Chapter Five

It was nice and peaceful in the 439 mountain district where the Son family lived, even through the androids had been built to destroy his father their home was still in one piece and looked as it did all those years before the androids first attacked. His bedroom was filled wall to wall with text books, he'd read every textbook and majority more then once. Reading was what he did most nights before he fell asleep, the only nights he didn't read was whenever he was to injured and had to spend a night at Bulma's to recover. Even if the androids where causing havoc during the night once he got home he picked up a book and read. Normally he'd fall asleep reading but ever since the two girls from the alternate dimension turned up he'd had trouble drifting off to sleep. He kept seeing images of his worlds Erasa dead in his arm because he'd been to slow, the children she was trying to find looking up with lifeless eyes. His arm he'd lost throbbing whenever he thought of the girl he'd lost.

DBZ

One Year after the android's first appeared.

It had been a year since his father had died of that heart virus that struck at the most inconvenient time, it was a year since Vegeta had come back from his training in space in order to find out that his rival was dead, only to died at the hands of the androids the same day, it was a year since the Earths strongest fighters left for a battle they knew they would lose, even though they knew they would die they left anyway because they knew that they might still save some lives with the sacrifice of their own life, a year since his martial arts trainer sacrificed his own life so he could live, a year was how long his mother had been crying herself to sleep, a year he'd been hiding and training non-stop so he could hold his own against the androids, a year he'd been training to transform into a super saiyan. He had the emotional turmoil needed to trigger the transformation but didn't have the strength needed to transform, but after that one year of training he'd finally managed it and had become a super saiyan. Something the others didn't know if it was possible due to being half human. In that year many people had died, but it was worthless him throwing his life away to help, since he was the only hope these people had, he could surpass the androids it was just going to take a lot of training. How long that took he didn't know but he believed he was now strong enough to help save people from the androids and get away alive. That was the most important thing of his training, getting out alive, if only Vegeta knew when to quit he'd still be alive. The others of the Earths defenders would probably still be dead anyway, even with a life time of training, humans had limitations they couldn't pass. Today was the first day he was going to help the people the androids where attacking.

DBZ

It didn't take long for the Son boy to find the androids; they were attacking a village not far from West City. He observed as they toyed with the people, causing fear but not actually killing anyone yet and in such monotone voices and no emotions covering their faces. His heart was pounding in fear and anticipation; this was his first encounter with them since Piccolo died to save his life. He powered up and charged in, the androids weren't expecting anyone with his type of power to attack back, he had the element of surprise and he caught them by surprise as well, not that you could tell from their non changing expressions or voice.

Most of the villagers used the surprise attack to scatter, but a few people remained, some were curious and wanted to know what was happening but majority of them were in shock. "Get out of here, run, leave" Gohan shouted at the town's people. This got majority of the people to leave, but he couldn't worry about them now, he had to worry about keeping himself alive. He knew his mother's life depended on him living. She'd lost to much in the past year and he was concerned that if he died that he'd be seeing his mother in the afterlife a lot sooner then he'd like and then she'd ground him for as long as he was dead and since he was twelve he would be a pre-teen for all of eternity and that scared him more than the actual dying itself.

"Look sister, it's another golden haired fighter, much like Vegeta" the male android commented. Luckily for the few people that where still around the androids had moved their concentration to him.

Gohan flew off into the distance, both androids taking chase. He managed to fly to the ocean when they caught up with him. Even after his year of training he still wasn't fast enough, he still wasn't strong enough. He tried to fight back but only found himself being thrown between the siblings like he was a ball. Not able to escape, not able to fight back even though he tried, he wasn't even able to stay conscious. As hard as he tried his vision was getting darker and darker, the world around his sounding more distant till he couldn't see or hear anything anymore.

DBZ

It was dark when Gohan woke up and the first thing he noticed was he was still alive, that surprised him a lot. The second thing he notice was the fact he was face first in the sand with water occasionally pushing him and pulling him in the sand. He was sore all over as he sat up, to find himself on a small island, the tide coming around him once more. The young teenager sighed with relief to find he was still alive and in one piece even though he was in pain. He didn't think he'd make it back home in his current condition, but he was close enough to West City that he was able to make it to Bulma's.

DBZ

He stumbled through the hallway, making his way towards Bulma's ki. Capsule Corp was still in operation as normal, a few workers where around at this time of night and where so busy with their work that they didn't notice as he walked past or if they did he didn't pay attention as he continued walking towards the one person he knew would help him and then reassure his mother that he was alive. His mother must be worried sick by now since he didn't tell her he was going out. Why was it walking through the halls felt longer then his flight to Capsule Corp?

"Hey, are you alright?" someone asked him. So someone had noticed, two children around his age where standing either side, helping him stand a boy and a girl who looked like they were related.

"Looking for Bulma" he told them both, he didn't think he was able to get to many words out.

"You stay with him sis, I'll get dad" the boy announced and told him to sit on the seat in the hallway. He wasn't gone long before he came out with a man who had the same blond hair as both the children.

"Are you alright son?" the scientist asked him with concern. "Where you attacked by the androids?"

"I attacked the androids" Gohan managed to tell him with a slight laugh and grin. The laugh hurt a lot and he found himself coughing up blood a few moments later. The man looked at him with a look that told him he didn't believe that he'd really attacked the androids. "I'm looking for Bulma."

"You wait here, I'll get Bulma for you." He told him and ran down the halls.

The three older children sat in silence, which Gohan was thankful for, he wasn't up for much talking.

It was only moments later when the sibling's father returned with Bulma.

"Gohan" Bulma called out. Kneeling next to the chair, he smiled as his father's first friend fussed over him.

"You know him?" the blond haired boy asked, looking up at Bulma Briefs with amazement that anyone his age would know the scientist his father worked for. He'd only ever caught glimpses of her from a distance.

"I guess you could say he's family" Bulma smiled. "Let's get you to a bed and then I'll call your mum" the scientist helped Gohan stand and walk to the room which was obviously Bulma's home. Fussing over a toddler was Mrs Briefs, Bulma's mother.

As soon as Gohan's head hit the pillow he was asleep.

DBZ

Gohan smiled at the memory, it was the first time he ever saw Erasa and Sharpener, as well as their father. It was a memorable way for the twins to meet him, and once they knew he was around Capsule Corp on a regular basis they'd seek him out. After all they'd go to work with their father every day as that was what the employees did who were still coming to work. Gohan had trouble interacting with them both at first, he was used to dealing with adults and not people his own age and his mother and Bulma both encouraged his friendship with the twins. Which was nice with his mother allowing him to spend more time at Capsule Corp and it also got his mother out of the house more, which was good for her since it meant she didn't spend all day seeing reminders of his father around the house.

DBZ

Two and a half after the android's first appeared.

Gohan was flying as fast as he could to Capsule Corp, he had felt the rise of Trunks ki which was astonishing for the young boy, the three and a half year old had a more powerful ki then Gohan had at five years old and only had basic training from Gohan and not on a regular basis either.

The androids where already gone by the time Gohan got to Capsule Corp. The main building had a large hole blasted through the ceiling. Bulma was holding Trunks as she was sobbing, more from shock than anything else. Grandma Bunny was oblivious to the event that had just taken place and was asking how long the hole had been in the roof for.

Though the whole Briefs family had survived the attack, not all the employee's had and unfortunately it included Dr. Stationary.

"I'm sorry I didn't get here in time" Gohan apologized to his two friends, there was no body to cry over, their fathers body had been destroyed in the blast that had damaged the dome shaped building.

Erasa flung herself at him and continued to cry. "It's not your fault" she sobbed. "You can't save everyone."

"It would've been nice if you saved dad, but if you'd been here you might have died too" Sharpener pointed out through his own sobs. "It's the androids fault, they're monsters. First they killed Videl and now dad. They take away everything that's important."

Gohan sat with the twins as they both mourned their father, determined to continue training and surviving and training Trunks so that one day they could live without the androids.

DBZ

After the attack on Capsule Corp. Sharpener and Erasa didn't have much reason for coming over every day, in fact they didn't want to go there at all because it was a reminder of the place their father had died. The day their father died was the last day they were both children and the first day they became adults, taking on adult responsibilities in order to survive. Finding a place in a community of other orphaned children, though technically their mother was still alive not that she'd been much of a mother to them. She hadn't even called to find out if they were still alive since the first android attack. Gohan had fun showing them the survival skills he'd learnt from Piccolo when he was a younger and the twins had fun learning from him. Both determined to live and learn any skill that would help them survive.

DBZ

Four years after the android's first appeared.

Gohan looked in horror at the settlement Sharpener and Erasa had been living in, it was completely burnt to the ground. He could see dozens of mounds with sticks poking out of them indicating they where graves, the graves of orphan children, teenagers and the few adults that had moved into the community.

He hadn't been around to help, he'd been at Bulma's in hospital after a near fatal blow two days before. He felt the panic rising, his mind telling him that his good friends where dead even though he could sense their ki's and knew for a fact they were both alive and well, even though he could sense they where well he knew he had to go and see them and confirm what he already knew.

DBZ

"Gohan" Erasa called out, the first one to notice him one he'd arrived as always she ran to him and gave him a hug. Sharpener wasn't far behind his sister, but he refrained from hugging.

"Glad to see you still alive bro" Sharpener greeted them.

"I like what you've done with the place" Gohan looked around watching the rag tag group setting up their new settlement.

"We thought a change of scenery was in order." Sharpener stated. "We're sick of our settlements getting attacked and people dying and have already tried the outskirts of the city, small towns, country area and forest. We had a vote between the desert and the sewers and as you can see the sewers won."

"Good choice, 18 hates getting dirty and smelly places so hopefully you'll be left alone here." Gohan commented.

DBZ

Over the next few days whenever Gohan wasn't saving people from the androids he helped the settlement setting up lights, fridge, freezer and access to fresh water, though the water they had access to was cold. He'd also supplied blankets, towels and new clothes and medical supplies which was all in Capsule Corps care package for a settlement which had been attacked.

"I've had a look at council plans, you should be fine from flooding in this area, but I'd still be on a lookout whenever it rains, and have emergency exits worked out for that reason" Gohan warned them making the elder members of the group aware of what they had to be careful of.

DBZ

"Hey Sharpener, I'm just going outside with Gohan for a bit, will be back later" Erasa announced.

Getting a smile from her brother he replied. "Just don't stay out to late or I'll send a search party out looking for you."

It was a nice warm night out, and the stars looked beautiful, and the former city looked eerie with only a few settlements left and not light up like it once was. Orange Star City had been hit hard by the android attacks a lot worse than West City had been hit.

"Gohan, will you go out with me" Erasa asked breaking the silence.

"But I'm out with you right now." Gohan replied, not understanding what the other girl had meant.

"No silly, I mean as girlfriend and boyfriend. I really like you Gohan, I have ever since I first saw you when I was eleven years old. Walking half dead through the hallway of Capsule Corp. What made me like you was when you'd told my dad you'd attacked the androids. I've never seen anyone who was game enough to even try and attack them." Erasa exclaimed. "I don't want to be just friends with you, I want to be something more. You're the most important person in my life after my brother and I can't imagine what it would be like without you in my life."

"Erasa, I've never thought about you as more than just a friend." Gohan replied, blushing with embarrassment at the other girls statement. "When I think about it, I can't imagine not having you in my life and I can't think of anyone else that I like as much as I like you."

Erasa laughed as she watched Gohan fidget, she'd made him uncomfortable, but knew that even if he didn't want to be her boyfriend that it wouldn't change their friendship.

"I'll be your boyfriend" he replied after a few moments of silence with a goofy grin on his face which Erasa hoped he'd never loose, the same grin as when he'd told her father that he'd attacked the androids.

DBZ

Four and a half years after the android's first appeared.

Erasa and Gohan had been dating for six months, and the teenagers had decided it was time for Chi-Chi to meet Erasa and Sharpener again, she hadn't seen them since before the twins father had died.

"Do you think you're mum will like me?" Erasa asked, nervously.

"Why wouldn't she like you?" Gohan asked her. "She liked you enough to let us be friends when we where children, I don't see why she wouldn't like you now."

"It's because she's your girlfriend now" Sharpener replied for his sister.

"Knowing my mother, she probably let me be friend with Erasa hoping that she'd become my wife one day" Gohan laughed. "Which reminds me, my mum will probably ask you when we're getting married and having children."

""I'll just tell her after the androids" Erasa smiled. "After all who would want to have children in this type of environment."

"Do you know how to fly a car?" Gohan asked both the twins.

"I don't even know how to drive a car let alone fly a car" Sharpener replied with Erasa agreeing.

"We have a long journey so I'll teach you" Gohan replied.

"When did you learn to drive and fly a car?" Erasa asked. "If the androids had never happened what we're doing now is illegal."

"I was somewhere between five and six years old when I learnt and I've also been able to operate the Capsule Corp space ships since I was that age. Bulma taught me, mum was furious when she found out." Gohan replied.

DBZ

The fly over to his home was fun, Sharpener had picked up driving faster than Erasa or at least he'd enjoyed it more than Erasa had. The twins had found it fun looking out the windows and seeing which area's had been affected by the androids and the towns that where still operating like they did when they were younger.

After five hours they were finally at the Son home, Chi-Chi had come out to great them.

"Look at how much you two have grown" Chi-Chi fussed over the twins. "You've grown into a fine young lady Erasa, perfect for my Gohan."

Erasa finally felt at ease, Gohan was right, she'd been worrying about nothing.

DBZ

Erasa spent a lot more time with Chi-Chi and enjoyed learning everything she could from her boyfriend's mother. It was nice to have a mother figure in her life after not having one her whole life. Gohan continued teaching Sharpener how to operate the different vehicles and he started helping out more with new settlements and transporting patients to settlements with doctors and Trunks who couldn't remember Erasa from when her father used to work at Capsule Corp became more jealous every time he saw Erasa near Gohan. Erasa just laughed it off, always telling Gohan that Trunks would grow out of his jealously eventually and that he just wanted his big brother to himself.

DBZ

Six years after the android's first appeared.

In the year and half since Gohan and Erasa had started dating you could actually now tell they where boyfriend and girlfriend and not just close friends like when they'd first started dating. Sharpener would constantly get teased for his sister having a boyfriend and him not having a girlfriend. But Sharpener didn't mind Gohan was a good person and he hadn't found the right person yet. Whenever he thought of the right person, his thoughts went back to the girl who'd died very early on when the androids had appeared and maybe one day he'd find someone who he wanted to spend the rest of his life with but that the moment he would continue hunting with his group, transporting supplied between settlements and surviving.

They'd had a successful day of hunting when the androids where sighted, and a quickly and quietly as possible the managed to get back into the sewers and to the settlement.

"Android" the hunting party called out alerting everyone. A head count was done and a few people were missing.

"Where's my sister?" Sharpener yelled, not seeing his sister anywhere in the group.

"She went looking for a few of the children about two hours ago and hasn't returned." An older woman told him with much concern.

His heart went cold and felt like it had stopped for a few moments, his sister was missing, he had to find her. Before anyone could stop him he ran down the tunnels in the direction he'd been pointed. Just as he got to the surface, a pulsing blinding beam of light pushing him into a nearby building. The energy washing over him felt familiar, he'd seen felt it enough times over the years to know it was Gohan. Once the force had stopped and he was able to move again, he ran towards the place where the light was still coming from in the distance. It wasn't far at all and he slowed down not sure that he wanted to look, but kept going because he knew he had to. When he finally reached Gohan he found his friend sitting in a pool of blood, spraying out from where his arm had once been. On the ground near him was the lifeless eyes of the children his sister had left to find, and in the arms of his best friend was his beloved sister, just as lifeless as the children, but from how mangled her body was he knew she'd been the play thing of the androids and not the children.

He stood watching for a moment, it not really sinking in that his sister was dead and if he didn't act soon, Gohan would also be dead, from blood loss.

"Gohan" Sharpener approached carefully, he didn't want his friend to accidently kill him.

Sharpener always carried a medical kit on him, most survivors did. He attended to his friends wound trying not to look at his lifeless sister, his heart telling him that she was still alive even though his brain confirmed that no she wasn't she was dead and there was no coming back from death. He managed to stop the bleeding and bandage Gohan's wounds. He also carried coffin caps on him, and placed the three children inside, once confirming they were dead. After a long battle of soothing words to Gohan he finally managed to get his friend to place his sister in a coffin and that was when Sharpener broke down into tears, his heart finally agreeing with his brain that his sister was in fact gone. Neither of them could close the Capsule which contained Erasa and neither of them noticed the arrival of another person.

"Gohan" a young voice said which bought both boys back to reality. "I'm sorry Gohan, I wished for Erasa to disappear but I didn't want her to die. Your arm is gone and it's all my fault."

"It's not your fault Trunks" Gohan said barley above a whisper. "It's the androids and they are going to pay."

DBZ

Gohan was to slow he'd pulled Erasa out of 17's clutches, his beloved barely alive when he got there. He was outraged and gave the androids everything he had, blinded by rage he didn't try to escape like he normally did and that had cost him his arm. He'd managed to destroy 18's outfit, the female android had been upset with one of her rare displays of emotion and had left to find new clothes. He didn't give chase like his saiyan instincts wanted, but instead followed his human instincts that insisted he check on Erasa.

"Gohan" She managed to say once he had her in his arms. "Thank you." And then she was gone and he'd let out all his emotions which was more powerful then he'd ever been before, but even that extra power wasn't going to be enough for the androids.

DBZ

Somehow they managed to get back to Capsule Corp, where Gohan's wounds where attended to professionally. Sharpener spent the next few days at Capsule Corp. Getting over his sister's death took a lot longer than getting over his father's death had take. A small funeral was held and Erasa's body was cremated. Sharpener didn't think that Gohan would want anything to do with him after Erasa's death, and Gohan had though Sharpener would think the same. It wasn't the same without Erasa being with them, but the two boys continued hanging around with each other and helping out when needed.

DBZ

Seven years after the android's first appeared.

Gohan looked at the photo of himself, Sharpener and Erasa which had been taken not long before she'd died. She was different then the Erasa that had come from the other dimension, and it was hard to look at that Erasa and not wonder how things might have turned out if she'd lived. He wished they still had the Dragon Balls so that he could wish her back from the dead. He couldn't wait till they made contact with the dimension the girls were from and find out about the Cell games and the female android that Cell had spit out. He continued training both by himself and training Trunks and so far it hadn't been enough. Maybe once it was over he could go to space and use the Namekian Dragon Balls to wish back Piccolo and Kami so they could use their own Dragon Balls and wish everyone back and have his Erasa in his life once again. He hadn't had much to do with the girls and really should have a proper talk with them, but he didn't want to spend time with the Erasa look alike, but Videl wasn't Erasa so maybe he'd be able to talk to her about her world.

Authors Note: This chapter was meant to be up on Friday or Saturday, it's now Monday. I didn't have anything in the story previously covering the past so thought this was a good place to add it. Next chapter may be late as well but will still aim for a Saturday update. Thank you for the reviews.