Back at last. Sorry for the delay. Now for more Android craziness! Now, I know I promised the fight between Goku and Android 11 in this chapter, but this one is going to focus more on our villain and Piccolo, so the showdown will be coming next time, even bigger and crazier!

Dragon Ball Z is © Akira Toriyama

Chapter 7:

Unlikely Hero

Goku walked, shivering slightly from the cold, along the outside of the metal dome. As far as he could tell, there was no entrance to be found.

"Just how I get into this thing?" he thought out loud, before a hissing sound came from the metal wall. A single panel slid up, forming a square doorway. "Huh."

He stepped inside. There was a long corridor leading further inside. "Hello?" he called, "anybody home?"

***

Piccolo remained perfectly still as Krillin told him what he wanted. He didn't scowl. He didn't even blink. Somehow, that was even more unnerving.

"Listen," Krillin said urgently, "I know we're not exactly friends, but we need your help." Piccolo didn't respond. "It's Chi-Chi," he said, "she's giving birth, but- but it's all going wrong, and she and the baby are both going to die. We can't find Goku, and- I can't believe I'm saying this… we need your help."

Piccolo glared at him.

"We don't know what Goku really is," Krillin went on, "but he's not from this world, we know that- and if anybody might know how to deal with this, it's you. So I'm asking… help her. Please."

Piccolo remained still. Then he slowly parted his lips and said: "No."

"Wh-what? What do you mean, "no"?"

"I mean no," Piccolo said flatly. "It might have escaped your notice, little man, but if your friend was drowning, the only reason I would pull him out would be so that I could kill him myself."

"But this kid- they'll both die!"

"I fail to see how that's any of my concern," Piccolo replied bluntly.

"Please!" Krillin pleaded, "look, I- I know you hate Goku. I know why. But Chi-Chi and the baby… they've got nothing to do with this!"

"And why should I concern myself?"

"Why won't you?" Krillin yelled. "They're both going to die, and you might be the only one who can help! You've never gone after Goku's friends or his family before. You've got more honour than that. So please. I'm asking you as a fellow warrior… help them!"

Piccolo's expression remained blank. A few agonisingly slow seconds ticked by.

"Show me."

***

The next door opened into what looked like the main section of the dome. It must have been at least a hundred feet up to the ceiling.

"Hello?" Goku shouted. "Anyone here?"

The lights came on. Goku squinted as the honeycombed surface of the inner dome became visible. Three figures stepped forward out of the dark.

An old man in a Red Ribbon Army Cap stepped forward. His skin was old and wrinkled, and his eyes held nothing but blazing hatred.

He clapped, slowly and rhythmically. "Bravo," he grinned. "I observed your fights with Androids one through seven, and I must say, you're even stronger than I remember you, Goku."

Goku looked over at the old man. He blinked twice.

"Do I know you?" he asked blankly.

The old man almost fell over. "Ahem. You are cunning indeed, to feign ignorance."

"Huh?"

"You may have destroyed the Red Ribbon Army, but I escaped with the blueprints for my creations… and a way to restore the army to what it once was?"

"…And you are…?"

The old man's face fell. "You don't remember me?" he asked quietly.

"Sorry," Goku said, scratching the back of his head, "but no."

"You- You don't remember? After all that? You've just forgotten me?"

"I guess," Goku said, hands behind his back. "I remember the Red Ribbon Army, but that was a long time ago…"

"I am Doctor Gero!" The old man fumed, "the Red Ribbon Army's chief scientist!" Goku stared blankly at him. "Are you telling me that name doesn't ring a bell? At all?"

"Sorry."

"Enough!" Gero swiped his hands sideways. He reached down to the floor and picked up a large, square metal case. "What you came here to find is in here," he said. "My Androids have done a splendid job of gathering the dragon balls, and with their power, I will restore the Red Ribbon Army to its former power!"

"So you sent the Androids to my home!" Goku frowned.

To one side of Gero, Android 11 rolled his eyes. "This one seems bright," he said dryly.

"Silence," Gero barked. "Yes, that was I. These are my latest creations… this is Android 11," he gestured towards him, "and to my right, this little beauty is Android 12."

The girl stood rigidly. She looked at Gero, eyes narrowed, like she hated him more than anything in the world.

Goku blinked. "I… I can sense a power level from her," he realised.

"Yes, I'd heard of that more recent talent of yours," Gero said. "The ability to sense the strength of your enemies. Of course, my Androids, as artificial life forms, don't register… hence their ability to surprise you. But Android 12… well, she's something a little different."

"Alright," Goku said, flexing his wrists, "give me back my grandfather's dragon ball, and I'll leave now."

"Oh, I think not," Gero grinned. "I dare say you'll find that you are no match for my Androids, Goku."

"So you want me dead," Goku surmised.

"Dead?" Gero smiled thinly. "Oh, no. For you, Goku, I have devised a much more fitting revenge. My Androids will defeat you, Goku… at the same time as Android 10 annihilates your friends and family!"

Goku's eyes widened. "What?"

"And then," Gero grinned madly, "I will force you to watch, as the power of Shenron restores the Red Ribbon Army. And when the world falls to our might, you will spend the rest of your days suffering as my prisoner, knowing you failed to stop me!"

"Not if I stop you," Goku warned, tensing for battle. "Because I'm not going down today!"

Gero smiled thinly.

"Yes you are," he said simply. "Androids, remember: I want him alive." His face turned into a savage grin. "But feel free to break his legs if you want."

Android 11 stepped forward first. He threw his hat to one side.

"Alright," Goku frowned, moving into a defensive position, "let's do this!"

***

Chi-Chi screamed again. The entire place seemed to shake.

Everyone's efforts were focused on keeping her going until Krillin did… whatever he was doing. Ox-King was fanning her while Yamcha returned with a cold towel for her forehead. She was lying on the floor, still groaning in pain.

"It doesn't look good," Bulma said quietly to Master Roshi.

To one side, Tien and Chiaotzu watched the events unfold. "Don't you wish we could do something, Tien?" the small doll-like child asked.

"Of course I do," Tien said icily. "But lets face it: we might be martial arts champions, but midwives we aren't."

Behind them, the door swished open. The room turned at once.

Everybody froze.

"PICCOLO!!!"

Yamcha, Tien and Chiaotzu immediately moved to battle stances. Master Roshi gripped his staff readily. Everything went silent.

"One side," Piccolo ordered coldly. "Now."

"No chance," Yamcha scowled.

"Guys," Krillin shouted, running in from behind Piccolo, "let him through!"

"This is the help you got?" Bulma gaped, "Piccolo?"

"He's the only one who might know what's happening," Krillin said desperately. "What else can we do?"

"I can help her," Piccolo barked. "You might not like that, but you know I can help."

The fighters relaxed slightly. Chiaotzu looked worriedly to Tien.

Piccolo stepped past them.

"If you think I'm trying to hurt her," he said, "you can split my head open. Does that sound fair?"

He knelt down next to Chi-Chi. Out of her mind with pain, she glared up at him.

"Piccolo?" she spat. "If you think I'm letting you near my child…"

"I'm here to help," Piccolo said. "I give you my word."

"Stay away from me!" Chi-Chi shouted, before screaming in pain as she contracted again.

"Chi-Chi, use your brain!" Piccolo snapped. "If I wanted you dead, I could have just left you to it!" Chi-Chi lashed out at him, and he grabbed her wrist. "If you want your baby to make it," he said, more softly than anyone could expect of him, "you have to trust me."

A long moment drifted by. Chi-Chi put her arm down.

"Alright," Piccolo said. "Let's get to work."

To Be Continued! Yup, Piccolo is the midwife at Gohan's birth.

Next: Goku vs. Android 11 and 12- and the secret of Android 12 is revealed! Plus: Android 10 strikes again, and comes face-to-face with Piccolo! Don't miss it!

And for the hell of it, I'll give a special in-story cameo kind of thing… to anyone who can guess what wish will be made to Shenron in this story.

All Reviews Welcome!