"Most interesting." Gero said raising a hand to his chin. Bardock's eyes narrowed as he noticed a faint momentary glow to the Android's eyes. "Stronger than Goku, but not as impressive an increase."
"Of course I'm stronger than Kakkarotto." Vegeta said with a smirk. "After all, I am the Prince of all Sai-jins and he is nothing but a low class warrior."
"Be that as it may." Gero said. "I am still impressed that a living creature could attain such power on it's own. To surpass the power of one of my Androids, even one as weak as 19... that is quite the feat. However, thanks to Goku's energy you still stand no chance in this foolish endevour."
"We'll see about that. I doubt your wind-up toys will last long against my power."
"Very well then. 19, get him out of the way."
"It would be my pleasure." the Android replied glancing back at Gero and then launching in at Vegeta. The Sai-jin Prince dodged quickly to the left just a missing punch that had been aimed at his head. As he did he brought his knee up quickly slamming it into the round machine's chest before slamming his clasped hands down into it's back driving it into the sidewalk. As the dust cleared away it revealed the Android already back on its feet and just staring up at Vegeta.
"That all you've got? Ha! Pathetic!" he called down grinning.
Lines began to dance across 19's eyes as it started to smile. "You have no record on file Vegeta. Nothing beyond the data attained from the Galactic Network. This is the first I have encountered your style. You were never studied and so I must learn as we fight. Do not worry though, Vegeta. I am a fast learner."
"Ha! You can study me all you want. Mere calculations are nothing compared to true experience. You can't comprehend my power that way."
"We shall see." 19 replied. "But as I said, I learn quickly. Allow me to demonstrate." It turned and started to cup its hands at its side, to the shock of all the Z Fighters. Smiling it spoke again. "Kame... hame... ha!" With that it thrust its arms up at Vegeta and fired the stream of blue energy straight at him. It took the Prince several seconds to recover from his shock and by then he knew he couldn't dodge or counter. Quickly he brought his legs up, crossed his arms, and ducked his head just before the energy slammed into him.
The energy flowed out over him for a long moment, the Z Warriors on the ground watching wide-eyed. And then the attack faded and the glare died away. Vegeta uncurled his body revealing the extent of the damage done, which was considerably minor. The toes of his boots and the fingers of his gloves had been shredded and there were a of couple gashes in his body suit here and there but nothing more. He scowled down at the Android for a moment before suddenly charging down at him in a flash of gold.
A second later there was a bright flash followed by a loud crack as Vegeta reached his opponent. The sidewalk under 19's feet shattered and exploded outward from the force of the impact. Within the dust from the explosion they could all hear more cracks and see more flashes of light as the two inside continued to trade blows. A loud sound like thunder rung out a second later blasting apart the remaining dust and revealing 19's right arm up blocking a kick to its head and its left first buried in Vegeta's stomach. The Sai-jin Prince's mouth hung open in a mix of shock and pain.
A blue glow flared up around 19's fist and then Vegeta was sent flying away by a point blank energy blast. The Android grinned as it lowered its arms and relaxed its stance as Vegeta hit the ground with a thud. "I have learned your style." it said simply as the Sai-jin climbed back to his feet. "I now know what you will do before you do Vegeta, you cannot win."
Vegeta's scowl shifted to a smirk as he brushed some blood off of his chin. "Is that so? I doubt that. You're still just a wind-up toy, nothing more than a toaster with legs." He crouched and then shot in at 19 but the Android dodged around his kick easily. The Sai-jin pulled back and turned at the same instant rounding back on the Android. He lanced out with a right punch but that too was dodged. As was his left hook, right spinning kick, and every other attack he made.
"This doesn't look good..." Bardock said watching the large round machine dodging the Prince's assault. It seemed to be having increasing difficulty but was still doing a good job of not getting hit.
Goku nodded in agreement. /Even Gero noticed it. Vegeta is stronger than me but his power increase when he transforms is smaller. His Super Sai-jin form is only a little stronger than mine... why is that/
Suddenly Vegeta spun around behind 19 and smashed his foot into the Android's back knocking it forward. As the Android pulled to a stop Vegeta grinned. "Like I said, you're nothing compared to me."
19 turned and smiled as well. "It would seem that your style changes as you get angry." it said softly. "No matter, I now know to expect that."
"Hmph. Expect what you want, you'll still lose."
"We shall see." With that the Android charged toward Vegeta. The two locked into combat once more trading blows furiously and slowly drifting up higher and off away from the palace.
"I still don't like the looks of this." Bardock said after a moment. "Prince Vegeta's not doing as well as Goku did... and we know how that fight turned out."
Goku nodded. "I don't think we can win this here and now..." Goku was cut off by a loud explosion as Vegeta slammed into the ground a couple of blocks away. Up in the air, 19 pulled his arms back, grinned, and then started firing a volley of energy down at him. The Android kept up the attack for a moment and then raised its arms above its head. A large ball of red energy formed quickly and it thrust its arms down firing the attack.
As soon as it hit the energy swelled and then the exploded. The shockwave tore passed the Z Fighters shredding the buildings around them and sent the cars on the street sailing into the distance. As the light and dust faded away it revealed an area three blocks across that was nothing but a massive crater slowly filling with water from the destroyed pipes. There was a flare of gold from under the water and then it and several hundred pounds of rock were flung into the air as Vegeta surged up at 19.
The Android charged down at the same time, slipped around Vegeta's fist, and smashed his open palm into the Sai-jin's face. The Android didn't stop until it had slammed Vegeta's head into the ground. It then sat on him and held it's hand firmly in place over the Prince's face and continued to drain his energy. "Soon all of your energy will be mine, and then you will be dead."
"Not good." Goku said as he transformed and then shot toward 19 and Vegeta. None of the Z Fighters even saw the Android move but a second later there was a thunderous crack and Goku was knocked flying back to come crashing down at Gohan and Bardock's feet. The little purple Android now floated between them and 19, it's fist outstretched.
"D... dad!" Gohan cried kneeling down beside him. Goku groaned and started to push himself back up into a sitting position having already fallen out of Super Sai-jin. "Are you okay?"
"Wha... what hit me?"
"That purple Android..." Gohan said turning to look at it as it finally lowered its arm. And then it began to float toward them.
Bardock moved to attack the Android when suddenly the blonde one appeared in front of the purple one. "18!" Gero called from where he stood. "I grow tired of your insubordination!" 18 remained quiet but didn't move from where she floated. "Once this is over I'm going to have to shut you down, see if I can adjust that control protocol of yours." At this her eyes narrowed slightly but still she didn't move.
That is, until 15 shot forward and smashed his fist into her stomach doubling her over. He then kicked her knocking her down into the street. With the roadblock disposed of, 15 shot in at Goku. Instantly Gohan and Bardock transformed and charged at him but he zipped passed them faster than they could even see. Reaching Goku he pulled to a stop and held a hand out. There was a spark of light purple around his hand and then a blast of energy surged forth and tore into and through Goku's chest.
"D...d... daddy!" Gohan cried, his eyes going wide.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Kami's Lookout:
Piccolo frowned as he watched the battle unfolding below him. He didn't like being up on the Lookout away from the fighting but since they'd been uncertain of their chances it had been decided that ensuring the Dragonballs existance would be a better option than Piccolo being in the line of fire this time. And now that 19 was dodging all of Vegeta's attacks he knew that it had been the correct choice, even if he still didn't like it.
"Things do not look good." Kami said, echoing the statement made by Bardock a second earlier.
Piccolo remained silent as he watched Vegeta seemingly regain control of the fight. And then, a moment later, Vegeta was knocked to the ground and being bombarded with energy. "No, they do not." the powerful Namek said at last, a bright light flaring up in the distance, the explosion caused by Android 19. "We'll give Vegeta a few more..." he stopped as the Android drove the Sai-jin Prince back into the ground. He watched with interest as 15 made it's first move and then 18 stepped in between it and Goku. And then his eyes snapped wide as he witnessed Goku's death.
Kami bowed his head slightly and then closed his eyes. -Azura, things have fallen apart quickly... Goku's even been killed...-
-Understood Kami.- came her telepathic reply. -We will do it now-
-Thank-you.-
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Planet Namek:
Azura opened her eyes and turned to face the young Dende who had asked to be the one to summon Parunga. "It's time, they need our help. And Dende, you need to have Goku revived first as well."
"Goku was...?" he started, wide eyed, and then nodded. Quickly he turned to the Dragonballs and spoke in Namek. "Arise Eternal Dragon Parunga!" The sky darkened quickly as the balls began to glow and then the energy rose into the air. A moment later the large Eternal Dragon of Namek loomed overhead.
"You have three wishes, what is it you desire?" he boomed.
"Parunga! Revive the Sai-jin called Goku!"
Parunga's eyes glowed for a moment before returning to normal. "It has been done, what is your next wish?"
Dende nodded. "Alright, now, move him and his allies to the Earth's Lookout!"
Once more Parunga's eyes glowed. "Granted."
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Earth, Capital City:
Gohan charged down to where his father lay and landed beside him, his eyes locked firmly on the large hole in the Sai-jin's chest. And then a moment later the hole vanished. Gohan blinked temporarily confused, and then he remembered their escape plan if things went badly and realized they must have used Parunga to revive Goku. As realization dawned on him the city around him vanished in a blur and he was up on the Lookout. And then Goku groaned and sat up shaking his head.
"Welcome back Goku." Piccolo said walking over to the small group. As his eyes drifted from the Sai-jin over to the others they suddenly stopped. There was someone sitting in the midst of the other Z Fighters that he'd not expected to see...
Before he could say anything, however, Vegeta suddenly sat bolt upright with a cry and panting heavily. "Ugh... when I get my hands on that... what the?" he cried looking around. "Where the hell?"
"This is the Lookout." Goku said climbing to his feet. "Kami must have had Azura summon Parunga and wish us up here... I guess things were going badly."
"That's an understatement." Hotaru said with a sigh.
"Oh, hey!" Goku said suprised. "Aren't you one of the Androids?"
This instantly drew everyone's attention to what only Piccolo had noticed before. 18. "I'm not an Android. I'm a Cyborg." she said softly as she, too, climbed to her feet and looked around. "Where is this place? I don't have any information on it at all... and my scanners aren't working..."
"How did she get here?" Yamcha asked, eyes widening, as he took a step back away from her.
"Relax Yamcha... she's one of the good guys." Goku said smiling. "You saw her on TV, and then she got between that other Android and me."
"It's... possible..." Sakura said after a moment. "Mom said that two Androids had been destroyed in the inital battle, neither of them by us."
"Huh?" Gohan wondered.
Trunks nodded. "She said that one of them had tried to help after both Piccolo and Goku were killed and that gave the others time to pull back. She said the Android that had killed Goku and Piccolo had been destroyed by the other, and then Gero destroyed that Android."
"Well, I am as good as dead now." 18 said after a moment of silence. "What the hell was I thinking? As soon as Gero finds me he'll use that damn remote... if he doesn't destroy me outright he'll either leave me off-line or screw around with that damn control protocol of his..."
"Wait, there's a way to shut you down?" Trunks asked, his eyes going wide with hope.
18 nodded. "My brother and I both. Since we're Cyborgs, originally normal Humans, he was worried we might not follow his orders so he implemented two failsafe systems. The control protocol and an off switch to our cybernetic parts. The protcol is a joke, always has been. 17 and I have been able to override it easily after each upgrade but... that damn switch..."
"So..." Sakura began, her own hope fading. "That wouldn't work on the others?"
"No."
"How... how did you...?" Krillin started tenatively.
"It's a long story." 18 replied finally turning to look at the others. Her gaze lingered on Trunks and Sakura for a moment but then she shook her head.
"We can hear it in a moment." Piccolo said turning to face Kami and then nodded.
Kami nodded as well as he closed his eyes. -Bulma, this is Kami. The others are all up here... it seems they're not ready yet.-
-I saw on the TV. Dad and I have already got the system up, we're about to launch.-
Opening his eyes Kami looked over to the others again. "It'll only be a moment longer." No one said anything, just stood there in silence. And then a moment later they all saw streaks of light and smoke surging up into the air across the planet. They watched until the objects reached orbit. Red streams of energy snaked across the sky between the objects and then spread out until a red glow filled the entire sky.
"And that makes it offical." Krillin said. "We're in over our heads..."