Many thanks to everyone for reading and warm hugs for the kind reviews.

Sorry for the delay in getting this chapter up, seems FFnet doesn't like me. I've been trying for 9 days now to post this up.

"Genesis"

Chapter 11

A buzzing sound... All I could focus on was this buzzing sound. I felt warmth return to my limbs and a tingly feeling as I became aware of my body's extremities. Keeping my eyes closed I flexed my fingers. The buzzing noise faded and was replaced by voices. Still I kept my eyes closed as my mind went back over itself trying to determine where I was, what had happened and most importantly, who I was.

"How long before he is functional?"

"He should be fully operational in a few minutes."

"Hmmm."

"Patience my friend... patience... We will be able to test him out shortly. I just need to finish running this systems check to confirm the transfer is complete and then we can fully awaken him and test him."

My mind absorbed the conversation, the voices sounding familiar then with a jolt I remembered.

A loud beeping split the air.

"What the hell is that?"

"I think the android is awake..." Gero hastily checked systems, his fingers flying over the keyboard as he typed in his commands to the computer. "Strange," he muttered.

George cocked an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Gero rubbed his chin. "Well something has tripped the overload switch, hence the beeping, its a warning that the nervous system has just had a surge of power."

'How could that happen?"

"Could be any one of a number of things... the storm... my activating the circuits... one of the fuses may have blown, " said Gero as he continued to try to find the cause.

"Or maybe he remembers," mumbled George.

Gero turned slowly and faced his former boss. Anger was evident in those cold blue eyes. " I have told you before, during the transfer of data only the important and necessary items are retained into the new 'brain'. Everything else, including memories, personality traits, emotions and the like are filtered out and discarded. For the android to be ultimate it doesn't need such menial things."

Gero was saved from further explanations as the computer screen beeped to alert him as to a possible cause for the reaction in the android. Gero bent over the console and continued to work.

George watched with mild interest. He really didn't understand all this stuff but he knew that the research and results were worth money... a lot of money... and he needed money, especially after all that these kids parents' had done to him in the past. He sure was going to make a fortune with the results of Gero's work. Why the possibilities were endless. His musings were brought to a halt with one word.

"Hello."

George's eyes opened wide at that simple, yet haunting word and he felt a sudden rush of apprehension run down his spine. He turned and stared.

Lying in my current state and realizing all that had happened to me I took a few moments to try to sort through the turmoil in my head. I was an android. Hearing Gero's words of explanation for the sudden beeping noise and George's comments on memory I vainly searched through my new brain.

"It appears we have a short in one of the circuits." said Gero and turned to face the android. His eyes opened wide and his jaw went slack.

"Hello."

My memories were still there. A girl... a blonde headed girl. My sister. My parents, the funeral, Aunt Jenny and Uncle Howard, all these memories came flooding back, playing through my mind like a movie. Emotion. Now that was a new one. I could feel something, but I wasn't sure what. Each time I heard the voice of that man my circuits ran hot, but what Gero had said about memory transfer, emotion and the like didn't add up in my case. Something had gone wrong during the process. I had no idea what, but instinct told me to play along with the game and not to reveal anything. So I did the only other thing I could do...

"Hello."

I spoke softly and calmly, noting that I had taken both men by suprise.

Gero stared open mouthed at me.

My eyes focused and I scanned around the room. I was still on the table, my wrists and ankles restrained with thick leather straps. I mused the thought of these pitiful restraints and then my gaze fell on the table next to me. I felt a lump rise to my throat. Had I been able to shed tears then I probably would have. My former body still lay there.. eyes glazed and unseeing, chest still, limbs unmoving... the entire form a lifeless shell.

Gero moved towards me. "I see you are fully awake now."

"Yes."

"Do you remember anything?"

"No," I lied.

"Good. Welcome to life, Seventeen."

"Seventeen?" I echoed his words.

"Yes. Seventeen. That is your name."

"Thankyou."

"I am Dr Gero. I am your creator. "

"You gave me life?" I asked the question knowing I had to bide my time.

"Yes. I have given you eternal life."

"Then I should be grateful."

Gero moved to the table and removed the restraints. "Come, it's time to test your new body."

I sat up and swung my legs to the side before pushing off the table and landing lightly on my feet. I felt different and yet the same.

"Now, Seventeen there are several features that this 'body' has that will enable you to do more than you ever dreamed possible. I have programed into you the way to harness the natural energy and use it to your advantage. With the nuclear energy core inside you there will be an unlimited supply of energy to you. Also your frame work is made from an alloy of metals to give you unbreakable bones and combined with the powers of your energy, a strength that has never before been seen," Gero explained briefly as he led me to another section of the lab.

We entered the room.

"I want you to run through the program I have installed into you and try out the various moves and energy blasts so I can make sure you are fully functional. Just be careful with the blasts and keep them low as I do not want to find this room reduced to rubble." Gero finished his run down on my new systems and turned to move away to watch from the safety of the doorway.

George was also there and I overheard Gero speak quietly to him.

"You know what to do with the body in the lab."

George nodded and slipped silently away.

Again I felt the heat as a surge of energy coursed through me triggered by those words. It suddenly all became so final. With my body being disposed of there was no going back. This was for real, I was now an android and would remain so for eternity. I focused my thoughts on to the program that had been installed into my brain and began to try out the new body. Finding out all its capabilities. The time for revenge would come soon enough.

Gero watched as I tested and honed my new found skills. He seemed pleased.

"Well done, my boy, well done. I think you are ready for the next step."

"The next step?" I queried.

"Come." Gero indicated to the lab.

I followed him back into the lab and into another room which housed more computer terminals. The computers were humming idly and a large screen glowed faintly, indicating it was on but not projecting anything. I looked around, scanning and noting everything. I was amazed at my new powers, being able to take things in and retain them immediately. I had always been a bright student, but now I understood the term photographic memory.

Gero pulled up a chair and motioned for me to do the same, then he typed rapidly and the screen flickered before coming to life with a picture of a black haired man on it.

"The name of this man is Goku," said Gero

After a few minutes of explanation it was clear to me what it was that Gero desired of me. Would this circle of hatred and revenge ever reach a conclusion?

"All the information you need on this warrior is in this computer's memory banks. I will connect you to it so as the information can be downloaded to your own data banks," said Gero.

I stared at him, then jumped as a scream rang out through the building.

#

George left Gero and Seventeen in the lab together. He shivered as he walked back to the room where the boy's former body awaited him. He felt uncomfortable with the way things had turned out. he wasn't a violent or evil man by nature, he just happened to get involved in the wrong thing at the wrong time. Then he found himself manipulated and used to the point where he had no way out. Gero's conditioning of his mind had left him with very little will of his own and that scared him. Scared men are also desperate men. The horror of the situation all those years ago, first with the refusal of the loan then the murders and now finally the boy's own end struck a spot deep within and served to sadden him more. He shook his head as reality hit home. None of this should ever have happened.

He paused as he lifted the lifeless form from the table. The boy was light weight. He had grown into quite a strong, good looking young man. It was such a pity he had to be sacrificed in such a way. With a sigh he turned and carrying the form made his way back through the lab to the doors that would take him into the garage area.

#

Krystal found the room swimming as she returned to consciousness. Grasping out for something to steady herself with, she willed her body to stop the swaying and heaving in sympathy with her head. Gradually the fog cleared and she could focus once more.

"What happened?" she asked out loud and not suprised when no answer was forthcoming. Thunder continued to roll overhead, gradually disappearing into the distance as the storm blew itself out. Krystal wrapped her arms around herself and shuddered. She remembered a voice popping into her head saying... what did it say?

"I'm sorry."

That's right, that was it. Then the loud crack, a scream and a searing pain had passed through her chest and head causing her to pass out.

Jay...

Krystal raised her hand to her mouth covering and muffling the small cry as it burst forth. Jay was in trouble and needed her help. That's why he hadn't come to her like he promised to during the storm.

He never broke a promise.

With that special connection that twins seem to share, Krystal tried to focus on Jay. All she could feel was a void, as if Jay's very soul had been ripped from this dimension. Try as she might there was no *feeling* of him.

If she couldn't sense Jay then something must be terribly wrong. Krystal's blood ran cold as her mind grasped this possibility. Gero... this was all tied in to him. She had to get into the lab and find her brother. Krystal rose from the bed and made her way out of the room.

She headed down the hallway and towards the doors to the garage. She had no idea of what she would do when she got to the lab; all she knew was that she had to find Jay. She opened the doors to the garage and was making her way across the room towards the lab doors when she became aware that the doors were opening. She paused in her stride, the shadows effectively hiding her for the moment.

She watched as a figure came through the doors. He was a large, burly man and he carried something in his arms. She squinted trying to make out just what the man was carrying.

She gasped as an arm suddenly broke free and swung down lazily. Light reflected off the ring on the finger hitting Krystal's eyes and temporarily blinding her. She raised her hand instinctively covering her eyes from further invasion and blinked rapidly in an attempt to clear her vision.

Dropping her hand as her sight came clear she moved forward... curiosity getting the better of her.

George hearing a noise ahead in the shadows called out. "Who's there? Come out where I can see you."

Krystal moved out of the safety of the darkness and towards the figure of the man.

"It's me, Krystal, " she started to say and then froze as the man turned to look at her.

George turned to look at the girl before him and then realised he still held a bundle in his arms.

Too late...

Krystal's eyes moved to the man's arms. She felt as if a bucket of icy water had been dumped on her. Her hands flew to her mouth as water began to pool in her eyes.

"Jay?" she whispered

The lifeless eyes stared into her own as the head lolled to the side.

Krystal screamed, a loud, heart wrenching sound that started deep within the gut and worked its way out, taking with it her very soul. Then, she fainted.

###

to be concluded...