"I thought it was a Virus?" a female voice said, somewhat confused, as the owner gazed at the large screen.
"Things change when time is altered." replied the voice of her father. She turned back and looked at him, what she could see of him in the dark shadows. "You heard Goku when he returned to Earth. Grivor rescued him."
"Yes, but he still wound up on Yardrat." Ravenna said. "So how come he didn't get sick?"
"He arrived in a different area." Razor explained. "He was not exposed to the virus this time. Not that it seems to have made any real difference. He was still killed."
"And then revived by the new Eternal Dragon of Namek." said Raven. "I believe the rules now are similar to those of Earth's, are they not?"
"Indeed." said her mate. "Which means the next time Goku dies... it's permanent. Helpful to us at least."
"If he lives long enough to help us in the first place." Ravenna said. "I'm even less convinced now than I was before. They're decently powerful but still..."
The man in the shadows smiled lightly and stood. As he walked into the soft glow from the numerous monitors in the room his furry tail flicking behind him and then wrapping around his waist the lights glinted off his red and black armor giving it a glowing appearance. "Don't worry, everything's still going as planned." he said as he reached her. "Things should be far more interesting now though. We're in uncharted waters at this point."
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Kami's Lookout:
Silence had filled the Lookout once more, after Krillin's statement. All eyes were still locked on the barrier above them. It was 18 that finally broke the silence. "I don't understand... it seems like you were prepared for this..."
"We were." Bardock said. "Thanks to them."
18 looked over to the two she had no records of. "How?"
"We're from the future." Sakura said walking to the edge of the Lookout and looking down at the Earth. "Trying to make a new world, one not destroyed by Gero and his creations."
"The... future? Well, that explains why I don't have a file on either of you." she said turning her gaze skyward. "I don't think you'll be able to do anything though. 19's the weakest and you couldn't defeat him... then there's the rest of them."
Vegeta snorted. "If Kakkarotto hadn't let that... thing... absorb his energy I could have handled it no problem. All I need is one of those Senzu Beans and then I'm going back down there!"
"No, she's right Vegeta." Piccolo said. "As we are now we stand no chance against the Androids. But... there is something we can do about it..."
Kami nodded. "In dire circumstances such as this... I will go and unlock the door to the Room of Spirit and Time." With that the old Guardian walked off.
"Room of Spirit and Time?" Videl asked. "What's that?"
"I know!" Goku said. "It's not really a room, it's another whole dimension. A little pocket of infinite nothing."
Piccolo nodded. "That's basically it. The gravity and temperature fluctuate wildly within the Room. The further you go from the entrance the more intense it becomes. If we're not ready after a day in there... we'll never be ready."
"A day?" Krillin asked. "How could one day possibly help if three years wasn't enough?"
"Time goes faster in there." Goku said. "You can train for an entire year in just a single day, and with the intensity of the room..." Goku shook his head. "I was only able to stay in there a month as kid."
"So, we all go in and train then?" Appla asked.
"We can't all go in." Piccolo said. "The space is infinite but the supplies are not. There are only four beds and enough food for four people. We can only do four at a time."
"I'm going in first." Vegeta declared.
"Sure." Goku said smiling. "Um... hey Trunks, why don't you go in too?"
"Huh? Ya, sure."
"I'm going in too." Sakura said with a nod.
"Then I'll go as well." Hotaru said.
"Alright, it's settled!" cheered Goku. "Vegeta, Trunks, Sakura, and Hotaru will make the first group!"
"I'll lead you back to the room." Piccolo said walking off, the four of them following him.
As they left Goku looked over those that remained. Himself, Bardock, Gohan, Appla, Videl, Krillin, Tien, Yamcha, and the still silent Raditz. "That leaves ten of us, counting Piccolo." he said. "Knowing Piccolo he'll probably want to train alone..."
"How about you, me, Gohan, and..." Bardock started.
"I want to go too." Videl said, suddenly. "I want to help."
Goku looked at her for a moment and then nodded. He didn't know anything about genetics or biology or bio-chemistry but he did know power. Half Sai-jins had power. It could possibly come down to one of the absurdly powered Half Sai-jins to win this battle, and with Trunks already training it only made sense to take both of the remaining Half Sai-jins in with the second group. "Alright. The four of us will make the second group."
"I'll see about going in with Piccolo." Appla said. "That leaves you four as group three." she said looking over to Tien, Yamcha, Krillin, and Raditz.
"I should go." 18 said breaking the silence. "Gero could be able to track me here... or worse, set off the bomb in me..."
"You've got a bomb in you?" Krillin cried shocked.
18 laughed softly. "A last resort controlling method. Fear of death and all... only these days... I don't really care anymore." She lowered her head and turned from the group to leave.
"Wait." Goku said, his voice serious again. "Gero can't track you here, you can only find this place if you know it exists. You're safe here..." Suddenly he started to smile. "And there might be something we can do about that bomb, and that shut off thingy too!" With a smile still on his face he put two fingers to his forehead and then suddenly vanished.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Namek:
It had been a few minutes since they'd summoned Parunga and the large Dragon still loomed over their heads. They had yet to get the go ahead to dismiss him and didn't want to do it early, in case the Earthlings still had a wish left. Suddenly Goku appeared in the midst of those standing around the Dragon. "Hey guys!" he cheered waving.
"Goku! What are you doing here?" Dende wondered.
"Well, Piccolo and Kami were busy so I decided to come here myself for the last wish."
"So, you do have one then?" the large Dragon boomed. "I do not have all day, what is your final wish?"
"Um... how to phrase this..." Goku wondered, rubbing his chin with one hand. "Do you think he'd grant a two part wish as one?"
"Ummm, I don't know." Dende replied.
"Well, I guess it wont hurt to try. Have him remove the off switch and the bomb from 18."
"Huh? Well... ok." the young Namek said with a small nod.
Turning he looked up to Parunga and spoke in Namek. A moment later the Dragon's voice rang out once more. "Your wish... cannot be granted. Only one thing can be done at a time."
"Ya, I thought so... hmm... oh, hey! She said she used to be Human! Dende, ask the Dragon to make her Human again!"
Once more the Namek nodded and spoke in Namek and once more the Dragon's voice rang out. "That cannot be granted either."
"Huh? Why not?" Goku asked pouting slightly.
"It is simply beyond my power."
"Sheesh, so much for granting any wish you've got... talk about false advertising..." Goku muttered. Up above him Parunga growled, the sound deep and rumbling like thunder. "Man... I wish I knew... er, I mean... if I knew more about technology I could figure something out... man, this bites."
"What are you trying to do Goku?"
"Huh? Oh, one of the Androids, a Cyborg actually, tried to help us out so now I'm trying to help her out. Apparently she's got an off switch and a bomb inside of her that Gero could use against her... It's how he's been controlling her. Even has a tracking device too I think..."
"So you're trying to get rid of them? Hmmm. Oh, I think I have an idea!" Dende turned back to Parunga and spoke once more in Namek. Yet again Parunga's voice echoed out above them.
"Your wish... shall be granted."
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Earth, Kami's Lookout:
"Um, any ideas what he's up to?" Krillin asked blinking as Goku vanished from sight. The others all just shook their heads as 18 stood there not really sure what to do. As she looked down over the edge of the Lookout and at the planet below them she realized she'd felt that way for a while now, not sure what to do. Everything had seemed so clear when she'd first met Gero but then it got all jumbled up and she didn't know which way was up anymore.
"So... you said you used to be Human, right?" Krillin asked walking toward her slowly, still not sure if it was safe. 18 merely nodded. "Then... you must have a real name, right? Something other than that number Gero used?"
18 remained silent for a moment. "My real name is... not important anymore. She's dead and gone. I'm 18 now."
"Oh."
"Which Android is the strongest anyway?" Appla asked walking over as well. "I would have expected you, numbered 18, to be stronger than the purple guy since he was called 15."
"Gero was constantly updating and modifiying his designs as he made them." 18 explained. "After he finished 13 he tried to improve on the rest as well but none reached 13's level of strength... And then he decided to make a pair of Cyborgs, see if biological and mechanical combined could yield more power than just a machine. We turned out even weaker yet so he gave up on that idea and he came up with two more Android designs. 19 and 20.
"19's concept was, as you saw, energy absorption. He has an infinite energy generator like the rest of us, but can get stronger for periods by absorbing the energy of others..."
"Inifinite energy generator?" Bardock asked, shocked. "You mean... your power never runs out? You don't get weaker?"
18 shook her head. "I, and the others, will be as strong at the start of battle as at the end. It's what Gero calls the 'Great Machine Advantage'. We don't get weakened by exertion."
"You mentioned an Android 20... that's Dr. Gero himself, isn't it?" Appla asked.
"Yes. The only design that uses a dual power source and the only one stronger than 13." She paused for a moment and was about to continue when a blue glow suddenly formed around her. She gasped in shock as an odd sensation flowed through her and then, as quickly as it came, it vanished.
Before anyone could say anything Goku reappeared. "It worked!"
"What worked?" Tien asked.
"Well, I tried a few things... removing the bomb and off switch, turning 18 back into Human... Parunga couldn't do either. But Dende had an idea and it worked! He had the Dragon install a jamming device inside of 18 that prevents Gero from doing anything to her!"
"Wha... what?" she asked shocked.
"Yep! So now he can't shut you off or blow you up! Great, huh?"
"And he wont be able to track her, even if she did leave the Lookout." Bardock said smiling.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Capital City:
"There's no sign of them anywhere in the city sir." 17 said walking into the former throne room of King Furry. "Neither 14 or 15 could find anything either."
Gero frowned. "I don't understand it... it's like they were expecting trouble and had an escape plan already established... Surely that energy field above us is even further proof..." He turned and looked over to 13. "How is the analysis going?"
"I can't make heads or tails of it." 13 replied.
"May I suggest something?" 19 asked entering the room with 14 and 15 behind him. "The only ones capable of such a field here on Earth are Capsule Corp. Galactic records show that Bulma Briefs is married to Prince Vegeta. It is possible that they established this as some sort of Earth Defense system as, according to records, the field is similar to a Sai-jin Barrier Field."
Gero nodded. "Our answers most likely lie at Capsule Corp. then. 17, take 19 and some Sentinels with you and head to West City. Locate Capsule Corp. and Bulma Briefs or her father." Gero paused for a moment and steepled his fingers. "Tao, I want you to go with him, keep an eye on him. And if you can't find the targets use one of the Sentinels as a relay so that I can access Capsule Corp's computer network."
"Dr. Gero..." 15 said after the others had left. "I have information that could be important."
"Oh?"
"Yes. Just before Goku's friends vanished my scanners detected Goku's energy signal again. I know he died but... it could be a glitch or he could have been revived."
"Revived... to be brought back so quickly again shows some level of knowledge to our presence... how can that be?"
"There is much that makes little sense in this world." an odd somewhat raspy voice said. "Things are not as they should be..."