Chapter 6

(The Reaper Cometh)

"So you saw your dad use it once?" Trunks asked Gohan as he looked at the large piece of machinery his mentor had brought back from the meeting with the Saiyans. Gohan nodded as he stretched his legs on a patch of grass just outside of Capsule Corp.

"Yeah, like I said my dad had to be put in one back on Namek. It's a long story involving alien body snatching if you can believe it." Gohan smirked as Trunks raised a confused brow.

"Your father was the one who suggested it actually. Though the model we used was older and took a while to heal my dad. According to Paragus this is a much newer model and should work faster. Besides I recall your dad saying there was a newer model on Frieza's ship back on Namek that was destroyed."

"Wow." Trunks responded simply. He always enjoyed hearing the old stories from Gohan. Even the barest hint of his father always got him even more engrossed too.

"Hopefully, if we ever get hurt really bad we can substitute bed stays with this pod and get us back in top shape quicker. That and I won't have to use a Senzu, so we can have a few spares laying around for real emergencies." Trunks nodded as he looked at the machine again.

"Oh goody," Bulma began as she came around from the back of the tank.

"Another way for you boys to nearly get killed and go right back into the fire. Sounds like a great idea to me." She shook her head even as both half-Saiyans could tell she was only half truly lamenting.

"Anyways, from what I can see it shouldn't be too hard to hook this thing up to the power grid. Keeping in mind we don't lose power at some point and I'm given a day or two to work on it, I think we can have it up and running in no time. Although," Bulma leaned on it looking to Trunks and Gohan.

"It would be nice if either of you could move it inside, preferably the basement. I don't know how safe or practical it would be to leave it outside of all places." Gohan smiled and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Right, sorry Bulma. But hey, at least you got a chance to look at it in the sunlight before I shoved it inside into the dark basement."

"You mean mom's lair?" Trunks added causing Bulma to cast him a scowling look. Gohan merely smirked and rolled his shoulders in some more stretches.

"Yes, the lair, young man. Now you can be the one to haul it downstairs for me." She smirked slightly looking coy as Trunks grunted slightly and hovered himself over to the alien pod.

"Yes ma'am." Bulma patted her son's shoulder as the half-Saiyan moved his fingers under the bottom of the machinery and with relative ease began lifting it into the air along with himself shortly after.

"Thanks sweetie!" She called after him with an overly delighted wave as Gohan also chuckled and continued his warmups. In fact, Bulma noted he seemed to be 'warming up' a lot more than necessary, and she had seen plenty of that in her day.

"Having fun there, Gohan?" The man was stretching his right arm over his left shoulder as she asked and he paused casting her a confused tilt of the head.

"Wh...what?" He asked innocently.

"Your stretching so much over there I'm beginning to feel contact exhaustion."

"Oh, yeah right." Again seeming all too clearly to be Goku's son he sheepishly rubbed the back of his head with a smirk, and more unique blush crossing his face.

"I'm still a bit sore, but I did promise Trunks we'd get back into the thick of training."

"A bit pointless when you're already in pain I'd say." Bulma pointed out and Gohan sighed.

"But, if the both of you are dead set on it who am I to stop you?" She quickly followed up with. Gohan felt his eyes widen only some, before he smiled and nodded thankfully at her worded gesture.

"Try not to hurt yourself anymore Gohan. All I ask...as usual. Oh and don't hurt Trunks or get him too worked up. I don't need that power boost going to his head."

"I should be the one asking him to go easy on me really!" Gohan began laughing warmly causing Bulma to again shake her head.

"Gohan!" Trunks' voice cut Gohan's laughter short as the boy came barreling out from the ruins of Capsule Corp without the pod. In his left hand hung one of the many small radios they used to hear where and when the androids were attacking. Immediately Gohan's expression turned dark and steely. Bulma anxiously watched as Trunks flew past her and came to a stop before his mentor. The falling daylight casting shadows upon them all. They only seemed to darken more as they awaited the inevitable news to roll in through the little device.

"Another attack's going on, right now!"

"Let me hear." Was all Gohan replied with as Trunks indeed brought the audio up. Though it was marred by static and whatever else interference a voice did eventually break through.

"...android attacking Sizzle City! I repeat the androids are attacking Sizzle City! Anyone within the city who can hear my voice should leave immediately! There's chaos every-" What sounded like an explosion rocked the transmission and Gohan could see Trunks' expression turn as angered and hateful as his own. Though Gohan kept his subdued, and controlled.

"Gohan we have-"

"We aren't doing anything Trunks." The boy reeled back subtly before moving forwards, hands clasped into fist and nearly crushingly around the little buzzing radio.

"No, not again Gohan! You're not leaving me here while you fly off to fight them!" The boy nearly howled with far less intimidating presence and self confidence than he no doubt thought he showed. Gohan sighed, his eyes shutting as he lamented yet another attack so soon after...well everything else lately. That and the endlessly ready and willing, to the point of suicidal bravado of his pupil.

"Trunks, please." He began softly throwing the boy off some as he looked confusedly up at Gohan.

"There's a lot going on, a lot we don't know about a lot of things. The Saiyans, Peri and not to mention Gingertown. The androids have to be fought and I will fight them as long as I can. I won't, however, place you in direct harm. Not yet, not while you're not ready."

"But I am ready!" Trunks retorted with as much fiery spirit as always. Gohan gave a slight smile but it was a weak one.

"I know you think that Trunks, but-"

"But," Trunk snapped cutting Gohan off. "Every time an attack happens I get the same reasons for why I can't go! I can't fight, I'm not ready, do this so we can do more later while they kill and destroy! I'm sick of it, and I'm sick of being treated like a kid!"

"Trunks..." Gohan trailed off. The anger in his pupil's voice palpable, and stronger than usual. Even still Gohan knew the truth in spite of what he wished and hoped for. He wasn't ready. Hell Gohan didn't know if he was himself ever really ready whenever fighting the androids.

"Trunks please." Bulma began from off to the side coming nearer to her son. The half-Saiyan looked at her with his expression unrelenting. He was ready, and wanting for a fight. He was nearly shaking with anger and hate that fed his anticipation and desire to fight and protect.

"Like Gohan said there's a lot going on right now! We don't know what happened to Peri, the Saiyans are a whole other beast and those two killers are still out there."

"Yeah, and the radio said it was the androids attacking! So I say we head there and destroy those two monsters once and for all! I say we go get those Saiyans and we gang up on em' here and now! I say we kill those monsters and avenge everyone they've-"

"Trunks!" Gohan cut the boy off who reeled back only slightly at the harshness and gruff tone of Gohan's voice. The look that overcame Gohan was rough and stern and it too put off Trunks who looked confusedly up toward his mentor's stare.

"There's a lot at risk here. The whole world in fact, and you're far more important than you even realize. I will not allow you to throw yourself away fighting the androids just to fulfill your need for revenge! You're this planet's best chance for peace, and you're not ready. Not yet, but when you are then you'll be the protector I couldn't be."

"Don't say that Gohan!" Trunks shot back, his eyes betraying to both Gohan and Bulma his idol worship.

"You're the hero the world needs! I can help though, I can be there to bring thee monsters down alongside you! We can save everyone, everyone!" He burst with emotion and raw will that Gohan nearly felt jealous. Jealous he couldn't feel like that anymore. Positive, hopeful, but he did smile thinly. In his place he was leaving someone who could feel that, and that was good.

"Besides that," Trunks began again catching Gohan from his thoughts.

"You're in no condition to fight all on your own! You're still recovering from Gingertown and Peri! You expect me to let you run off alone and die?!" He screamed as indeed the emotion took hold of him, specks of water clearly visible in his eyes. Gohan was silent as was Bulma who looked on sadly at her son's emotional rant. However, Gohan simply smiled.

"I expect you to do as I ask of you. As both your mentor and your friend, Trunks." That made the boy look confused again. His arms lowered as he obviously internally fought against two feelings. One to fight, both Gohan and the androids, and one to do as ordered of him. The boy tightened his fists and lowered his head as his eyes hardened towards the dimly lit grass and shattered stonework upon the ground outside of Capsule Corp. The younger boy felt Gohan's strong hands clasp either of his shoulders. He tilted his head up to see Gohan's smiling face looking down at him.

"You'll become as strong as me. One day you'll be a Super Saiyan, Trunks. When that happens you will bring hope and peace to this world, and until then I will do what I can, and what I must to defend it."

"You can't defend it, and I can't become a Super Saiyan if you're dead." Trunks returned, his voice cracking and tears flowing. Another stark reminder to his youth to both Gohan and Bulma. Gohan turned towards Bulma who looked lost to what to say. Though she too cast him a worried look. In kind Gohan beamed as wide a smirk as possible.

"I don't plan on dying anytime soon, Trunks. However, I will meet the androids head on and not put you in their path." Just then Gohan reached behind himself and pulled out the long hidden satchel of Senzu beans. He undid the little tie at the top of the bag and flipped it over allowing the last three to fall out into his palm. Trunks looked on in awe as Gohan quickly and without hesitation took one bean and snapped it in half. Gohan took one half and ate it quickly. Immediately his body felt immensely better, and both Trunks and Bulma watched as his aura erupted around him while his cuts and scars before their eyes began to fade away. Gohan knew it was a bold move, maybe even a dumb one, but he had to. Had to convince Trunks he was going to be okay. He had to make the boy believe this wasn't going to be his last fight. Even Gohan wasn't sure if that was true.

"Gohan...yo...you only took half."

"Half doesn't do as much as a whole bean, but it's enough. I was already on the up and up anyways." Gohan smiled and placed both beans and the other half back into the satchel. Though he knew he was lying. The half did heal many surface wounds and sore muscles but Gohan still felt lethargic and weaker than when at his maximum. It would do though, for now. He tossed the bag to Trunks who caught it suddenly and in quick succession Gohan fell into a series of hard and swift punches to the air and sweeping kicks into the air high and low. He showed as best he could the energy flowing through him once more, and even himself noted his speed increase from the earlier stretches Bulma had commented on. Though as he glanced towards her he could see the skepticism in her eyes. But Gohan knew for Trunks own sake she wouldn't point anything out.

"See? Good as new Trunks!" Gohan beamed letting himself relax where he stood. The boy still looked unconvinced and tried handing the bag back to Gohan who quickly pushed his hand atop Trunks and lowered the Senzu down to the boy's side.

"You hold onto them for me. I'll make it a promise that I'll be back for these later."

"Bu...but what if you need them?" Gohan hummed thoughtfully, his mind keenly aware of the attack still commencing on distant Sizzle.

"You're right, give me the half." Trunks fished the half back out handing it to Gohan who placed it into his gi's hidden pocket where he hoped as usual it wouldn't fall from.

"This'll be enough for any sticky situation. Now," Gohan again put his rough hand to Trunks right shoulder.

"Please stay here. Watch over your mom, get the tank up and running and watch these for me." He clasped his hand down over the Senzu bag.

"It's probably a bad idea to take them into battle every time anyways. I promise I'll be back for them though." Trunks lowered his head and made only a glimpse towards the Senzu. The boy growled, he knew it wasn't right, and this felt more like a goodbye than he dared actually admit it to be. Nonetheless, as more tears threatened to fall from his eyes he looked up to Gohan, his hero.

"I'll watch em' Gohan. But you can't die, you can't leave us alone! Promise me!" He commanded of Gohan who in that moment smiled thinly. What was one more lie?

"I promise I'll come back Trunks. Now, it's time I go taught the androids another lesson." Trunks furiously wiped his tears away and forced a smile of his own.

"Right!" Gohan pat his charge's shoulder and moved past him.

"Gohan," He turned as Bulma addressed him. A worried and intense look in her eyes as she looked at him and his forced smile. Even then it looked like Goku's simple but happy go lucky smirk. Gohan had indeed become a good liar.

"Be careful."

"I will! Take care you two!" With that his aura again exploded and the half-Saiyan flew into the sky as he then bound south towards distant Sizzle City.

"It's unfair." Trunks intoned pushing himself away from Bulma who turned towards her forlorn son.

"He...he'll be okay Trunks. Gohan knows what he's doing." Trunks merely nodded and sank himself down into an exposed patch of grass unceremoniously. His head down turned and eyes staring numbly at the blades around him as he fell into silence with the satchel placed in his lap.

"I hope so anyways." Bulma intoned herself and made towards Capsule Corp. A renewed vigor in her to get their best hope complete for themselves. Leaving Trunks to brood in his lonesome as the sunlight dimmed further and further.


The aura from the Saiyan he recognized exploded off away from the destroyed city leaving him to watch the other boy and the woman forlornly move around the decaying building plot.

"Now where are you off to?" The man intoned from where he hid within a broken down building inside a high burnt out floor overlooking the area. For a second he lowered himself down and pulled a small device out from his waist and took one final recording of the young boy he saw sitting by himself for Lord Paragus. Before ht then sat himself behind the wall and pulled a communicator out and activated it.

"Lim, what have you to report?" Commander Otato began with immediately coming into view on the small communicators screen.

"A bit actually. The Saiyan has two companions in this run down city. But what's more important is he just took off at top speeds heading south I think." Otato nodded.

"Send me what you have. I'll report everything to Lord Paragus immediately. Stay hidden and keep watching. That's an order." Otato cut the call as Lim sent what he had.

"Yeah, watch people do nothing from a run down building. Greatest job ever." Lim intoned and sighed as he flipped back around and once more took his recorder out. He zeroed in on the boy and simply watched. Waiting for something, anything of note to happen.


12 raised his right hand and beneath his palm appeared another richly blue ki ball. He sent it flying out from his hand and it flew with a buzz down the street before him. Night had fallen and smoke rose everywhere in the city as several massive fires burned around the android. This ki ball illuminated the otherwise pitch black street and slammed into a distant spire ahead of him. The explosion rocked out sending a fire ball whirling and winds whipping in all directions that flooded over 12 who didn't move an inch. The power to the city had since gone dark, and 12 could hear people distantly screaming and running. He cast a glance over his left shoulder, an ethereal whitish-blue glow from his eyes scanning the region. A tremendous and intense fire raged behind him making his figure the very outline of death from where he stood. He thought it was a shopping mall of some sorts, at least that's what the computer called them. That and a small gas station near it had been ripped into by one of his ki attacks. He could tell the entire region was beyond human ability to withstand. The heat writhing and burning consuming everything around it. In his mind, 12 figured it put a significant and necessary target on his back.

So, he turned back and raised his right hand upwards. His palm outstretched unnaturally though with ease in his android frame and exploding into life came another white ki ball. He left it to pulsate just above his hand for a moment longer before he snapped his fingers outwards and in an instant the one ki ball exploded upwards into seven distinct balls of energy. They flew upwards forming a massive circle in the sky where they hovered and spun above the city for an instant before 12 gestured his right pointer finger downwards and the ki balls careened back down. Each slamming into a region of the city still ahead of him. Massive explosions ripped outwards sending fire and smoke thrashing into the city like tendrils of death and mayhem as buildings came crashing down and shook the city with terrifying resonance.

"Enough!" A voice trembling with power howled and echoed through the vastness of the city. 12 didn't move merely lowered his right hand. His cowl whipped and shifted ever so slightly in the chaotic winds of the city burning around him as he heard the newcomer fall to the ground behind himself. His eyes flashed with illumination.

"Finally you arrive."


Gohan came to a sudden stop in the air. Night had fallen in the time it took to get to Sizzle from West City. Yet he could see the city clear as ever. Immediately he sneered and his hands balled together into tight fists. Fires burned and raged up into the newly come night sky adding a thick choking darkness to the already black night. The burning reddish orange glow illuminating the city was eclipsed by screams of terror Gohan was used to. He could sense them though. A glimmer of hope burned inside of him as he still sensed thousands of weak signatures. Far more than he had expected from the time it took him to get here, but he was not one to complain.

His aura charged around him and he bound forward towards the city again. He peered down to see many cars escaping the city driving wildly into the desert wastes around Sizzle and again he growled in rising anger, which he was quick to calm.

"So many homes, so many lives. Damn them!" He seethed to himself as he hovered over the city. His eyes scanned around himself looking for the two maniacs firing off their ki blasts or tormenting people in whatever fashion they chose that day. He swung around himself his frustration only rising as he loathed the reality of his inability to sense the androids. He had to wait for them to show themselves. Usually by their murder and slaughtering. It made him sick.

However, just then he heard it. He swung around right as he heard the buzz of ki blasts whir through the open skies. There were seven whitish orbs floating in the air. They spun in a grand circle, almost like a halo above the city. His eyes narrowed as he scanned the ground. He found the display odd, but he couldn't be forced to think too much on that right now. He was flush with anticipation, and though it amounted to little more than a death wish, Gohan promised he wouldn't let them get away with so much death and destruction so close together.

"Three cities. You bastards." He ground his teeth and felt his power surge before he found it. His dark eyes found one being standing upon a street to the ground of Sizzle. His right arm was raised up as he stood with his back to a tremendous fire burning near him. Gohan narrowed his eyes further and felt a sense of confusion suddenly enter him.

"Who...?" He intoned as he took but an instant to take in this being's clothes. Even from up high they were far different than anything he had seen either 17 or 18 where. Their overall wardrobe was a thing of small choices. Yet the dark cloak and getup was accentuated by the orange and red flames behind this figure. However, Gohan felt his gut contract as he realized he couldn't sense this being. Something inside him shook him to the core and he found his head shaking of its own volition.

"Please...please no." He intoned shakily as a horrendous thought entered his mind.

Just then though the being flicked its right hand and the spinning orbs flew down crashing one after the other into the city. The fires that erupted were intense and the winds that loosed from the explosions shook the city foundations as they percussed into one another and shred blocks and buildings down within Sizzle. A heat rose in Gohan and his eyes flared as he exploded downwards. All musings lost as the need to do something took control of his thoughts and actions.

"Enough!" Gohan howled as he fell to the ground behind this being. The arm of the man, or at least as he appeared to Gohan, dropped. Gohan raised his left hand into a fight ready posture while his right remained angled towards his waist also ready to start the battle.

"Finally you arrive." Gohan felt his posture loosen and brow furrow at the man's voice. It indeed sounded masculine, deep and strong, but warped. It sounded machine like, and that only confirmed a horror taking root in Gohan's mind as anxiety rippled through his chest.

"I was wondering how long it would take the world's vaunted hero to arrive." The being turned as it seemed to taunt Gohan. Again he found himself confused and he recoiled some as he could make out some features of the being's face as the fire behind Gohan illuminated him. His cowl atop his head cast a shadow of half of his face but the rest was clear to Gohan.

"Wha...what the hell are you?" He seethed and the being crossed his arms over his chest.

"Surely you can figure that out for yourself. I would hope so at least." The deep voice went on and Gohan's fingers threatened to carve gashes into his palms.

"You're another android. Another damn monster! Why?! Why are you here?! Why now?!" Gohan demanded as his emotions were racked and barely kept under control. His mind was racing and he didn't know if he could handle yet another surprise befalling him and Earth.

"I am Android 12." Oddly the being swept its left arm out curving its right under its chest as it bowed slightly towards Gohan who only sneered at the perceived mockery of formality.

"You need not introduce yourself. I know who you are, and I know what you are, alien halfbreed."

"That didn't answer my question, android." Gohan retorted with a rumble of his voice.

"I shall indulge you even if for a moment." It replied as it again crossed its arms over its chest.

"I was only awoken recently. Earlier this day in fact. It would appear the task set forth for my fellow androids went incomplete. Therefore it is my duty to see it done."

"That being?" Gohan felt he already knew the answer as he glanced at the burning city around him.

"The elimination of all threats to the grand plan."

"What does a defenseless city threaten you with?!" Gohan threw back with a wave of his right arm at the destruction.

"The city was no threat and is certainly no threat to the grand design. Rather this destruction was necessary only for one purpose. To draw out the real threat as perceived. You, Gohan, son of Goku." Gohan didn't allow himself to openly show just how disgusted he was by the android even mentioning his father's name. Rather he smirked as if reveling in the fact he threatened this android...and whatever plan it was talking about so much.

"I see. So you're afraid I'll eventually destroy you and your friends. You should be scared. Because I will destroy you and save this planet from all of you android monsters!"

"The fact you perceive yourself to be the hero of this story is despicable." Gohan recoiled some, again feeling his guard drop as his stance loosened some.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"It is obvious you think you're the hero. The one that will save the world when all you have done and all your father did was bring greater pain into it. Of course there is no accounting for the ills done by those of this world. The Demon King and the Red Ribbon Army. However, that pales in comparison to the Saiyans that obliterated a city, and the threat posed to the world by their destructive tendency and the Tyrant that followed soon after them. You aliens have brought Earth great turmoil and destruction by the reality of your existence upon Earth. In order for a new dawn of peace to arise all those who come from beyond our world must be swept aside. For humanity to once more reign supreme and be at peace in a world led by a new Red Ribbon. Free of the ills of monstrous aliens and those humans who would forsake their decency to ally or lay with one." Gohan felt a sudden rage boil within him.

"Don't...ever speak to me about peace!" Gohan howled doing his best to ignore the subtle insult this machine directed towards his own mother.

"You talk about peace?! You've destroyed nearly an entire city! Not to mention all the cities and millions your two damn friends killed! You have some nerve to show your face after years of torment and talk down to me as if I am the villain!" The android's strange illuminating eyes darted right and 12 seemed to then look both left and right at the destruction wrought.

"17 and 18 are...defective units. They will be brought to justice, and in that moment so shall rise a new Earth. A new age for humanity where no alien nor demon shall sully our peace and our dominance!"

"A machine hardly has the right to claim humanity! Just look at you!" Gohan seethed falling into his fight ready stance again. His glare burning and hateful as he stared down this damnable machine. For an instant the android oddly shook its head. The blackened skull shaking and the eyes dimming some. Its right hand came up to its forehead and clasped itself there. Gohan narrowed his eyes as he waited for it to say something...anything.

"N...no." It finally spoke and fell into a fight ready pose. Gohan was shocked as he recognized the style. Its right hand balled into a fist brought up near to its chin, its right leg pulled back with the left forward and left fist angled down outwards facing. Far better and stronger a stance than anything the twins ever showed.

"I...am human. I will rid the world of those who...endanger my world! Now come, Saiyan." He beckoned menacingly.

"Let us end your contamination of this wondrous planet!" Gohan growled but then the android bound forwards. Its right leg slamming into the ground propelling its metal body towards Gohan in a floating dash towards him. Gohan stood ready, but instead of hit him dead on 12 came to a stop in front of him. His face up close did throw Gohan off but he held his ground, but 12 swung his right leg in colliding with Gohan's left tripping him forwards. 12 spun quickly throwing his right leg back up connecting it into Gohan's exposed stomach and eliciting a shocked and pained breath from him.

Gohan quickly grasped the leg and with a great heave flung himself into a roll in air carrying the android's leg and thus the whole body with him. With a howl he tossed the android up into the air away from him. 12 swung around in air and thrust both arms down. From his alms two whitish-blue ki balls formed that exploded out into dozens of small blasts that thrashed the ground around Gohan.

In turn Gohan bound upwards through the oncoming blasts. His right arm easily slashing left and right pushing the ki away from himself. He gave a cry as he threw his right leg up and felt his foot connect hard into 12's head thrashing the android back further up into the air. Gohan carried his midair spin backwards and came back around. He bounded back up head first towards 12 who only then turned back down to face him. Throwing a hard punch up right Gohan connected with the exposed metal gut of this android monster sending him into a lurch forwards. A smirk crossed Gohan's face, and he had to admit inwardly that had felt good.

"A sloppy attempt to overpower an enemy." Gohan's eyes widened as 12 grasped his arm still pushing at the android's frame and leveraged it down throwing his metal skull up and connecting it hard into Gohan's under chin with a sick thud of metal on bone. Gohan reeled as his face radiated with pain but as quickly 12 pushed back only slightly and his right boot came crashing down into Gohan's stomach sending him careening down into the city below hard. He slammed down into a road and drove a gash through it before his body slammed backwards through an abandoned car. He bounced off from it and landed face first into a dirt mound in what looked to be a park.

Shakily through the pain Gohan placed both hands to the ground and pushed himself up. He turned his head up just as 12 came to land before him. Once again the distant fires accentuated his whole appearance. Gohan had to admit he in fact looked like some monster made for a cheap horror film. Though with how he felt he didn't know about the cheap part so much.

"Raw power wont save you this time, halfbreed." It mocked though its tone was deep as usual and without the snotty inflections of either 17 or 18.

"I had imagined the only being to stand against both 17 and 18 to have more skill within them. However, I find myself disappointed. Both in your skills and their failure to be rid of you yet."

"Well then," Gohan began as the ground beneath him began to shake. He pushed himself up and into a stand before 12 who watched him intently.

"Allow me to rectify that for you!" Gohan brought both arms in and balled his hands into fists as he loosed a terrifying scream that echoed through all of Sizzle as his aura exploded into a brilliant golden hue that forced even 12 to partially cover his mechanical eyes with his left forearm.

"Let's take this up a notch!" The now Super Saiyan turned Gohan commanded as he fell into a new pose. 12 made some sort of noise Gohan guessed to be a snort and also fell into that same pose from before. Gohan charged this time, a howl escaping past his lips as he threw his right arm back. 12 ducked low but Gohan twisted himself in air. Suddenly his left leg came spinning around and gave a hard kick to the back of 12's head thrashing the android down into the ground."

"Kamehameha!" Gohan gave a mighty cry pulling the energy into the swirling blue ki ball while hovering over the downed body. The wave exploded down into the ground ripping dirt and the nearby streets apart as a circle of debris formed out from the center where 12 lay hidden beneath the blue wave of power.

The wave began to recede and the blue light faded leaving Gohan with the palms of his hand smashed together breathing more forcibly from the power unleashed. However, as the light dimmed Gohan growled, though he didn't know what he had expected as below 12 merely pushed off the dirt. The android's clothing charred and singed and dirt scattered around it that fell down from the android.

"A powerful concentration of ki. However, not so formidable an attack." Gohan sneered openly. 12 flew up and threw a hard right punch that Gohan blocked with his left forearm, but 12 threw a hard left which again Gohan blocked. 12 followed this one after the other, right and left over and over for several moment pushing both of them back through the air at incredible force and speed.

Gohan grasped another right punch with his left hand and threw the android down back towards the street. 12 swung around and as he allowed himself to fall unleashed a twirling torrent of white ki balls that flew into and slammed one after the other into Gohan who threw his arms into an X over himself blocking the torrent. The smoke cleared and Gohan thrust himself down and stood across from 12 who stood ready to fight ever still. Gohan smirked again and dashed forwards. As he did he threw both arms back and extended them ahead suddenly. His own torrent of golden ki blasts exploded from both hands and thrashed around and into 12 who dodged and tossed aside all he could before Gohan rounded upon him. With a suddenness unexpected of him Gohan smashed both hands onto either side of 12's head and with a great heave he smashed his right knee up and slammed 12's head into it. He seethed as the metal against his leg sent a reverberation of pain through him as well. However, he ignored it and as 12 reeled Gohan flew into him. His body crashing into 12's as he clasped his arms around him and both went careening towards a nearby building.

A wall and another and then another went crashing around them as Gohan slammed through one building and into a second before he came to a hard stop but threw 12 into the distance allowing the android to crash threw a fourth wall into another street outside. The android slammed back first into a long since dead street light that dented in and cracked against the power and weight of 12. He barely picked himself up and turned back upwards just to see Gohan's right fist and a howl come forth and thrash into him. 12 again screeched through the air pounding through another building wall and straight out the other side. Gohan came careening from over top the building and with speed and force flew downwards. His right foot connecting int the still flying 12 and crashing the android into the new street and creating a massive new impact crater below.

"Masenko!" Gohan howled as both hands, one atop the other came just above his forehead and a powerful golden beam burst forth and slammed into the ground where 12 lay. Again the impact crater exploded out deeper and wider sending debris flying away form the impact site.

However, Gohan reeled suddenly as he only caught a glimpse of something piercing straight through his Masenko cleaving the blast in half towards him. He jerked right releasing the ki blast and moving aside just as what appeared to be...well nothing shot past him ruffling his clothes and hair harshly.

"The hell?" Gohan turned but this time 12's left fist slammed into his cheek and Gohan was thrown head first down into another abandoned car with a great thud. Gohan peeled his eyes open to stare above as 12 lowered himself some to be fully seen by Gohan.

"I know that attack, boy. A demon's power if ever there was one. You've had interesting teachers. Though I shouldn't have expected anything less considering one of your teachers was a demon incarnate." Gohan again felt anger prickle in his spine as the android even dared to mention Piccolo.

"Shut your mouth!" Gohan howled and beneath him the car ground itself into the street as he burst upwards. His knee slammed up into 12's gut sending him forward into another lurch. Gohan took both fists and together slammed them down into the reeling android sending it now to the ground with another intense impact. 12 was so hard hit his body bounced back into the air. Only for Gohan to come shooting in from underneath him sending a savage kick into the android throwing him up into the air again.

Giving him no rest Gohan bound up after him just as 12 threw both arms out coming to a midair stop. Gohan angled himself right and slammed both fists up in an upwards left crash that again threw 12 up into the air away from him. Gohan again howled, his anger rising as he gave chase again to 12. The android pulled his left hand in and left his right somewhat further away from himself and as Gohan came careening towards him again 12 swept left. His left hand grabbed and pulled on Gohan's left arm and somewhat slowed Gohan's forward momentum. Gohan tried to turn but 12 slammed his open palm against Gohan's back and Gohan was hurdled towards the ground with an intense crash as his body tore through another building straight down seven floors to the bottom that shook the whole street.

Picking himself up again with a shake of his arms and muscles as old wounds and sores began pulsating with renewed pain Gohan only had a moment to looks left. A hard black boot slammed into his face and he was thrown back into a wall that cracked and left an impact but barely managed not to fall. Gohan seethed but picked himself up as 12 dashed forwards and made for a right hook. Gohan made to block but then with great speed and sudden change 12's left hand flung around and grasped the back of Gohan's head. He gave a slight cry of shock as 12 threw him face down hard and crashed him face first into the hard floor below. Gohan growled from the pain but before he could respond he 12's right hand grasp his right ankle and with a heave and half spin of his mechanical body Gohan was tossed freely through the other side of the building. Where he then crashed into the street and skid along it until he flipped onto his feet and came to a shaky stop in an as shaky stand facing where 12 was.

His breaths were only slightly more labored than before as Gohan watched the glowing eyes of 12 emerge from the darkness of the building. Where he quickly then floated freely out of with arms crossed. The android came to a stand just beyond the building and faced Gohan once again.

"Gotta say," Gohan began with a huff and cocky smirk along his features. Though in all honesty it was more forced for show.

"This is the first fight in a while I've felt evenly matched. 17 and 18? They dominate and outmatch in a fight. This though? I'm almost beginning to enjoy it a little." Gohan gave a chuckle as 12 eyed him in silence for another moment.

"You are not entirely without skill as first believed. That I shall grant you, halfbreed." Gohan didn't know what to feel with this android's obsession with his parentage. Honestly wasn't the worst thing said to him, about him, or done to him in the grand scheme of things.

"However, this is where it must end." 12 lowered his arms before himself. His black mechanical fingers placed against the opposite of the same to the other hand. Each tip of every finger touched their opposite upon 12's hands and the android continued to gaze at Gohan who watched on both curiously and cautiously.

"The scourge upon humanity shall be brought to an end. Greater foes have fallen beneath such purifying powers. You've shown me that within you lay the teachings of a demon, and therefore it is fitting you fall to my powers." Gohan cocked a confused brow, but before he could speak 12 made his move.

"Divine Winds." Suddenly 12 leapt forwards, he fell onto his left knee and his hands slammed together sending a thunderous explosion rippling through the streets. Gohan reeled, but watched as 12's clothes wildly burst around him towards Gohan, and then he felt it. Unseen to him Gohan felt something slam into his chest. He was pushed back, but then it happened again, and again and again. Until a flurry of unseen powerful blows crashed into him. Slamming and beating him like a thousand fists crashing into his body again and again. His grunts and growls of pain were mingled with breaths being forced from his lungs before he felt one final unseen force crash into his body and throw him back hard against another building wall.

A ghastly cough erupted from him where Gohan had fallen and his eyes were wide in shock. He coughed again only for a stream of blood to come ejecting out from his lungs as every inch of his chest, arms, and legs shook and burned from pain. He grunted as he could barely move, but somehow Gohan forced his head down towards his chest. Blood seeped out from his mouth falling down his chin as he looked towards 12 who once more stood tall and strong. Gohan, through wincing eyes with his vision blurred and dazed could just make out the roaring flap of the android's coat die down around him. Even in pain Gohan had enough in him to begin to form a connection for that technique.

"Wha...what kind of...technique..." Gohan wheezed out as he fell into another terrible coughing bout that shot out more blood.

"An old one. My moves, my skills and my techniques were not borrowed by some computer or designer. They were born of my training and the masters who came before me. All in an effort to stomp put of existence the demon scourge that for so long ravaged this world." 12 went on as he neared Gohan. His footfalls signaling the impending nearing of his person towards Gohan who struggled to move his right arm to fish through his gi for his one saving grace.

"Now they will be used to remove the alien menace from beautiful Earth." 12 intoned as he came to loom just above Gohan and stare down at him.

"Time to die, halfbreed." 12 extended his right hand towards Gohan. However, Gohan simply smirked. He placed his right hand to his mouth and with a bit of effort he took, chewed and swallowed the other half of his Senzu.

"What are you-" Gohan's aura exploded around him before 12 could finish and the android recoiled as Gohan released a mighty roar and lifted himself into the air once more.

"How are you-" Yet again 12 was cut off as Gohan dashed towards him. A tremendous cracking right kick slammed into 12's head and the android flew through the air crashing into a row of cars. Each exploding and crumbling beneath his impacts.

"Guess I owe Trunks one." Gohan intoned to himself with a smirk. Though he was achy and in pain all across his body it wasn't nearly as bad. Though, he did narrow his eyes as he warned and reminded himself to watch out for anymore new tricks from this android. Something was definitely off about this one.

12 burst back into the air, debris and car pieces falling from his body as he did until he hung in the air across from Gohan.

"You have some tricks of your own. Few have stood against the brunt of my Divine Winds. For that you have my respect, though not my mercy, halfbreed." Gohan sorted a chuckle.

"You caught me off guard. Don't think it'll happen again, android." Gohan readied again. Both fists raised, his right up high and left down low.

"Indeed, and neither shall you." 12 burst again after Gohan, a sonic explosion rippling through the air as he slammed into Gohan. He caught the android's punch, and 12 threw another, and then another. Gohan fell into blocking another sharp and fast barrage of incoming blows. He threw his right forearm up catching another left hook and quickly crashed both legs into the metal body of 12. He was thrown back some and immediately Gohan was upon him. Just as 12 had tried Gohan fell into an intense and successive pounding deluge of punches that pounded right and left one after the other into the machine. Every punch sent a percussion through the air bounding through 12's frame entirely. Each punch thrashed the android and every punch tossed him left and right and over and over again with each pounding crash. Until Gohan slammed his right fist up into the chin of the android throwing it back. Quickly followed up by both fists coming together to throw another hammering dual fist blow against 12. the android again careened towards the city and broke through one upper floor building down into another smaller shop with a crash that sent glass and debris bursting from within.

Immediately Gohan threw both hands back and two ki orbs burst to life shining the dark skies around him before he threw both arms down and a flurry of dozens of blasts slammed down where 12 had fallen. Within seconds explosion after explosion percussed out and tore down the small shop as the entire city block cracked and shook beneath Gohan's raining torrent of power. However, as Gohan fired the building blasted apart as 12 exploded upwards through the raining ki orbs. Gohan ceased his attack just as 12 swung his left fist back and threw it into Gohan's right. Gohan brought his right hand up and caught the punch that sent another boom through the air and pushed him back while still in flight. Another smirk crossed his face, but 12 with sudden power thrashed his arm down, unnaturally twisting his own metal shoulder near full around forcing Gohan's right arm to twist towards his back and down. Gohan loosed a mighty howl from sudden pain as he felt muscle and tendon straining against the force of 12's jerking movement.

12's right knee slammed inwards crashing into Gohan's gut as 12 yanked his left arm from Gohan who lurched and grabbed at his stomach. The android's left arm suddenly wrapped back around Gohan's neck and the half-Saiyan felt the cold metal fingers dig into the right of his neck. Before then 12's right fist came up crashing into Gohan's gut again as the android kept his left arm firmly wrapped around Gohan in his forward leaning pained position. Again the fist came up, and again and again each crashing up into Gohan's stomach and chest. Each blow elicited another gas of pain and escaping air from Gohan until 12 finally threw another uppercut crashing into Gohan's chin and throwing him back as 12 let go of him. However, in an instant 12 grabbed Gohan's right leg and blasted back down to the ground with Gohan freely in tow.

12 slammed his boots to the street and in the second after he slammed Gohan face first against the street just ahead of him. Still holding him, 12 swung right and then finally let go throwing Gohan through a car and large truck before he crashed down through a tree and slid along the ground barely jumping to his feet as he did so. His left arm hung low and right held up once again Gohan felt his breaths laboriously come from his chest as his body was racked with pain. Though he hardened his gaze and pushed past the pain. He'd dealt with worse...he could handle it.

The android came floating just above the ground back into view of Gohan. Its strange glowing eyes boring into Gohan from across the two. The android came to a stop landing ahead of Gohan again and for another time since this contest began they stared at each other. Gohan's breathing audible and heavier than before while 12 was silent as a rock.

"Let's see how much more you can take, halfbreed." 12 began and once again he brought both hands before himself placing the tip of each finger to the same on the opposite hand. Gohan growled readying to block that wind move this time. However, the android suddenly began sparking. Gohan recoiled as tendrils of what looked like white lightning snaked down his arms churning into its hands. Gohan growled and in a flash he dashed forwards readying to send another blow into the android. Then though, the lightning ceased all of it seeming to disappear into 12's hands before the android suddenly crashed his hands together as fists and between them was formed a barely visible white circle. Gohan kept coming though, but as he did 12 slid his left leg back and as Gohan made to strike left the android ducked under him.

12 then threw his own left hook into Gohan's exposed chest yet again. This time, however, as Gohan peered down he watched and groaned out as the punch made contact with his chest. That was not the end of it though. As Gohan could see another of those small white circles appear just around the android's wrist as he punched Gohan, and then he felt it. The white circle flew forwards slamming into his body after the connecting punch and Gohan was thrown back dozens of feet through the air. As an incredible gut wrenching and air pushing blast erupted into him like the force of a hundred punches slamming together as one crashed into him. Still, Gohan fell back rolling along the ground but managing to force himself up into a shaky barely managed stand with his legs to widely set apart to be appropriately ready for another strike. His breathing was even more greatly labored than before as his eyes drooped from the pain and his body tensed from burning stings and already forming bruises. Gohan again looked towards 12 and could see those white circles seeming to spin above its wrists illuminating the machine along wit the subtle lights of its ghostly eyes.

"What kind...of techniques are these?" Gohan groaned out more to himself as he pondered painfully at the power of these attacks. 12, however, broke into another gliding charge for Gohan. The half-Saiyan through his forearm up straight and met the incoming left punch of 12. The strength smashed his arm, but then that white circle slammed upwards after the punch and Gohan howled in pain as that successive slam crashed into his arm and he felt it on the verge of cracking bone as he was thrown back again from the blow. Again 12 charged and a pounding and intensely fast barrage of punches slammed one after the other into and across Gohan's form. Each punch carried another of those following impacts that were ten times harder than the still painfully strong punch and each one thrashed him backwards. He barely managed to stay standing in the face of the attacks. Then 12 slid to a stop towards Gohan. The android spun full right bringing the right leg up and crashing it against Gohan's left hip throwing him several feet to his own right before 12 tossed himself into the air after him. 12's right fist slamming down and crashing into the free flying Gohan and crashing him deep into a crater formed into the ground by his impact.

Gohan landed on his back, and squinted through burning eyes as sweat and pain mingled to daze his vision. Above him along the upper rim of the crater 12 stood looking down at him. The white bands finally fading from around his wrists as he looked down like Death himself upon Gohan.

"I call that my Nimbus Barrage. Another old technique you'd have little comprehension of."

"N...nimbus?" Gohan intoned as a memory flashed across his mind. A little golden cloud lifting his father into the skies, with his smiling little self riding atop, clawing at his father's back to scale the mighty figure. The clouds whirling past them and the laugh of his father filling the air as they moved freely and with no care in the world. Gohan smiled weakly where he lay as the memory came and quickly went from his mind and his head fell back to the dirty and hard ground beneath his fallen form.

"I...heh," Gohan chuckled softly and through pain as he made out the fall of debris as 12 moved into the crater towards him.

"I think I'm noticing a motif...with you, android." 12 once again loomed over him staring down with its unnatural stare.

"Demons...nimbus...divine...pretty heavy supernatural influences."

"Against demons or aliens the powers I've learned are more than enough to save my world from you invasive breeds." Gohan smirked where he lay. His Super Saiyan form warbled and ebbed as he fought to maintain it.

"I...ironic then. That you waste those skills...to destroy...instead of save!" Gohan's eyes shot open and feral sneer upon his face and his aura charged, exploding around him. 12 reeled back in shock and the half-Saiyan shot up with a sudden power the android hadn't expected. Gohan roared as his right fist crashed into 12 chest right below his neck and sent the machine careening up into the air. Within a flash of speed Gohan was above him and slammed his right foot down into 12 stopping him midair. Gohan fell into an incredible speedily display of kicks that thrashed 12. His left boot crashing again and again uncountable times before right again slammed down atop the android's face. Gohan threw both hands over his head, binding the fingers together one massive blow came cracking down and 12 flew own towards the ground.

Before the android slammed against the pavement Gohan came seemingly from nowhere as his right boot connected into the still falling android just before he hit the ground. 12 slid along the ground painfully and crashingly beneath Gohan who skid atop him using his own blow and power to keep the android sliding, grinding and tearing away at the pavement and dirt beneath himself. Just as the momentum died and 12 slowly came to a stop along the ground Gohan just pushed off of him into the air and threw his right leg back. Unleashing a feral and incredibly powerful kick that slammed back forwards throwing the android up into the air at careening speeds. 12 crashed back down atop some abandoned van that he made a massive indent into before sliding off the side into the street.

Gohan lifted himself into the air. His golden aura flowing freely around him as he glared intensely down towards 12. The android could hear gyros whir and internal servos grind painfully and in disrepair within his metal frame. His right arm was responding as he pushed off the ground where he lay face down. Only to look left and note his left hand cracked hanging to his arm by but a set of normally hidden wires. 12 could also tell he had sustained intense structural damage along his abdomen and chest as warnings blared in his mind shown only to himself in his eyes.

"Such...incredible...power." 12 intoned rising to a creaky stand as his hood fell from atop his head fully revealing the skeletal form beneath. 12 turned right planning to once more face the halfbreed. However, as he did so he caught a glimpse of something. He paused his turn as he looked down an alleyway hidden away by the darkness of the cityscape. With his vision he could see far more clearly than most and his illuminated eyes seemed to almost glow slightly more brightly as if he was horrified by what he saw.

"You may be able to put up a strong fight. You may have techniques I've never seen before. But you'll not be the one to defeat me, not here android!" Gohan called as he angled himself towards his right, both hands curving in towards that hip as he did.

"I won't let you destroy anything else! Not one more, not today!" Gohan howled as a swirling blue ball erupted forth into existence within his two hands.

"Ka...me..." Gohan's voice thundered as the air charged with power. An incredible power surged forth from him and android 12 for a moment gazed upon him in awe. His ow readings were rocketing as he scanned and watched the alien halfbreed ready his attack.

"Ha...me..." He went on and the ball seemed to double in size. 12 in an instant turned back towards his left to that alleyway. He snapped back towards Gohan and his eyes grew brighter as if trying to display some emotion from the machine.

"You miserable alien bastard!" 12 gave a gravely machine growl as he threw his right arm up.

"Ha!" Gohan howled as his voice echoed through all the city. A tremendous thundering boom loosed from him as he thrust his hands forwards and down towards the android. The city went alightin bright blue with the radiance of the Kamehameha, and unseen to Gohan a snaking tendril of blue surging electricity crawled up his body as his aura burst with power surging across and into him.

12 surged up into the air towards the wave of energy barreling towards him even as the beam of power sent pieces of nearby buildings cracking, crumbling and crashing as the power of it tore even that around it that it hadn't even touched. Raising his right hand another of those grand white circles, the 'nimbus' formed around his wrist extending around and encompassing his hand.

"Pillar of Sanctity!" 12's harsh buzzing voice cried as the Kamehameha drew near to him blowing his clothes fiercely in the opposite direction. Gohan sneered as a growl loosed from his lips. However, surging winds seemed to buzz and spin, rotating at incredible speed moving inwards as a spiral until a tremendous connection formed between these winds within his nimbus. In that instant the nimbus expanded and from the glowing halo burst forth a beam of incredible white light that thrashed itself against the Kamehameha. The brilliant blue and white lights slammed against one another and Gohan felt another set of growls and groans loose from himself as he fought against the smaller ray of light extending form the android against him.

12's right hand began to shake uncontrollably and the android could see it begin to retract against himself. The power of this halfbreed was...inconceivable! He had underestimated him...overestimated himself, but worse still were the unseen depths of power hidden inside this one being. His ki blast was ancient, he had not used it...since waking. It was hardly a contest against this attack with but a shaky and beaten metal arm controlling its duel against the Kamehameha. Still, android 12 peered back over his left shoulder. His eyes glimmered once more before he turned back towards his opponent whose angered glare bore down at him through the hypnotic pulsating light that erupted through and cascaded down upon all of Sizzle City. The streets rumbled and buildings shook as some fell beneath the power of this clash as winds slammed across the city out from this exchange and contest of power.

"HAAA!" Gohan pulled deep from within himself, his vision going hazy as he directed every ounce of power inside of him into this one wave. A bursting orb of greater power pulsated traveling down the Kamehameha and thickening the wave before crashing against his opponents attack. Even as Gohan's mind began to go numb much as his exhausted and beaten body was he mused for but a moment. These powers were strange, their names all following thesame style at least in names, but from an android? It made so little sense. However, he didn't have the luxury of any further thoughts on it. Not right now.

12 struggled his body shaking and his left arm was practically flailing in the wind. His clothes, ripped and torn to ruin were thrashing around him as his right hand barely managed to stay forwards. The ray of white light, the ki expelled from himself barely holding against this surge of power from the halfbreed Saiyan. The android lowered his head, a growl, machine like and gravely came forth form him as he gave one final look over his left shoulder before turning back towards Gohan. His eyes illuminating one last time.

"Halfbreed bastard!" The machine howled and suddenly around his body formed a barrier Gohan had seen many times before which elicited a seethe from him. The light from this android was not green but instead was a barely observable whitish light that encased the machine man. 12 dropped his right arm and the Kamehameha eviscerated the android's ki. It swept over and consumed it pushing towards him in a flash. However, much to Gohan's surprise the android lowered himself some in air, his pose like one ready to pounce, before he in fact did. The android bound forwards, his barrier giving him protection as he pierced through and held back the cascading torrent of Gohan's blast. Gohan reeled from the shock as his Kamehameha swirled around the front of 12's barrier and as the android pushed it further and further back nearing towards Gohan as he did so. In kind Gohan ground his teeth and released another ear splitting howl as he flushed every last ounce of strength he held within himself into one last explosion of power. The wave grew even greater and slammed harder against the android and Gohan could see it. He could see the barrier beginning to wane. The android still pushed forward, however. The blackened metal machine dove forwards, its barrier crashing, fading in and out as he grew nearer and nearer to Gohan. Until finally 12 was but a few feet from Gohan. The Kamehameha was thrashing both of them and Gohan bore a terrifying glare down upon the android whose eyes met his and bore no emotion within their dead machine gaze.

"Until the next, demon." 12's barrier faded in a flash and Gohan recoiled with but a second given to him as the Kamehameha slammed full force into 12.

A sudden city shaking explosion rippled out from the air as waves of winds nearly became visible and swept out like tendrils of unseen power. Glass throughout the city shattered and a great explosion was only begotten by the sudden explosive contact between the ki wave and the android. Yet, the intensity of the blast and close range of the android bore unexpected results. As Gohan found himself falling one last time.

He slammed against the pavement below with a mighty crash and gasp elicited from his beaten and bloody form. Every breath was a gulp and gasp and he felt his eyes droop with little ability to resist on his own part. His body lay down, but he managed to lift his head only some as it shook beneath his own weakness and weariness. The sound of falling droplets met his ear, but not of rain hitting the ground but metal crashing and hopping to the ground. Before a loud crash erupted in Gohan's ears followed by many smaller dings and metal pops.

Just ahead of himself Gohan watched as chunks, pieces of the android fell to the ground. An arm slammed just ahead of him to his right, bolts and unknown little gyros and pieces of sheered metal came raining down around him and atop him. Until he saw the origin of the loud crash just ahead of him and a weak smirk crossed his dazed face. The head and chest of the android were still together its face tilted towards Gohan without its arms or legs as it lay on its burnt and smoking back. Its eyes were now dim showing no sign of...'life' within it. His eyes drooped closed again and he felt his head fall back towards the pavement. He only caught it at the last minute and brought his head up again forcing his eyes back open as he did.

"Run Ershi!" Gohan felt his brow furrow. Though dazed and knowing himself to be on the verge of total collapse he had heard it. A 'little' voice. A voice he just knew had come from what sounded to be...a kid? A boy? He scanned right and saw nothing. He weakly turned left and paused with shaking body. He saw them now, and his face turned to one of weak and dazed confusion. Two little forms ran down the street at breakneck speed...well for them anyways. Their backs turned to him and their breaths audible even from where Gohan lay battered and incapable of so much as calling to them.

"Ki...kids? Where'd...they..." Gohan's head fell to the ground with a thud. His eyes shutting on him, all thought leaving him. The smoke coming off his fallen foe as it lay ahead of him, and the silence of a seemingly vacated and decimated city surrounding him. Two little forms, a boy and girl ran with all the strength they could muster from the strange men and their strange powers. Gohan did not see the alleyway from where they now made their desperate escape. He didn't see the several sets of boots landing beside him either.


(Many Years Ago)

Antarcis sighed as he sat leaning his head against his propped up right arm. His hand curled into a fist as he leaned his right cheek into it and watched the scene unfold ahead of him. His eyes were bored and held a lazy gleam in them as he sat his small body within the confines of his own personal hover pod.

"He's really gone too far this time." Another Arcosian high born lord near him spoke aloud. Antarcis tiled to his right to see the Arcosian in question, young Lord Ollar looking ahead just as Antarcis was. His arms were crossed in oh so disdainful a manner as he stood in his true form without his pod. A personal choice of course, but Antarcis noted it all the same. Around him stood many other young lords of the assembled higher caste of Arcosian nobility. All with fathers of great wealth and measure, and some with great power. Yet, none compared to the one they looked upon. Well, one of the two they all now looked upon.

"Antarcis," Another, a little worm of an Arcosian noble named Crissp called to him from where he leaned against a rail next to Ollar.

"Hmm?" Antarcis hummed questioningly.

"You're friends with him right? Get him to relax huh? He's lost his cool over nothing!"

"When Frieza loses his 'cool' you'll know Crissp. This is but a slight annoyance, and one he has taken great offense to apparently. And secondly," Antarcis went on with a dull smirk.

"'Friend' or not towards our Lord is hardly power enough to hold back his ire. You all would do well to realize the futility of your disdain or discomfort for whatever reason you hold. Whatever happens is bound to, whether we like it or not." Many of the Arcosians hummed thoughtfully and some more relenting in manner than others. Though Antarcis noted Crissp to roll his eyes while Ollar sneered.

"My, Frieza is so easily turned to wrath." Crissp went on in bored a tone.

"Yes, perhaps he is. Thus it is smarter never to fuel that wrath." Antarcis went on.

"Little more than the ego of a spoiled brat I say."

"I wouldn't." Antarcis gave a quick reply towards Ollar who shot him an equally disgusted glare.

"It'll be your death warrant." A light flashed over all those Arcosians present, illuminating them and shaking the large upper floor terrace they all stood or sat upon. They all turned towards the source once more in silence.

Before them a small figure flew from their left to right slamming into the grounds and tearing through a plot of blue tinged grass throwing dirt into the air. The beautifully kept grounds torn open and made ugly as the body thrashed into it struggled to push himself up with a feral and crazed look about his features.

"Oh, you seem to have made a mess of the grounds now, Sleet." Frieza began landing upon his smaller feet within his most repressed form. Before him Sleet growled turning his head upwards to face the little Emperor in waiting. Frieza held that ever present nauseating smirk along his face, and kept both hands placed behind his back in proper form and manner. A light chuckle erupted from him as he tipped his head and shook condescendingly.

"You are truly a maggot among worms, Sleet. I should make your torture far worse now. These lands are not for your foul stench to mar." Sleet rose to his feet as a growling sneer remained planted on his face. The fellow Arcosian gave a deafening howl and all the grounds and complex began to shake terribly as Frieza returned his bored but intent gaze up towards him. Dirt rose into the air as Sleet's body began to shake with tendrils of wind swirling upwards around his form.

"Hmm," Frieza laughed. "Go on then, transform. It will make little difference what you look like when I kill you."

"I'll shut that miserable mouth of yours little 'Princeling!'" The Arcosian growled with a trembling and thunderous voice as his body exploded upwards and engorged itself as he morphed horrendously into the second form. The first of the lesser repressed forms of their people.

"Honestly what did Sleet do to deserve this, this time?" Another little Lord, Eisay asked to no one in particular but shaking his head.

"It would appear Sleet made the mistake of insulting Frieza." Ollar offered.

"How so exactly?"

"Sleet compared him to his father. King Cold." Eisay hummed thoughtfully.

"Sleet would be so stupid as to compare Frieza's strength to his own father in front of him?"

"Not his own father, Frieza's! King Cold!" Ollar growled eliciting snickers from some of the more sadistic among them and 'ahs' from others who hadn't really understood the origin of this tussle.

"Well surely to be compared to one so strong as Cold is no insult." Crissp again chimed in as they all saw Sleet fall to his knee and complete his transformation.

"To be compared to anyone at all is an insult for our dearest Lord!" Ollar began causing Antarcis to groan out for many to hear who in kind looked to him.

"You only snivel in disdain of him because he surpasses you in every way, Ollar. Whether he had this power to begin with or not matters little. He was destined to lead our people by birthright. But what is more, your family has lost...what? Twenty world conquests to lesser life forms in the last two years?" Antarcis turned his head to a sneering Ollar.

"Wasn't it the Cold's who took those worlds?" Antarcis asked feigning an innocent and ignorant tone.

"Oh, and was it not they who charged your dear father triple the worth of each of them for your family to then receive? I dare say, the fool in this unspoken quarrel is clear."

"Then speak it aloud, little toady!" Ollar took a threatening step towards Antarcis who huffed in boredom.

"Very well Ollar. Tis' your father." Ollar growled eliciting Crissp to place his right hand out to clasp his right shoulder to keep him from making any drastic move. However, their combined attention was diverted as they all of them heard Sleet howl in deep deafening rage and move towards Frieza.

"It's sad really." Another Arcosian little Lord named Hiemal intoned as Sleet threw a savage right punch down towards Frieza who seemed to phase out of existence and back into it behind him.

"Frieza so does love beating poor Sleet. Now he has but the thinnest excuse to kill him. His father will be so ashamed to have his son die in such a manner. A disgrace upon their dynasty indeed." Many among the group nodded and murmured their agreement. With only Ollar and Antarcis remaining silent. Ollar in his disgust and rage towards both Antarcis and Frieza. Antarcis for his thoughts traveling to his own father and the sudden swirling hot rage that boiled in his chest.

Frieza whirled around up in the air as Sleet turned. Frieza's tail savaged him across the face and thrashed Sleet towards his right before Frieza came back around and landed on his feet before the slightly staggered fellow Arcosian. A smirk on his face still he lifted back into the air and threw an incredible savage right foot into Sleet's exposed massive gut and Sleet fell over forwards in coughing and gagging pain. Frieza made several disappointed clicks of his tongue.

"You see Sleet, you are truly a shame to us all. You have the gall to say such...dreadful things of me. Then," Frieza spun around and suddenly the back of his right fist slammed up and back over his head connecting clear into Sleet's mouth and nose sending blood immediately flowing form both and the Arcosian backwards to the ground.

"You haven't the good manner to even grant me a proper bit of sport? You can't garner enough strength to calm my risen anger? Should you have done so you may have walked away with but your pride tattered, family dishonored, and your body broken. Yet, now I think I shall kill you. It is but the proper thing to do I think." Frieza's smirk broadened as he spun in air and raised his right hand upwards lazily. His index finger only barely rising to a point aimed towards Sleet who held onto his face in shaking rage and pain.

"You...you miserable bastard!" Sleet growled and in an instant he threw himself back up and forwards. His horns, now given deadly points atop his head dug out towards Frieza. The Emperor chuckled and swept left in air and past Sleet's shoulder as the hulking Arcosian rammed beyond him.

"A little fight left in you yet? Interesting. Very well, I shall play with you a moment more. Try not to disappoint me much further." He casually intoned as Sleet swept around, his tail thrashing as he did but again Frieza merely moved aside. Sleet brought his left arm in to punch Frieza, but the Lord raised his right hand up before himself. A crash thundered out over the grounds. As Sleet's fist dug forwards and slammed cleanly into the littler palm of Frieza's hand.

Frieza gave a sudden wicked grin and his eyes flashed as he angled his little body suddenly under Sleet's left arm, his palm sliding away from their connection. With great ferocity Frieza angled his right leg up and a savage crack thundered out as his foot barreled up into Sleet's still extended arm at the elbow. Sleet's how of pain swept over everyone watching and many turned their faces in disgust while some chuckled shaking their heads. All as Sleet recoiled heaving and mumbling words of nothingness from pain and shock. His left arm was totally bent unnaturally and thrashing towards the ground without any control on its owner's part.

"Such naked savagery. Very uncivilized if I may say so." One Arcosian among them also in a hovering pod, named Algid began lowly from where he sat and watched.

"It is his way." Antarcis offered in as lowly and seemingly bored a tone. Though honestly he did wish Frieza would just end this. Something crawled, an uncomfortable sensation worming inside of him. It made him...queasy he thought. Or maybe breathless? No, it didn't take 'air' from his lungs. It came more from somewhere between his stomach and chest...or was it both? He wasn't sure, but whatever it was only grew stronger the more he watched this ordeal. It brought a new and outwardly undirected sneer upon his face.

"Come now, why must you be so loud Sleet?" Frieza asked hovering just above the ground as he began circling Sleet who feebly nursed his tattered arm.

"Your sniveling and howling could surely wake the dead. And we can't have that." He chuckled so much it brought an amused hand up to Frieza's mouth.

"I'd have far too many acquaintances to deal with were those who've passed on decided to make a return." He found his own quip so very amusing as Sleet ground his teeth so tightly he could've broken through metal by his bite alone.

"Ah, but alas, you've bored me...again Sleet. Must you disappoint me so?" Frieza landed and walked slowly, and intently towards Sleet who lowered his head towards he ground as his right and remained clasped just above his left elbow.

"I've dealt with your pitiful nature, and crude comparisons for long enough Sleet. I should say I am sorry to see you pass on, but that would be a lie. Pass my regards to all those who precede you." Frieza again raised his right hand and extended but his one index finger. A small pinkish orb appeared just at the tip of his black fingernail as he chuckled all too pleased with himself.

Sleet's head whirled up, his eyes wide and crazed as a feral howl erupted from him which even Frieza recoiled from. With sudden speed and power likely drawn from the very depths of Sleet in his current state he flew forwards. His horns flew out towards Frieza who curled his body left away from the charging horns of his foe. Sleet just barely missed boring his left horn into Frieza's face, though Antarcis did not think it would have had it connected. Then again...if Frieza's guard was down because of his arroga-

"You miserable...little worm!" Frieza gave a screech unlike anything anyone gathered had heard before as the wind seemed to flee from around the little Arcosian. Tendrils of surging and palpable wind cascaded over them all and sent all plant life around them into a flurry away from where Frieza now openly seethed and balled his hands into fists.

"Oh my, what could Sleet have-" Crissp began but suddenly Frieza loosed an unusually savage and wild kick up into Sleet's left hip and threw him into the air. Frieza's body gave sudden chase seeming to pop back out and into existence above the climbing body. His small feet crashed both into Sleet's back forcing another great howl from him as he came crashing back down with a magnificent thud that rocked the grounds. With another savage howl Frieza flung himself towards the ground. His right foot slamming into Sleet's exposed back eliciting a howl from him again. Before Frieza jumped back off of the Arcosian and connected another thundering kick that tossed Sleet towards the others.

"How very..." Sleet slammed into the lower floor wall connected to the terrace shaking everyone.

"Distasteful." Algid finished as many of the Arcosian young lord's in waiting backed away from the full unrelenting anger and wrath of their future Emperor. Antarcis, however, felt his eyes narrow as his body lifted out from within his hover pod and into the air.

Frieza plopped himself onto his feet beside the fallen and barely moving Arcosian. His eyes were narrowed and his smirk now gone replaced by a numbed look of hate. Frieza's face twisted in wrath as his tail snaked around and in a flash pushed around and snaked along Sleet's neck and lifted the far more massive body into the air. The chokes of the fallen Arcosian lord sounded out as Frieza's tail extended out in length into the air. Frieza pulled his right fist back and with a mad grin twisting along him he threw it into the lower chest of Sleet who gagged as his body was impacted at full force. Before Frieza lifted off the ground and with quick succession both feet flew out and kicked into Sleet's body over and over as Frieza let his tail keep him mostly in place as he played with him like a sick excuse for a pinata. Until finally the little lord pulled back and twirled his body into a sideways roll toward his right, loosing Sleet as he did so and throwing him back out into the open grounds.

With another seeming pop out and into existence Frieza appeared high above Sleet's tattered and broken barely living body. His right finger pointed downwards where a small pinkish ball f energy appeared just before the tip of his finger. Before a sudden barrage erupted creating a fire of light before Frieza's finger as dozens of beams flew down whirring and crying through the air before slamming into and around Sleet's body. Each savage strike eliciting a howl then growl and then little more than a yelp of pain in succession from the bloodied lord.

Antarcis watched on, and that feeling crept within him as he watched the display. His eyes falling to Sleet's scorched body as Frieza pelted him with none deadly beam after another. All to prolong the suffering. He knew Frieza too well, what had he expected? Still that strange sensation crawled and clawed at him and Antarcis felt it rising. As if he were forced to eat another rancid dish forced upon him by his father. Food sickness? Yes that best equated to whatever this sensation was as his hands balled together into fists and he crossed his arms over his chest. A frown upon his features as he took flight towards where Frieza hovered in air. He came to a stop just off to Frieza's right and just as Frieza finished his barrage of attacks.

"Come to enjoy the light show up close, Antarcis?"

"You've caused quite a stir amongst your peers." Frieza chuckled his eyes closing as he did so.

"Peers? Would you think to compare any among them as my equal Antarcis?"

"It is not what I would think, but rather the assumption on their part. However, that is besides the point." Antarcis shrugged off.

"Oh, and what is the point then? Who am I to care if the worms amongst the dirt watch me teach this loud mouthed little maggot a lesson? It should be but a stark reminder of how terrifying I can be."

"If by stark you mean crude then yes." Frieza turned quizzically toward Antarcis. Which made Antarcis reel back his head from a bit of mild surprise. There on Frieza's left cheek he could see it. He knew what brought the wrath of his fellow lord out and made Sleet garner this torturous death.

"He drew blood?"

"Indeed. How very disgusting." Frieza intoned his expression turning cold and wrathful again as a low seethe was laced in every word from his mouth.

"That is precisely why you should not involve yourself in these squabbles by yourself or personally."

"Oh? What would you have me do, Antarcis? Allow these insults to go unpunished?" Antarcis shook his head.

"You do not beat someone so obviously weaker than you before so wide an audience. You do not drop your guard, so assured of your own power that you open yourself up for blood to be drawn. For, if they see that...error then others among them will assume you open to more such errors. You let your soldiers do the job for you." Frieza again fell into his signature closed mouth chuckling bout.

"How very simplistic a view of power you have, Antarcis. Those among us view me as a peer? That alone should teach you why I must beat those beneath me as I have. They must be reminded of my power, and must see who their Lord is. I am the strongest in all the universe, and those who would dare imagine otherwise should see the error of their ways by my hands. These hands." Frieza extended his arms out from himself and opened his hands as if to fully get the point across to Antarcis.

"You see any opponent beneath your power as unworthy of your time, and that may suit you. However, it is a lonely existence to be as mighty as I am. With none but my father at his most arduous attempts able to equal me then that would mean I should not take such slights and matters into my own hands. A good and a mighty Lord a King and certainly an Emperor needs to show himself to be invested into those he rules and those he towers above."

"Naked savagery is not the way to go in such matters." Antarcis rebuffed.

"Kill him then, and be done with it. You toy with him and gain nothing from it."

"Oh no, Antarcis. I certainly do gain something from it." He smirked, his eyes brightening as Antarcis discerned his meaning.

"Be that as it may. You do nothing by torturing him before your fellow lords. You want to assert power and dominance?" Antarcis suddenly pointed his own right index finger downwards and in a flash a red Death Beam flew down through the air and just as quickly impacted and erupted into an intense and massive explosion that tore the ground open and vaporized Sleet entirely. Unseen by him all the other lords in waiting went wide eyed in shock and some chuckled lowly at the display and yes some growled. While Frieza cocked a curious or perhaps bored glance down where his quarry had been but a moment ago.

"Then assert it, my Lord." Antarcis bowed lowly from the waist. That sickening feeling within him finally beginning to fade.

"My you do know how to suck the fun out of anything, Antarcis. Very well I was growing bored with him anyways. Though I should warn you, my friend." Frieza loomed as he hovered closer towards Antarcis.

"It is unwise to involve yourself in matters that do not concern you. Especially if they are my concern and mine alone."

"Is that a threat, Lord Frieza?" Antarcis asked pulling back up and placing his hands regally behind his back to look Frieza in the eyes. Though the young Lord chuckled lowly and all too threateningly as well.

"No, it is me asserting myself, Antarcis." Antarcis smirked and bowed his head again as both he and Frieza began to lower to the beaten and thrashed ground below them.

"It should be a simple matter to leave before any see your drawn blood, Lord."

"Oh? I would have hoped so. Alas, I think it is impossible now." Antarcis tilted his head questioningly, but then he heard the elder voice from behind him.

"Frieza, whatever are you doing?!" Antarcis turned towards his left and over shoulder to see none other than King Cold standing among the other Arcosians who all bowed upon his presence. The towering Lord of the glorious Empire ever in his second repressed state had his arms folded over his chest and a disapproving scowl upon his features.

"Hmm, it is always amusing when father tries playing the role. One could even almost be forgiven for assuming he holds any control over me." Frieza remarked as he feigned a respectful bow. Antarcis did the same, though his was not so feigned as the King lifted off from the podium and hovered smoothly over towards them both.

"What have you done to the grounds? What have you done to Sleet? Where is Sleet?" Cold asked as Frieza smirked and shrugged his shoulders in unapologetic a manner.

"I was insulted by him, so I saw he was taught a proper lesson. Alas the ground suffered for his insolence, but you needn't worry father. It was not by my hands that he died the death he deserved. Rather I have Antarcis here to thank for that." Antarcis felt heat rise into his face as he felt a sudden tinge of worry rise up. He dreaded the idea of his father hearing of this now in hindsight.

"Oh? So, it would be Arctis' son who is at fault for his death?" Antarcis felt his eyes widen and fear churn within himself.

"I...I don't-"

"I was not speaking to you, boy." Cold began but suddenly Frieza broke into another chuckling bout.

"Oh father, must you be so crude? My dear Antarcis did me a favor in removing the eyesore. Though I had hoped to inflict greater pain upon him I should be grateful."

"Grateful?" Cold questioned.

"Oh yes. Antarcis truly understands his place. A good servant for me and one who would dirty their hands against those beneath me. Is it not a wondrous thing? For our fellow lords to understand their place, and serve their lords respectfully?" Frieza asked clearly asserting himself and his power against his father once again. All the while Antarcis felt his brow furrow as Frieza essentially defended him. Sure, he would call Frieza 'friend,' but held no illusions that the coming Emperor would toss him by the wayside at any given moment. He didn't dare to glance Frieza's way either. He felt it better to express his thanks by remaining silent. Even as Cold cast an unconvinced glare down towards him. Though, honestly Antarcis didn't see why Cold sought to shift blame onto him. Frieza would not be challenged, and neither would the King. Though if rumor was what he feared then shifting all blame onto him may be his best out. Either way the sickening dread of hindsight hung heavily upon the young Arcosian.

"Well I suppose it can't be helped." Cold finally responded with a bored sigh.

"Whatever happened to your face Frieza?" He asked seeming to only then notice.

"Oh my, it was a foolish error on my part, father. I was beating the wretch so bloody I scratched myself with the fury of my blows. My hands do sometimes come far to close to my face when I'm enjoying myself." Frieza lied so expertly and eloquently Antarcis almost felt like believing him had he not already heard the truth.

"I see. Well we should have it cleaned if nothing else. That mongrel slave Ackee should be able to fix you up."

"Really I needn't see him father. He may be your personal slave and a fine medic, but he a dreadful sight. Has been ever since we enslaved his pitiful race." Cold seemed to almost hold back rolling his eyes even as a smile graced his features.

"No son of mine should be seen with so dreadful a mark upon his face. I should see it looked to and fixed, and Ackee can have it done in under an hour. Otherwise I'll kill him myself. How does that sound?" Frieza laughed aloud though even still it seemed more like slight gasps of breath as opposed to honest mirth.

"That would be a humorous sight! Very well then father I will humor you and see your medical man."

"Excellent. As for you." Cold turned once more towards Antarcis who felt himself tense at the renewed though slightly less intense gaze of the King.

"I would expect someone of your dynasty not to commit to such flagrant execution of your peers again. It is unbecoming of a lord in waiting."

"Of course, your Majesty." Antarcis bowed. The tingling thought in the back of his mind rising as he internally laughed. Of course the King would chastise him and not his prodigious son. It bothered Antarcis little in the end.

"Good, then I should expect you to be off then. Do send my regards to your father."

"At once, your Majesty. Lord Frieza." Antarcis bowed and Frieza gave a tilt of his head in acknowledgment as Antarcis turned and took flight back towards his waiting hover pod among the other lords who were slowly beginning to disperse.

"If it isn't the toady. Enjoy licking the King's boots?" Ollar began as Antarcis easily slid back into his pod.

"Oh leave it be now, Ollar. You are a most temperamental one." Algid chuckled as he began to move away from the group. Ollar simply cast him a glare before turning back to Antarcis who shifted his pod to face his fellow lord in waiting.

"You talk too much, Ollar." With that he took his leave of the others. Once far enough away he allowed himself to sink back into his pod. An uneasy breath escaping him as he found himself safely away from both the King and his...'friend.'


(Present)

Antarcis sat still. The lonely silence of his ship and hum of it as it loomed in space above this blue world. His crimson eyes opened and he sighed at the memories and from the weariness creeping along his body. He mused though, and of course his father would hear of the scuffle between Frieza and Sleet. Of course he would chastise him for getting involved in the young prince's business. Though, his eyes narrowed angrily, as chastise was hardly the word for it. The wounds wrought upon him that day were but a few of many, for the old man knew little control when it came to his temper and reputation. For, it was Antarcis that slew Sleet, and not dearest and most beloved Frieza. It mattered little to him in the end.

Antarcis leaned into his chair. The weariness wearing into him as sleep threatened him. Dared him to take use of it, and honestly he knew it would be smart to do so for what was to come. Though the idea of sleep so close to an enemy he had chase for so long harbored a silent terror in him. Or worse still if these beasts decided to attack him when he made error and gave into the need for rest.

"Well I suppose it can't be helped." Antarcis gave the faintest of chuckles as he mimicked the memories of the long dead King. His eyes closed as he accepted the inevitability of sleep. He would need some of it if and when he faced those miserable beasts. The memories swirled in his mind, both calming and invigorating him. He relished old thoughts. Of Frieza, Cold, the others lords like Algid, Ollar and Crissp. That day had been an interesting experience. He hadn't known it then, but that name, that little doctor the King mentioned would go on to play an...interesting role in both his and Frieza's life. He chuckled in his sleepy state. If only he had known then what the poor little slave Ackee had been up to.

"Hindsight is always fascinating I suppose." He smiled and then allowed darkness of sleep to take him.


"No means no Trunks! I'm not letting you go out there!" His mother yelled at him for the millionth time. Trunks cast his eyes downward as they hardened and narrowed. The day was nearing night and his heart was racing and body itching. It had been too long, far far too long! Gohan was out there, he knew he was...he had to be. Nothing had come in over the radio from Sizzle City for hours, and here Trunks waited like the little boy incapable of helping he now felt everyone looked upon him to be. His back bristled as he felt helpless again, and he turned up to his mother.

Her arms were on her hips, a favorite position of hers. Her eyes hard and commanding as they looked on him while she looked tired, as she always did from endless work in fact Trunks couldn't even remember the last time she slept. Yet, still she still somehow looked rough, and imposing to him.

"He's been gone for hours mom! He could be...he could be in trouble and need my help!" He retorted for what now felt like his millionth time.

"He told you to stay! He went alone to keep you safe! I'm not letting you go out there all alone! You can kiss that idea goodbye!" She raged at him as emotion fluttered into her voice. Trunks knew how she felt, it's how he felt now and how he felt most days. Helpless, absolutely helpless, and he hated it.

"Trunks," She softened again, her eyes dropping while she rubbed her palm over them in vain attempt to keep her weariness at bay.

"He's been gone for so long, you're right. But, wouldn't you have felt his energy like you had earlier were he...if he was still..."

"No!" Trunks gave immediate retort as he felt every muscles lock up in him. Even as tears threatened to burst out of him again. He would not fathom it, he couldn't fathom it! He still had training to do, he still had a world to help save. With Gohan, not without him!

"He's not dead! Don't you dare say he's dead! He's not!" Trunks exploded as he shook and Bulma even recoiled some.

"Trunks I-"

"No, I won't believe it! Not Gohan, he's too important, he needs to save the world with me! I can't become stronger without him! I need him, we need him, we all need him!" Every line broke down in power and control for the half-Saiyan. Tears finally broke along his face as his voice scratched with the emotion bleeding through as the horrible and all too horrifyingly probably thought ate away at his mind.

"You can wait here and do nothing! But I won't mom, not anymore! Gohan needs me, and I'll find him, I'll help him! Even if no one else will!"

"Trunks!" He bound away from her down the hall. Her hand reaching out calling for him as she howled in scared anxiety for her son to come back. But Trunks didn't listen he couldn't anymore. He slammed open a beaten and old door out from Capsule Corp and his aura pulled in around him as he burst up into the air and exploded off towards where he had felt Gohan's energy from before. His eyes were hard his body tensing, ready for anything that came before him. He would find Gohan, and he would kill any android that got in his way if he had to! For Gohan, for his mother, for the world.

He bound south, for Sizzle City.


(…..)

"Gohan, dinner's ready!" Gohan heard his mother call to him from the other room. He felt a wide grin cross his face as he could at last close the one of many books he had to study. He snapped it closed and jumped from his chair against his simple desk within his room before he bound quickly into the hall that lead to the kitchen. His nose had smelled it before, but now it was heavenly. Meats, many different kinds, as usual hung in the air. Pork and lots of it...good thing Oolong wasn't here. Another large helping of Mount Paozu fish that permeated the home along with massive helpings of rice, and rice cakes that Gohan eyed especially with his grin widening. There was more food, far more than Gohan knew other families to need, but well...he knew himself and his dad's stomach. So did his mother.

"Oh Gohan, there you are." Chi-Chi remarked turning from counter-top with another steaming pot held carefully at its handles on either side. She wore her usual clothing Gohan had since become accustomed to, and a wide still somehow clean apron covering her chest and upper legs near entirely. Her black hair was neatly tied back in a bun and her dark eyes had some calmness in them Gohan could always recall her having when cooking. He thought she liked doing it more than she let on actually.

"How were your studies?"

"Great mom! I think I'll be done with that text in a couple of days actually." She smiled as she plopped the pot down on the table and pulled it lid off letting some wondrous stew intermingle with the heavy scent already in the air. Gohan took in a mighty whiff and chuckled at the delicious smell that made his stomach rumble.

"That's great Gohan. Knowing you and your father I hope this is more than enough for you both." She remarked lowly but her tone betrayed the sigh she loosed. He could see an almost content smile crawl along her face as she smacked her hands clean of whatever grime she imagined to be there.

"It smells great! I'm starving!" Gohan declared as he moved towards the seat set closest to him between the table ends. His stomach groaned out more and more and he felt as though he'd collapse without a hefty meal in him. At least now since he could get a good long whiff and look see on his mother's work. However, as Gohan pulled the chair away from the table he paused. His eyes turning left and right with his head as he realized something, or rather someone was missing.

"Um mom, where's dad?" Chi-Chi hummed questioningly as she had turned back to the counters. The water was running and Gohan couldn't tell what she was doing.

"Oh he should be outside. Training as usual." She shook her head in her usual annoyed manner and Gohan nodded to himself.

"He should be in for the food in no time. Knowing his stomach and nose." She chuckled ever so softly and Gohan couldn't help but smile some. However, he still felt drawn towards the front door.

"I'll grab him real quick, mom."

"Okay Gohan." He furrowed his brow. That was rather easy of her. Then again it was simple to just open the door and get dad. Whatever, he was thinking too much about it. He moved towards the door and opened it outwards where he was met with a wide open grassy hill that led down from their home in the mountains. The forests in the distance swooned in the winds as evening was turning to night. Gohan smiled as the air rushed past him and ruffled his hair. He sighed before he peered both ways for his father. He saw nothing to his left, but to his right he saw him.

Goku hovered in midair, his orange gi burning in the evening light cascading down on them. His wild hair ever as such as it rustled with the breeze. His fists flew before him at lightning speed through the air he spun and his leg flew up seemingly unnaturally high before he swatted it back down and fell into a series of dozens of kicks one after the other with the other leg. Gohan marveled for a moment before he lifted himself effortlessly into the air.

"Dad!" Gohan called but Goku didn't answer. Instead Gohan cocked his head quizzically as he watched his father twirl in air at his side before coming to a stop with his right fist aimed down at the ground. He whirled around savaging a kick into the air towards the sky which he carried back into a twist that leveled him upright in Gohan's perspective.

"D...dad?" Gohan called a little more feebly than before as he chanced to near him again. Suddenly his heart rate seemed to quicken and he felt unusually anxious. He got closer to his dad but still he didn't acknowledge him. Goku again fell into a flurry of punches in the air. His left arm swinging around towards his back carrying Goku into a sharp turn as he threw his hand forwards shooting a ripple of power through the sky nearly made visible as the air warped from the powerful shock.

"Dad?!" Gohan called as he got closer. Finally Goku dropped his arms where he hung in air and turned towards Gohan. The young boy reeled back. His father's breaths were heavy and labored and his eyes seemed half open. His skin took on an ugly sickly gray color and his muscles began to deteriorate before his eyes.

"Father!" Gohan howled and shot himself forward colliding with Goku's chest. Once there he heard a terrible gagging wheeze erupt from his father with every breath.

"G...Gohan? Wh...what are you...doing?"

"What do you mean?! Dad whats wrong with you?!" Gohan cried as he felt confusion rack his body and he began to shake. Tears sudden and strong flowed down from his eyes across his cheeks as some painful old sensation tore at his mind and heart. Goku turned down towards him, his eyes fading and becoming ghostly shadows of their former bright selves.

"Wh...why can't you do it...Gohan?"

"D...do what?" Gohan asked recoiling some as he felt his hands dig into his father's gi on either side of his draining and frail figure.

"Why can't...you stop...them?" Goku asked in weak and draining a voice as he seemed to melt away before Gohan. His eyes were wide in horror and his heart pounding as tears flooded down his face.

"Wha...wh...who?!" Goku raised a boney frail finger before himself and Gohan whirled around. The once beautiful sight of the forest and open range of Mount Paozu was charred and ruined. The grass smoking and trees bent and broken while Gohan looked into the distance. Mouth agape and eyes wide and watery he saw a distant vast cityscape. All of it extending for mile upon mile, and all of it on fire. Screams, hundreds of them...thousands of them rung in his ears. His hands flung themselves up to his head and clasped to his ears as he lowered his face. But the cries and screams didn't stop. Untold voice cried out his name. Begging him for help, begging him to save them. The roar of the fires grew louder and Gohan swore he could feel the heat nip at him as it crawled and clawed upwards dropping down into the city burning and killing all in its path.

"Da...daddy I can't-" Gohan flung around only to feel his breath catch as two new figures greeted him.

"Well, if it isn't the pathetic excuse for a hero."

"The last one left, and he can't even save the humans right." 18 laughed dully after her brother.

"What a shame you are to your father. To your friends, and to your dear old mom." 17 carried on and Gohan recoiled from them whilst in air. He turned back and towards the ground. The memory of his mother flashing across his mind, his breath catching and chest hurting as he exploded down towards the ground where the little home remained.

"Mother!" He cried as he bounded towards the home. He slammed to the ground and felt the burnt grass crack and crumble beneath him as he turned to look upon the home pristine set about a forest of darkness and death. His hand pushed through the door and it crumbled before him like a swarm of gnats as it became ash in the wind that flew across him and the smell nearly made him gag. The burnt decay of rotting ruins, he knew it well.

Within his home darkness awaited him. It seemed to stretch out far longer and more vast than anything before as the flames of destruction wrapped in around the home only nipping at him and its rotting plot.

"M...mother!" Gohan cried as a horrendous echo sounded out in reply. The crying voices and shrieks of terror were met by ravaging explosions and two sets of inane laughter from above that filtered down and fell upon him like a rainstorm howling in the night.

"Mom!" Gohan howled louder into the darkness. His voice catching as the full weight of everything slammed into him. He just wanted to see her! He just wanted it to all stop, he didn't want to do this, he didn't want to see this! Where was he?! Where was his father?!

"Gohan." He snapped right at the voice. His eyes widened and he felt himself grow weak kneed. Suddenly the image was completely different. His mother kneeled over a small cot her head downturn as she wept quietly over his body, his father's body. Outside the glowing wrath of the orange flames echoed that day when Gohan had found them. He was dead, Goku was dead. And hell came in his passing wake all from a hateful man's ambition for petty vengeance.

Gohan took a tentative step forward, and another. He meekly made his way forward until he loomed just over his mother's right shoulder. Her weeping filling the deafening silence that had taken root in this room.

"Why Gohan?" She began lowly causing the boy to turn his head more squarely on her as he momentarily gazed in the unmoving body of his father.

"Wh...wh...what mom?" He replied shakily.

"Why did you let everyone die? Why aren't you stronger?!" Her voice turned into a vicious and booming howl. The echoes rattled in his head as the screams bound back into him shaking his mind and boring into him. He again clasped his hands over his ears and felt himself shake in her ire. She rose to her feet, but refused to look at him and kept her head turned away from him.

"You've let everyone die! Your father would have done better, he would have fought harder! You are a failure!"

"No!" Gohan screamed as the echoes of death and explosions tore away at him as he fell to his knees. His eyes turned downwards as he looked into the dead features of his father once more. The body then began to melt away and rot before him and Gohan smashed his eyes closed but the noise only grew louder.

"Please, please make it stop!"

"You're worthless!" A thousand voices howled in reply.

"I...I'm sorry! I can't do it!" Gohan cried aloud as tears fell fiercely and with a mighty burn down his face.

"I can't save you! I can't do this, father!" Gohan screamed at the top of his lungs as the voices howled and raged like a sick endless orchestra that pounded deep into his skull and burrowed to his core ripping away at him. He wanted it to end, he couldn't do this, he couldn't handle it. His hands dug deep into himself and he felt sick as he writhed in the burning heat closing in around him.

"Gohan." His eyes snapped open once more. In an instant the voices faded, flew from his mind. He was left shaking and alone in a dark nothingness. That voice...it as so familiar. It made something churn inside of him. He peeked upwards to see nothing still.

"It's time to wake up and fight, Gohan." Gohan swiveled where he remained on his knees. Still he saw nothing. The raw anguish and horror still sending shivers through his body as he furiously sought the origination of that voice. That voice which had cast all these terrible realities from him.

The darkness began to shake, the endless void began to rumble and collapse around him and he felt as though he were beginning to fall from one pitch black level into some unseen depths. That voice...so familiar...he...he thought he remembered.

"P...Piccolo?"

And then, Gohan's eyes shot open.


(…..)

"Error, unit 12 unresponsive packet count has reached ten-thousand individual health inquiry pings. Threshold for operative unit inactivity violated. Activating remote recovery protocol. Unit 12's nanite modification and recovery remote protocols uploaded via nearest geosynchronous satellite apparatus. Please stand by..."


"He's been resting for the most part, Lord Paragus. We've done as you've ordered of course." A small and hunched like alien spoke as it walked alongside and in step with Paragus through one of the halls of his ship. The being was cowled, an ugly little creature, and like many among his ranks an outcast. His face was mostly obscured but was dull orange in hue. Paragus didn't even remember where he had picked this one up. Though he had to assume his presence as one of the ship's medical officers had to mean he was competent enough. Otherwise, beyond noting small beady and black eyes Paragus paid him and his features little mind.

"Has his condition changed at all?"

"No, sire. His biology is like that of a Saiyan though, I should say. He is healing at an extraordinary rate. Though we have noted fluctuating neural activity. However, it is nothing you need concern yourself with I am sure, sire." Paragus nodded.

"Good. Then I would-"

"Lord Paragus!" He and the medic stopped as Paragus looked more squarely ahead to see another soldier. One of the many no-names among him.

"The one from this planet is waking in the healing tank!" Paragus hummed happily.

"Ah, good. He should appreciate the work I've gone through to save his life then." The little doctor beside him said nothing but followed him as Paragus nonchalantly moved on towards the medical bay. The soldier from before followed after as well for a time. All three remained in silence, the two more scared of making an unwelcome peep before their Saiyan overlord who controlled someone far more terrifying.

It took a few more minutes until they rounded a slight turn and found the room door. On one side another no-name with his little pathetic blaster gun attached onto his arm. Whilst on the other one of his more liked Commanders Miju. He was a little more free mouthed than the others, and more brazen, but beyond his son Paragus found long ago he did rather like the idea of talking to someone. On a level beyond simple compliance like Broly or boot licking like all others. He was one of the strongest among his mercenaries and made a well enough henchmen. Taller than even Paragus by a few inches, crimson red skin two pointed ears and yellow eyes that were serpent like in nature. His race had small little thin mouths. When not being used to speak one could almost be fooled into thinking they had no mouth to speak of.

"Paragus," Miju began without using any of the proper titles his other underlings used.

"He's waking correct?" Paragus asked cutting Miju off.

"He is, though he's a bit in and out." Miju offered as Paragus came to a stop ahead of him.

"Leave us." He lazily motioned his right hand and both of the soldiers bowed and made back down the hall Paragus came from. While the doctor pushed past them into the room allowing the door to momentarily slide open and closed behind him as he did.

"I'm not really one to question why you do what you do boss-"

"Nor should you be." Paragus offered simply.

"Right. Though I am shocked you had us save him. I would've thought unconscious, beaten and bloodied by that machine man me, Otato, Kallpi, and you could've killed him easy. Make things easier for you." Miju stated though Paragus could sense the underlying question behind it.

"I had thought of it. Do not mistake me as some healer nor do I care if this man dies. However, he is half-Saiyan. Maybe I'm getting a little more sentimental in my age. All he same his man holds great power inside of him, I saw it as he fought and broke that android apart. I haven't been so awed by power since Broly awoke so very long ago." He smirked.

"It still doesn't compare to my son, but I had a thought cross my mind again. It's been crawling at the back of my mind for some time now, since meeting this Gohan."

"That being?" Miju asked quizzically, his hairless brow rising.

"Surely it's a bit simple to understand? I would like to have him join me! Join us in building a new Saiyan race, a new Saiyan realm from which to rule not just this galaxy, but all others. Though that honestly is not the only reason. I am no fool Miju, though the rumblings of your men behind my back may say otherwise."

"I...they haven't-" Paragus raised his hand to quiet Miju still chuckling a little as he did.

"Honestly I'm not stupid. They fear me, so what better way to feel better about themselves than laugh or mock me when I cannot defend myself? It doesn't matter to me much really. Those who cross the line to clearly will pay in time." Miju bowed his head. One of the few times Paragus had seen fear in him again made his chuckles all the more filled with genuine humor honestly.

"We don't know everything...yet about these androids. Case and point, Gohan said there were the two of them I and you pitiful excuses for men encountered a few days ago. However, that one was new. I had never seen him, and I look forward to what Gohan has to say about it." Paragus motioned a bit towards the door with Miju nodding.

"Of course I'm not worried when it comes to Broly's power. But, I'm not a fool and I haven't waited this long to take what is mine, what I am owed to throw it all away by foolishly rushing into action. The time for forcing alliances or enemies will come, and of course," He glanced over his right shoulder towards Miju.

"We still have our tail in space to think about. Whomever they may be, may be enough of a bother to require use of Gohan's...'services.'"

"I think I see. Alright then, a game it shall be then." Miju raised his right fist slightly and without threat.

"Learn all there is to learn on android infestation on world. Await morons from deep dead and dying space, beat em' to death with local help. Then, ultimatum and boom!" Miju slammed that fist into his other hand a little more excitedly than even Paragus had expected.

"New world, new Kingdom, new masters. Same as the old masters really." Miju dipped his head and Paragus chuckled shaking his head.

"I believe you're on the right track there Miju. Now, leave me to do my work."

"Got it boss." Miju gave a feigned salute and turned on a heel leaving the Saiyan to open the doorway into the medical bay.

Within the room the doctor from before...Paragus was beginning to think his name was Kinow? Either way, he was standing next to another medic aboard the ship, one of those green, beaked humanoids who was sharking some data on a computer screen with one another. Paragus ignored them and looked to the healing tank among a row of many set across from another row that was active.

Inside of it Paragus caught sight of Gohan. His eyes were half groggily open and caught sight of him and looked dead toward him. The man floated freely within the pod. The liquid doing its work to heal the intense wounds they had found him with. Beaten broken and bloodied. A few broken bones the elder Saiyan wasn't even sure if Gohan knew about. Nasty already coloring bruises as well. Though now his body was healing, and indeed as... Kinow had said, at an incredible rate. Although Paragus was sure he'd be a bit disconcerted by how long he had been inside the tank, he was sure saving his insignificant life would pay out in the end.

Paragus approached, is right arm hidden beneath his cloak once more, and a thin smile curved along his scarred face.

"I see you've woken. It pleases me that you have. When we found you, you were hardly in any position to keep fighting. Though the show you put on with that 'android' was impressive." Gohan of course didn't respond. The breathing tank strapped to his face filtering him rich oxygen put any stop to that. The liquid bubbled around him, a normal and common occurrence, though for an instant Paragus wondered if that signaled some reaction from the man. Though, he just shut all thoughts on that aside. He had to admit he did find it amusing. Just how at his mercy this naked half-Saiyan was who thought himself so mush more powerful than he and especially his son.

"You needn't worry about anything...my friend. You're back aboard my ship. I did not think you would refuse my help. Though of course you were in no position to say one way or the other. You're on the fast track to a full recovery. However, for the full effect you should remain in there for another hour or two. Consider it another kindly gesture on my part." Paragus tipped himself at the hip slightly, placing his right hand up to his chest in attempt to appear as gracious as possible. In response he saw Gohan's eyes dart around the pod. His brow furrowed as he felt like Gohan was looking for something, as if he wasn't quite sure where he was or what he was looking at. Though Paragus was making baseless assumption were he being honest and forgot about it.

It took another moment of watching the man before he made any response. Gohan raised his hands in the liquid and looked at them. He flexed his hands, and they pulled inwards to touch his scarred chest. His eyes closed and Paragus watched him seem to take an added deeper breath from the apparatus. Well...Paragus again felt as though he were watching a man unsure of what was going on.

"Maybe that android hit you harder than I thought." He grumbled far too low for Gohan to hear. He hoped.

"Will you accept my help a few hours more? This healing pod can be a test one for the one I gifted to you. Think of it in that light anyways. Though I should say your body was in terrible condition when we found you." Gohan opened his eyes and allowed his hands to drop and freely float in the pod. His eyes looked to Paragus and the medics looking on a chart off away in the room beyond Paragus. Before he finally nodded his head twice and his eyes immediately closed again.

"Hmm, excellent then." Paragus smirked and clasped his hands behind his back. He did so enjoy making new friends.


"Damn them." Trunks intoned as he walked down a beaten and battered street in Sizzle City. He'd been here for hours and daylight would be here soon. His mind would every now and again race back toward his mother and how furious she'd be with him. He couldn't worry about that right now, he wouldn't allow himself to be. His mission was as it was before. Look for Gohan, or any trace of him.

Hours amongst the ruins of a deathly silent city. Yeah he'd seen that before. Hell he lived it most days before Gohan had taken him. He lived it again since both of them needed recovery too. It made his insides twist and that anger broil, but even that wasn't enough. He seethed openly, his eyes tracing and scanning the ground for any sign. A sliver of orange, a blackened lock of hair, a smoldering ruin more burnt out and smoldering than the others! Anything to just find him, find his master and his friend.

"Gohan!" He howled again and only heard the faint echo of his voice carry through the empty streets before it too faded back into the chilling silence. The air ruffled across him and he stood with fists raised in pensiveness and wanting, but nothing came of it. He growled, his teeth gnashing together as he begged for some unseen power to help him. To let him find Gohan and bring him back safe and sound. He had felt him before. His power had exploded, and he had jumped when he felt it. A sudden second of intensity that had rippled out from Sizzle in the south all the way to West City. It had been amazing and terrifying all at once.

He had needed that power obviously for those damn androids. Trunks didn't even know Gohan had such power inside of him. Yet, it still wasn't enough?! His hands slapped against his face as he rubbed it furiously at the thought. A deep sigh both sad and tired passed by his lips as he dropped his hands and kept moving then. His footsteps all that was heard as he walked among cracking and crumbling ruins. A smashed van was on one end and beaten buildings with holes on either side. Though, as Trunks made to turn he did find it odd. The city was in shambles, but he had yet to find a single body. Not Gohan's not anyone else either. Peri came to mind for a moment, but he didn't find any clothes either.

"Man, I hate this!" He seethed as he made that turn. However, as he did he paused with a start. His body went stiff and eyes widened sharply. The street was in shambles. Even more so than many of the others. Though, that wasn't really what caught his attention.

"What in the world." He intoned as he found it in him to burnt forward hovering his feet over the cracked and hole ridden street.

"The heck is this?" He went on landing beside it. It looked almost human, but he knew a metal skeleton when he saw one! Though anyone could see or know that really. Its eyes were black and had no discernible iris or...anything really. It was or had been wearing some long black cloak that was ripped and burnt all along what looked to be half of its body from the mid-waist up. One arm was gone, and the other was missing fingers while Trunks couldn't see any of the legs, but lost of bolts and metal scrap that looked equally as burnt and broken around the street.

"Is...is this...an android?!" He cried questioningly to no one.

Then it began shaking and Trunks flinched jumping back. The whole body began vibrating and rocking back and forth along the ground as some disgusting liquid like sound sounded in Trunks ears. He snarled but couldn't find it in him to do anything. His heart was racing a mile a minute and he was confused. So he just watched.

Gray eeking ooze seemed to seep and pour quickly and unnaturally from the inside of the thing. Everywhere there was a gap, a hole a missing piece the sludge frothed and made disgusting noises. Trunks tentatively raised his right hand ready to fire a ki blast, but then the liquid exploded up and outwards and Trunks jumped back through the air in shocked fear.

The liquid receded as suddenly as it loosed out and from afar Trunks watched in dazed awe as it began to...harden. It morphed and blotched back together forming the waist, the arm, the fingers, the legs. Some light seemed to burn out from within the sludge after it made the rest of the body appear and it turned red hot like molten metal. A sound was heard like an acute saw screeching, but Trunks didn't know what it was or what it meant. Until it too stopped only after the light seemed to have a sudden stop and retreat back into the machine.

"Wha...what is-" Its eyes snapped on, a ghostly ethereal light and Trunks snapped back. He threw himself around into an alleyway set off down the street away from the thing. He chanced to look around the corner and like some horrifying nightmare the thing slowly pulled itself into a sit with its legs before itself. Slowly and methodically...machine like it effortlessly used its legs alone to pull itself into a full straight stand. Trunks felt his breaths catch and in all honesty he found himself frightened. This whole scene, the whole scenario was...wrong!

"What happened Gohan?" He whispered shakily.

The machine picked its hands up and seemed to look down at them with its back to Trunks. He heard a faint whir from beyond as it dropped its hands and arms to its side. Its blackened head turned to its right and Trunks saw it seemed to dust off its shoulder before that same liquid again seemed to drip and ooze down from around its body, and in a flash ridiculously its clothes seemed to reform and Trunks felt his lips curl into a confused and shocked half frown and sneer.

It too cast a light, fainter than the last from around itself before everything seemed to be back in place. Or at least Trunks assumed it to be back in place as this thing wanted it. It stood there silently then, unmoving and without sound. Its head turned upwards towards the sky as faint morning light could be seen forming a great crescent in the distant east. Before, without warning its right foot picked off the ground and slammed back down, and within a flash it bound up into the high sky and exploded off in a northern direction. Leaving Trunks to stare wide eyed, heart racing and confused as he was horrified.

"Wh...where are you Gohan?"


Authors Note: So I am sorry to anyone who was interested in this story. You probably thought I abandoned it. I didn't I just really have been having a hard time with work and my college plans for months. My inspiration has been in the tank for DBZ too even though this story has always been in the back of my mind. If anyone from before reads this I am very sorry for the long wait and hope you can forgive me. I also went through and updated every chapter fixed errors, both continuity on my part and spelling as I could find them. If you're new welcome, but don't expect super fast updates. :)

Okay so if anyone doesn't know Akira Toriyama loves Terminator and based a huge part of the Cell Saga on inspiration from Terminator. Hmm care to guess where 12's inspiration comes from? ;p

Though I war you he's not as one off as some might think...or maybe he is...you'll see.

Also again if anyone doesn't like my Antarcis stuff I get it trust me I've read bad OC fanfic myself, but I am hoping he doesn't ruin the story for you and that you can learn to tolerate him for story's sake. Also before anyone asks I am ignoring a LOT of Super here. Because frankly...I mean 28 planets with life? I mean...really? No, the universe our universe is so unfathomably huge, and that's what I'm basing my DBZ space on. So with that I bid you all farewell for now. If you find any grammar issues feel free to let me know and I will fix them or try your best to ignore them. Leave a review if you fancy. All flames will be promptly ignored.