera landed in such a way that it was facing towards a pair of pants. Shortly after, the sound of scurrying footsteps was heard followed by a loud popping screeching sound, an indication that the microphone was abandoned. Another scream and whimper was heard…then everything went silent.
The news feed then cut, the colorful horizontal bars on the TV screen glaring at the Z-Warrior's, who had shocked and worried expressions across their faces.
"Whoa…do you guys think it's the Androids?" Yamcha asked, peeling his eyes from the TV to focus on Krillin, who sat near a resting Trunks on the couch. The Senzu Bean had patched him right up the second he swallowed it, though it looks like the traumatic near-death experience took its toll on him, thus leaving him in a comatose state.
Krillin shook his head. "I don't think so. I don't take those three Androids as the sneaky type."
"Yeah, from what Trunks has told us, they were pretty reckless." Tien added.
"So guys I was thinking…" Krillin started, rubbing the back of his bald head nervously. "Maybe these Android's aren't as bad as the ones in Trunks' timeline…"
Tien and Yamcha each raised a brow curiously, urging the former monk to continue. He swallowed nervously. "Well it's just that, they haven't done anything from what we've have seen so far. We pretty much provoked them into a fight when we first met them, but other than that and oh killing Doctor Gero, which he totally deserved, they don't seem evil…"
Yamcha's eyes narrowed to slits as he studied Krillin's facial expression, making the short man sweat. "You forgot that you said one of them wants to kill Goku."
"Oh heh, and that too but other than-"
"Krillin…is there something you're not telling us? Are you sure nothing happened during the time we were out cold." Tien asked carefully.
"No! It's not that! It's just that they don't seem like bad guys to me! I mean, look at Vegeta and Piccolo! They were bad and look at them now!"
"So what you're saying is that we should invite them to our gang and ask them to be our pals!? Get real Krillin! You saw what one of those machines did to me! I almost died!" Yamcha yelled fiercely.
"Yeah I know! But the one's that me and Tien saw, they were not like the others. They had more… personally…" He said, the brief image of a certain brunette Android's pink tongue caressing his ear, making him blush profoundly.
"I got it!"
Krillin and Yamcha turned towards Tien, completely bewildered since random shouts were simply not within the Triclop's character.
"You…I seriously hope I'm not correct on this but knowing you I probably am." Tien stared at Krillin intensely, making him gulp rather loudly. "The brunette… what was her name…Android Seventeen-"
"No it was Eighteen!" he exclaimed, only to cup his mouth close with both his hands.
"Ah-ha! I was right! You sounded so defensive when I told you the wrong name! You have become smitten with that Android haven't you?" Tien inquired, giving the former monk a hard glare, daring him to lie to him.
Krillin's eyes widened, a deep blush now burning so brightly that one could mistake it for an actually burn. "D-don't be ridiculously!"
"Krillin you can't let your emotion get the best of you! She may look like a woman but really she's just an-"
A rather loud explosion echoed outside, startling the three active Z-Fighters.
"What the hell was that?!" Yamcha nearly shouted, jumping to his feet.
"I don't know let me check!" Krillin replied as he darted to the nearby window and what he saw turned his blood cold.
"G-guy…it's the Androids!"
"What?!" both Yamcha and Tien cried out simultaneously. They both rushed to the small man's side and indeed the Androids were in front of the yard, near a smoking and completely wrecked vehicle, the obvious cause of the sudden loud noise.
The Android pair, noticing the three on onlookers peering through the large window, faced them.
Eighteen's emerald orbs landed on the bald man, making him freeze in place.
Then the unthinkable happened.
Eighteen winked, followed shortly by a radiant smile.
Yamcha nearly fell backwards at the slightly endearing gesture, literately having to tear his sights from the smoking hot Android to face his friend, completely astounded. "Di-did she just wink at you?"
Krillin blushed brightly, smiling bashfully. "Naaa, I think you're seeing things…"
"Holy damn! Krillin! You dog! She is drop-dead gorgeous!"
From the distance, Seventeen gave a friendly wave. "Hey guys! You might wanna check on your pal Goku! I tried to stop the big guy, telling him that there's no hurry but he just-"
Yet another loud sound echoed, however this time, it clearly happened within Capsule Corp, seeing as how the whole complex shook and raddled violently.
Then Goku screamed.
Tien, Yamcha, and Krillin rushed upstairs, making sure to raise their power level to the max to warn the others.
Once in the upper level, they watched in horror as Android Sixteen, with a malicious glare, all but manhandled the Saiyan. With one more agonizing scream the Android throw Goku across the room so hard, the he literally smashed right through the building wall, which was right next to the hole he broke into, landing harshly on the front yard severally feet from the other two Androids.
"Ouch…" Seventeen winced, scrutinizing the sickly pale Saiyan who still seemed to be unconscious. He frowned. "Hey Eighteen…is it just me or does he look…sick?"
Eighteen eyed the fallen Saiyan with a raised brow. "Hmmm your right...I guess it makes it easier for Sixteen to take him out then."
Seventeen's frown deepened. "That's not fair…it's better to take him on at full strength." He turned, facing upwards, towards the large hole that Sixteen created. "Hey Sixteen!" He hollered as his fellow Android landed firmly on the ground, slowly making his way to the sick and now injured Saiyan.
"Can't you wait until Goku's uhhh not all pale and stuff? This isn't exactly a fair fight."
"Negative, I was programmed to kill Son Goku by any means. His health condition matters not." He raised his right arm, aiming it at the pale Saiyan, who was now breathing rather harshly. His palm began to glow brilliantly as he prepared to give the defenseless Saiyan the killing blow. "I'm sorry Goku, it's really nothing personal…I just have to fulfill my purpose. I wish I could do otherwise, since I believe you do not deserve such a death. Farewell…"
"Hell Buster!" The large Android hollered, letting loose a medium size but potent blast.
Tien, Yamcha, and Krillin looked on in dismay, refusing to believe that this was it for the earth's hero. Not only were they not fast enough to reach and save Goku in time, but even if they did, the blast would surely take not only their life but also the Saiyan's.
That's when a golden blur of light passed by them with sound breaking speed.
"No! Goku!" A female voice cried out as the owner recklessly dived right within the energy blast path, taking the attack right on her left arm, detonating, causing her to give a heartbreaking shriek shortly followed by sickening cracking sound, covering the entire area in smoke.
Once the dust and smoke settled, the lightheaded yet wild eyed female Super Saiyan looked ferociously at the shocked giant. Blood oozed and gushed from her battered arm, which was surely broken, marking it the second time in one day as her shaking legs buckled slightly.
"N-no one hurt my Goku…" She whispered, though it was loud enough for all who were present to hear.
Bra's golden glow dimmed out like an overused light bulb, the spaced out Super Saiyan wobbling erratically. No longer able to stand, she tilted sideways, proceeding to fall right onto the older Saiyan, the left side of her face pressing right onto his chest.
While the Saiyan Princess' eyes sealed shut, Goku's decided to flutter open.
A/N: So what do you all think? Let me know people! Other than a few ideas I have stored within my mind I'm pretty much writing blindly, unsure if the path I'm taking scared some of my readers away...then again I'm pretty sure it did seeing as how not only am I getting less reviews as the story progresses, but the readers that were with me from the beginning have all but vanished.
Maybe you can call the two months I took off a break but I don't. Now I feel like I'm truly gonna take a break, since I'm kinda feeling like I'm forcing myself to write these chapters. To be honest, ever since the one shot "Gravity Tension" and the Broly Special chapters, my interest faded a bit, feeling like this is quite not what I expected and maybe that's exactly why my other readers have high tailed it out of here. After all if the writer doesn't believe in him/her self, then why should the readers?
Anyways I'm NOT canceling this be any means, I just might not post for a while. Hell I thought this chapter was not gonna be done and posted for months but BAM I was able to finish it last night/morning.
Thanks for those few who decided to review and stick with me through fav adds and follows! I'm truly grateful for that! =)
Til next time! Later!
(Posted: 6-18-2014, Wednesday evening.)
~Gater~