SailorStar9: Chapter 2 goes up. This is Chapter 3 of the Androids Saga. Read and review.
Disclaimers: Only the plot is mine.
Chapter Summary: Vegeta blasts open the metal door leading into the lab. Dr. Gero then orders the androids to attack. but they do not follow the doctor's orders. Then, Android 18 realizes that Android 16 has not been activated from his chamber and wants to see what he looks like. Dr. Gero tells Android 18 not to open it, but she does it anyways. Then, Android 17 kills Dr. Gero, by decapitating his head and then squashing it. Trunks then realizes that if they release Android 16 the world would be finished and he blasts the laboratory to pieces with his most powerful attack. However, Android 18 keeps the unawakened Android away from the blast. She then opens it and the Android chamber, revealing him to be humongous and have an orange Mohawk. When Android 17 and Android 18 tries to talk to him ,16 does not respond. This is because Android 16 doesn't talk, unless it was about his mission. Then Android 17 tells 18 it would be time to fulfill their mission in destroying Goku. Android 16 realizes what they are doing and finally answers to their questions. Then the three Androids leave. Krillin realizes that they are going after Goku. However, Vegeta becomes more angry that the Androids have ignored him, and starts to chase them. Just before he leaves, Trunks tries stop him and tells him to wait for Goku. Vegeta doesn't listen to him and gives Trunks a warning punch. Vegeta then heads out of sight. After Trunks recovers, Tien, Piccolo, Krillin, and Trunks follow Vegeta. Back at Goku's house, while Chi-chi is making dinner, Goku is in great pain. Yamcha gives Goku some of the antidote the antidote, to soothe the pain. Vegeta is in hot pursuit and arrives first at the battlefield to face off against the Androids. Vegeta challenges the three Androids to a match. Android 17 and Android 18 laugh at Vegeta's request and call him too big for his boots. After a few words are exchanged, 18 agrees to do battle against the Saiyan Prince.
Chapter 3: Goku's Assassin
"Those two are No. 17 and No. 18?" Krillin gaped.
"You must not be deceived by their outward appearance." Trunks warned. "They really are quite terrifying."
"Those are the friends of Son Goku that I told you about." Android 20 told the revived Androids. "Do not take them lightly. They destroyed No.19 and came very close to killing me, too."
"No.19?" Android 17 echoed. "You made one of those?"
"Yeah." Android 20 replied.
"You don't say." Android 17 snorted. "Then, you had that one reconstruct the professor himself into this Android? Are you guys the energy-absorption type?"
"That's right." Android 20 confirmed.
"How come with the newer model, you went back to the old-fashioned energy-absorption style?" Android 18 questioned. "I wonder if the eternal-energy models had too much power and were out of your control."
"Yeah." Android 20 snapped.
"No wonder you got so beat up." Android 18 scoffed.
"Out of his control?" Krillin repeated.
"None of that matter now!" Android 20 snapped. "Take care of them immediately!"
"Quit your tiresome drivel!" Android 17 retorted. "We'll deal with them when we feel like it."
"What did you say?" Android 20 demanded. Damn you... if only I had my controller...
Walking over to Android 16's pod, Android 18 wondered out loud, "No. 16? This one's another eternal-energy type, right? But there must be something different from our variety, isn't there? It's a bit larger, for one. I wonder what else is different."
"Don't touch that, No.18!" Android 20 warned. "Don't you touch! Don't touch!"
No.16 now? Trunks was stunned. I don't know that one! What does this mean?
"Sounds interesting." Android 17 commented. "Should we start him up, No. 18?"
"No!" Android 20 exclaimed in horror. "Stop! Do you want to destroy the world as we know it?
"What?" Piccolo echoed.
"Destroy the world as we know it?" Krillin stammered.
"How can that be?" Tien was shocked.
"Hey, while those guys are arguing, maybe we ought to run." Krillin suggested.
"Be my guest." Vegeta shrugged. "Except for myself. I doubt anyone else can handle them."
"No. 16 is a botched test unit I worked my experiments out on." Android 20 argued. "Do not start it up! Stop!" he barked, as Android 18 proceeded to activate Android 16. "Don't touch it!"
"A lady does not wish to be touched with such familiarity!" Android 18 knocked Android 20 to the ground. "For being a botched unit, you've sure let it sit here a long time. Everything up to No. 15 seems to have been disposed of."
"I was planning on rebuilding it before long." Android 20 defended. "At any rate, do not activate it!"
"It could cost us all of our heads?" Android 17 reasoned. "Even thought according to this data, my power is higher?"
"That's right!" Android 20 snapped.
"I don't care." Android 17 shrugged. "Activate it, No. 18."
"How dare you defy me at every turn?" Android 20 demanded. "You're just like No. 16! You're a failed unit! You just keep doing as you wish. I'm going to shut you down!""
"I broke your override controller." Android 17 pointed out.
"I'll just rebuild it!" Android 20 snapped. "Haven't you understood a single word I've said?" he barked, turning to Android 18 who had pressed the button the open the pod. "Don't push that switch..."
However, Android 17 plunged his hand into Android 20's back, much to the horror of the Z Senshi at the doorway.
"No. 17... why you.." Android 20 glared. "What is this?" he demanded when Android 17 pulled out his hand. "I'm the one who made you!" only to have his head kicked off by Android 17. "You damn piece of junk!"
Android 17 just jumped over, landing his foot on Android 20's head, and silencing Dr Gero for eternity.
"How could he?" Krillin was stunned. "That was his father who created him. Me?" he blinked when Android 17 gestured. "Why just me?" he stammered when Android 17 nodded.
"Stop being such a sore loser and go!" Vegeta retorted.
"Easy for you to say." Krillin muttered. "But just for me to have my luck run out."
"Sooner or later, we'll all meet this fate." Tien reminded.
"They just kill anyone they don't care for, no matter who they may be, huh?" Vegeta surmised, after Android 17 ignored the relieved Krillin. "Just like the Saiyans. Even their parents and children. It's you Earthlings alone who are the strange ones for thinking differently."
"Well, press the switch." Android 17 told Android 18.
"No, you don't!" Trunks growled. "I won't let you add any more Androids!" powering up, he blasted a Ki blast at the two Androids who were overlooking Android 16's pod.
"You crazy idiot!" Krillin scolded as the rest took to the skies for cover. "If you're going to do that, say something beforehand, alright?"
"Stupid jackass!" Vegeta retorted. "Your actions are worthless!"
"What do you mean, worthless?" Trunks demanded.
"Take a look over there."" Vegeta replied, nodding forward.
There, on a cliff stood Androids 17 and 18 unharmed and Android 16's pod was still intact.
"A blast at that level was nothing but a useless waste of energy." Vegeta scoffed.
"You better open it soon." Android 17 stated. "The pipes and cords are disconnected and all."
"This is why kids are thought of as foolish." Vegeta added after Android 18 set the pod on the floor, pressed the eject button and kicked the cover open.
"She opened it!" Krillin mumbled. "Don't tell me there's going to be one more of them!"
Getting out if his coffin-like pod, Android 16 stood in his full glory.
"So, that's No. 16?" Krillin stammered. "Sure enough, he looks awfully strong!"
He's unknown! Trunks hissed. I've never seen this one.
"Yo, No. 16." Android 17 greeted. "This is the first time we've seen you up and and around. How do you feel being out after so many years? Dr. Gero was against re-activating you. He said it might cost us our heads if we did."
"We'd like to know what that means." Android 18 requested. "Any thoughts? Do you just not want to say?"
"Perhaps, you're just a man of few words." Android 17 suggested. "No matter. Shall we go?"
"Where to?" Android 18 asked.
"It's obvious, isn't it?" Android 17 replied. "Son Goku's place. You were originally created to kill Son Goku, weren't you?"
"That's right." Android 16 answered.
"Dear me, he's finally opened his mouth for us." Android 17 chuckled.
Your responses are just as afforded by the input Dr. Gero gave you." Android 18 noted. "It was rude for him to consider you a failure."
"As much as it irritates me to do as Dr. Gero says, we Androids need some kind of target to start out with." Android 17 remarked. "Alright, let's go." and they took off.
No way! Vegeta fumed, angered at being slighted.
"They're going." Krillin stammered. "Thank goodness."
"What do they plan on doing?" Tien wondered. "Where are they headed?"
"Looks like they don't plan on rampaging through Metro North." Piccolo concluded. "Their direction is different."
"It's Goku!" Krillin realized. "Aren't they headed towards Goku's home? You see? Dr. Gero's goal was to kill Goku for vanquishing the Red Ribbon Army."
"Yeah, but I can't believe they'd follow Dr. Gero's orders." Tien added.
"None of that matters!" Vegeta snapped. "I am right here! They utterly ignored me! Are they trying to say that I'm beneath their notice? They dare make light of me." powering up and was about to go after them, when Trunks stopped him.
"You can't pursue them!" Trunks cautioned. "Just for a while... please wait for just a little while."
"You mean until Kakarot recovers from his illness?" Vegeta questioned.
"Kakarot?" Trunks echoed. "You mean, Goku? That's right, if we don't include Goku's power and all fight together, we absolutely cannot win!"
"You're laboring under the wrong impression." Vegeta chuckled. "It's not the Androids that I hate the most. It's Kakarot! I'll defeat them myself, and I don't need Kakarot's help to do it. Then, when it's all over, I will finally defeat Kakarot. Now that you know, move it!" he barked.
"That's senseless!" Trunks argued. "Going after them yourself is like going willingly to your own death! Please, wait just a while longer."
Ignoring his warnings, Vegeta gave Trunks a punch in the stomach and took off.
"Hey!" Krillin and Tien hurried over to the teen's side. "Are you okay?"
"Go after him." Trunks voiced. "We can't let him go off on his own until Goku has recovered. Please, stop him."
"Gohan and Bulma are headed to Goku's home." Krillin mused. "They'll be overtaken soon."
"This is bad." Trunks gasped. "My mother and the others are in danger."
"Let's go after them!" Piccolo barked and the rest shot off.
By a waterfall...
Gohan's group had landed for a rest.
"Unbelievable!" Yajirobe complained, washing his scarf in the water. "Using my scarf as some kind of makeshift diaper! This ain't never coming out."
"Yajirobe, do you have anything else I can use to bundle him up?" Bulma asked from the shore.
"You think I'd give you anything else?" Yajirobe retorted.
"But Trunks might catch a cold." Bulma voiced.
"Just relax!" Yajirobe called. "We all know Trunks'll grow up as big as he is with no trouble."
"Oh, I guess you're right." Bulma agreed. "Trunks, it'll take more than this to chill you, huh?" she smiled at the baby on her lap.
Ami chuckled as she watched the mother-son interaction.
"Bulma." Gohan returned with firewood. "If it's okay, I'd like to hurry up a bit."
"Okay." Bulma agreed. "I'm sure you're worried about Goku's condition. Let's go."
I wonder if Father is doing better yet. Gohan mused.
In the Son household...
"Goku, your medicine." Yamcha dropped a pill into Goku's gaping mouth as Chi-Chi busied herself in the kitchen. "Goku isn't going to die of any illness." he assured the worried Chi-Chi. "He won't let it happen. We need him to defend us, and the rest of the Earth, from the Androids. Looks like the medicine is taking effect, and he's resting easier." he noted as Goku's breathing slowed.
"You really think so?" Chi-Chi gasped.
"Yeah." Yamcha replied. "You know what? They said that this illness is viral in nature, so I'm going to take some of this, and you should take a little too, Chi-Chi."
"Leaving that matter aside, what is Gohan up to?" Chi-Chi wondered.
"Oh?" Yamcha feigned ignorance. "He hasn't come back yet, has he? Maybe he's off playing somewhere."
Back with the fuming Vegeta...
Curse you! Vegeta cursed as he hurried after the Androids. What's so great about Kakarot? I've become a Super Saiyan too. All other conditions being equal, I, Vegeta,the Saiyan Prince, am far above his level! I'm going to show them my true power.
Meanwhile, Androids 16, 17 and 18 had landed in the middle of a street. Some more discussion went on until Vegeta arrived.
"No. 17, why are we landing?" Androids 18 asked.
"Let's take our time and enjoy ourselves as we go." Android 17 replied. "There's no need to hurry."
"Are we walking then?" Android 18 inquired.
"Let's go by car." Android 17 suggested. "Before long, an automobile should pass by. We'll go in that."
"You boys sure do like this pointless stuff." Android 18 shrugged. "Is that a leftover human trait of yours?"
"You understand, don't you, No. 16?" Android 17 asked. "You were constructed from a human male, weren't you?"
"No, I was constructed from nothing." Android 16 replied.
"You weren't human-based?" Android 17 echoed.
"He fundamentally different from us." Android 18 noted.
That's strange. Android 17 mused. If Dr. Gero had the technical skills to build an Android from nothing, why did he go back in the direction of building them from a human base?
"Yo!" Vegeta greeted the trio, landing on the road. "I didn't expect you to be dallying around here like this."
"What's this?" Android 17 noted. "There's a different kind of air about you than you had earlier."
"It's not just the air, pal." Vegeta smirked. "I want to tell you where you think you guys are headed."
"Son Goku's place. "Android 8 replied. "We're going to kill him."
"So, we were right." Vegeta remarked. "You won't be able to make it there. That's because I'm going to put you all away. Is that funny?" he noticed the chuckles Androids 17 and 18 exchanged. "Laugh all you want while you still can."
"Saiyans are so overly sure of themselves." Android 17 remarked. "Son Goku seems to be the same way. Because of that pride,the more unprepared they are, the sooner they die."
"You spout that ridiculous blather quite well for a puppet!" Vegeta snapped. "I'm smash you to bits! Which one of you is first? The kid? The woman? The big dunce? Or perhaps you' rather I take all three of you on at once?"
"You're overdoing it."Android 18 stated.
"What was that?" Vegeta retorted.
"No. 6, I want to see your power." Android 18 turned to Android 16. "You go ahead."
"I decline." Android 16 replied.
"Looks like that one has at least figured out my ability." Vegeta smirked.
"He's a strange one." Android 17 noted. "Says he declines."
"You should have kept your place." Android 18 stepped forth to fight. "Very well, I'll do it."
"Let me warn you now." Vegeta declared. "I won't be pulling any punches just because you're a woman. Then again, you're an Android. You aren't a woman, are you?"
SailorStar9: Phew, another chapter down. Stay tuned for Chapter 4: Deadly Beauty.