Chapter 7
(An Impending Collision)
"Okay, okay I got another one for you!" Margine announced over the shared comms systembetween the four pods as they each continued bounding through the great void of space.
"'You,' who?" Rench asked in immediate reply.
"You, you idiot! Now shut up and listen." Margine carried on with what sounded like intense excitement barely contained within his slithering voice.
"Alright, remember the guy we fought on...oh what was the name of that planet again..." He trailed off for a moment.
"Oh right, planet Pepair! You know the one who had the thing?"
"Wait, we talking the green one or the purple one? Cause' either one had a 'thing' Margine. Wait, what 'thing' are we talking about here? Head thing or back thing?"
"Oh by Frieza's Glory!" Mirlitha cut in over the comms and interrupted the banter between the other two.
"Do either of you ever stop with these damn games?! The memory or 'what if' scenarios hardly make up for an actual visceral fight! I mean really it's all quite boring. Not only that, but every trip you both have to play these damn 'who could do what' games. They're trivial you two." She ended in chiding exasperation.
"Aw, come on now Mir, don't be like that." Rench replied cheerily and seeming to take no offense at all with his comrades annoyed tone.
"Yeah we're just having a little fun. Reminiscing on old battles can be fun if you let em' be Mir. Come on you've played before. Let's have a go, what do ya' say Rench?"
"I think that's a great idea!" The Brench alien responded jovially. A groan could be heard from Mirlitha as Margine hummed thoughtfully.
"Alright, now let's see. Oh, I got one for you then! Mir, you remember that guy from the world with the aliens with the horns? Shoot the name was right on the tip of my tongue!" Margine sounded actually at a loss for memory.
"I think you're thinking of Soutee." Rench chimed in.
"Soutee that's it!" Margine exclaimed happily.
"Remember on Soutee when that big bastard with the four horns tried to kill us?"
"Yes, I remember saving your hide Margine." Mir chuckled followed by Rench's own snickering.
"Ah shut up! I got distracted is all. Besides that's not the point. Now," Margine began lowering his tone some.
"Now that guy with the four horns. Don't care what his name was, just listen. Now, do you think he could've fought Lord Antarcis in his most repressed form, or would've got beat? If you say beaten then would it have been easier than us or with more effort put into it on our Lords part?"
"Well that's a simple one." Mirlitha chuckled.
"With how much trouble he gave you Margine it's easy to say Lord Antarcis would've beaten him in with one punch. Be he in most repressed form or beyond. Come on now," She went on sounding a lot more merry than she had previously.
"If you're going to force me to play this damn game give me something good huh? That one was easy!" She chuckled coolly on.
"I swear you people never let anything down when it comes to me. So I made a few mistakes, so what?!"
"'Mistakes' is being rather subdued about it Margine my friend." Rench again interjected from his own pod.
"Yes I'd call it a 'joyful series of screw ups that give my team more work to do!' A working title on my part perhaps." Mirlitha added causing the Boutron alien to groan quite audibly.
"Eh it's okay Margine. We understand you like to get a little careless when fighting. What did he do again Mir?"
"Oh, I'm so happy you asked Rench!" Margine groaned even louder.
"Well let's see the 'big four-horned bastard' was evenly matched with Margine. Instead of taking every tactical opportunity to undermine his strength considering his size and raw power Margie decided it would be best to charge at him head on. And I do mean 'head on' isn't that right Margine?" Rench broke out into intense laughter that buzzed and garbled the comms system as the memories flashed before the whole team.
"Yeah how does your head feel anyway Margine?!" Rench burst out still laughing and sounding as though he were gasping for breath.
"Ah shut up will ya' Rench?! I mean it's not like we didn't win or anything! He's dead ain't he?!" Margine exclaimed defensively.
"Well of course he's dead. I'm the one who killed him Margine." Mirlitha pointed out happily and proudly.
"After your head flew into his skull at I'd say the speed of sound and you stumbled back dazed and confused...well more so than usual he proceeded to what? Oh that's right laugh at you. Why would you headbutt an alien species that has horns on their head to begin with, let alone one that obviously has thick skulls because guess what, they headbutt each other all the time!" Again Rench flew into a laughing fit as Mirlitha went on and on after her comrade.
"I...I proved a point! That big bastard said I couldn't and so I did! Sure it hurt like hell but he was taught a...a point dammit! You don't say the Shield Battalion can't or wont do something because we will! We will and we'll win!"
"Yes flat on our back with a self inflicted concussion is certainly one way to prove the Battalion's worth and skill my friend."
"Shut up Mir!" Margine shot back with clear rising embarrassment and frustration.
"My you three just love beating your past mistakes into the ground." Captain Orblano finally cut in. His eloquent voice finally seeming to tame Rench's laughing bit some which took a few moments to completely wind down.
"Margine, you never attack an opponent with a clear advantage at his own game unless you have a plan to undermine said advantage."
"Ye...yes sir, Captain sir." Margine replied somewhat more meekly.
"As for you Rench, I do recall your presence to be lacking while your teammate was making a bad judgment call. When it comes to a team there's this thing called 'teamwork.' It's up to you, to me and to you Mir to see a bad call being made and try to correct it before it gets out of hand. Or well, gets to our teammates head as it were." Mirlitha and Rench both chuckled while Margine only grumbled.
"You're right sir, I'll be sure to always watch Margine's back and his head!"
"Please for the love of the almighty Emperor, shut up Rench." Margine retorted.
"Alright that's enough you three." Orblano began with a faint chuckle in his own regal mannerism.
"Just remember that teamwork is essential going forward. After all, we'll be facing off against a monkey or two soon. The Saiyans are a crafty bunch and don't easily accept death. I don't want another incident like what happened on Soutee. We work together to destroy our Lord's enemies and safeguard the Empire. Am I understood?"
"The Antarcis Shield Battalion will get the job done! Saiyan trash, giant muscled up freaks or contemptible enemies within the Empire itself, we'll handle them all!" Rench offered with intense bravado.
"I for one look forward to fighting a Saiyan." Mirlitha offered calmly.
"Oh really? Yet, you wont take up my bet? Scared I'll still be the first to one to put a rabid monkey in its place are ya' Mir?" Rench cockily asked with a hint of a challenge in his voice. Mirlitha in kind chuckled.
"No Rench I just don't wanna embarrass you. Especially with Margine all too willing to meet your bet."
"She's right Rench. We all know I'll be the one to kill a Saiyan first!"
"Ah we've been over this. Besides headbutting a Saiyan is not a strategy I'd go with, but you do you Margine."
"Oh shut up already about the damn headbutting thing!" Again Rench, Mirlitha and even the Captain began laughing at their comrade's rising ire and embarrassment. Their four pods still shooting through the great immeasurable void between planets and stars. Each one readying for a fight, to do their duty to their Lord Antarcis and pay respect to the Emperor long since lost. Some felt more keenly aware of this than others, but they remained quiet about such thoughts. All that mattered was arriving at their masters location, and defeating all foes of the Empire. No matter the cost. The Shield Battalion would gladly, along with all their bluster, face it.
12 came to a stop, his boot covered metal feet slamming into the mountain side along the cliff he now stood upon. His glowing eyes bore no emotion, and he was silent as his mind literally replayed his battle with the alien halfbreed from hours before. He walked forwards with only the low whir of his mechanical movements heard as he came to a long since beaten down metal doorway. Within, the cave was dark and dank until he moved down a crudely carved corridor in the rock of the mountain and came to the initial room. Within were two pods, several computers and lab work along with papers and other such needs for lab work beyond his understanding and need or want to understand.
He angled his head down to see the recently opened duct leading to a long extending ladder into the depths of the mountain below. He jumped ever so slightly off the ground and controlled his decent down into this pit which took only a few seconds. He reached the bottom, his mind still analyzing his fight and actively noting this Gohan's movements and strengths as he recorded them. He felt intense anger and frustration boil inside as he realized mistakes he had made, weak stances he took and the weaknesses placed in his design. Though that last fact was not so much an issue anymore, so that gave the silent machine some comfort as he moved forwards now within the second level.
Like above it bore a dim hum of electricity coursing through wires. Some unseen and some not, as a row of lights above him dimly lit the cave, some were blown out and rotten. Their glass having grow dusty or simply bad with age and lack of proper care. They led to another doorway that was not blown apart, though it was rusted some. A strong several layer thick entrance of metal that was sealed to him as he approached it.
"Unit 12, reporting back." Was all he said aloud though he knew he needn't do so as he turned his head slightly up right to look into the bulbous eye of a one security camera looking down on him. It whirred, but silently 12 heard the door locks, several of them, begin to twist and turn and unseal. He knew he could break it down or blow it open if he so wished, but that would be unwise, or maybe simply improper. Either way something in him compelled him not to and so he didn't as the last seal broke and the doors gave slight heavy creaks and opened up for him to enter.
His dark figure stood silent and unmoving as the doors opened and came to a heavy stop. Only then did he step forwards into this new room. One he was somewhat familiar with. The giant machine ahead of him was abuzz with activity. Lights fluttering along its cylindrical and bulbous apparatus as the ticking of machines and calculations of silent data went on at a pace beyond a normal mind's comprehension. This was his new leader, and he mused it was funny to think of it as such as he approached the thing. It had arms but rarely moved them, but within it lay the desires of the man he had met only once so long ago now he couldn't even recall the date. He hadn't asked for it when the man had found him in his broken state. But that was an entirely different and better left forgotten tale. Besides he knew that man's name now, nonetheless. 12 came to a stop, taking a second to note the other pods within the room still humming with internal activity as the computer went about its work readying to activate them.
"Unit 12, upload recorded combat data." The computer entered easily into his mind and it seemed to have a 'voice.' Though in reality it was more a sense of presence. Something 'talking' to him and commanding him voiceless and without tangibility, but all the same the words were compelling without force or presence truly needed. 12's eye lit up and silently as he stood facing the computer an exchange of data commenced between the two mechanical machinations.
"Nanite operational effectiveness was a success. This unit may require its services again. Remote controlled activation may not suit future engagements when without suitable remote linkup." 12 spoke, but he too was without actual audio and instead seemed to only think of this. He didn't know if it was a conscious effort on his part or simply how his mind and body interpreted his desire to speak while commencing data exchange with his computerized controller.
"Nanite protection asset for this unit shall be scanned for future usability and effectiveness upon data exchange. Please stand by." 12 remained silent as the data filtered and seemed to buzz from his skull into the aether. Until his skull seemed to fall and he felt almost disorientated, though he didn't know if it was possible to actually feel that way anymore. All the same he clasped his right hand to his head and he watched as a series of data lines filtered over his vision, and he was again starkly reminded of just what he now was.
He knew there was no real point in conversing with the computer, but it left 12 wanting. Even as what he was all he had left were memories which seemed to fade in and out of him and the loneliness of his new immortal existence for all intents and purposes. He meandered his way over towards the other pods. He took a second and stopped before his own. The simple oval shaped container had its door still hung open. Inside were simple cushions that had propped his body up for the longest time. He remembered waking. The sudden realization of thought and consciousness after nothing for so long was overwhelming. Though he had not truly known he was unconscious but rather he had been in a dreamless sleep, and had awoken so very long after everything he had known was gone.
12 made what seemed to almost be a groan. The pained sound released from his unseen speakers that filtered out his words as audible. He again clasped his head and felt another strange sensation as a buzzing occurred within his mind. He shook himself and his head as he focused on that sensation and all musings on the past faded, and in time so did the sensation. It left the android to lower his arm and his eyes seemed to give a momentary spark of stronger light, before 12 simply moved away form his own pod and hovered next to the one just up from his own.
"Unit 13, I understand he shall be given command of all other android units. Is that the course of action?" 12 asked but this time audibly as he figured, or more knew the computer could hear and 'understand' him.
"Unit 13 is to be uploaded with operations command package. All successive and preceding units shall fall under guidelines and instructions previously entered into unit 13 before unit operational parameters were placed on hold. Free thought and operations tactical analysis shall fall to each individual unit. Orders for mission completion are to be followed as primary directives. This unit shall maintain constant communication with unit 13 for operations success and modifications." The computer held no qualms nor had any issue sharing all relevant needs and plans with him. 12 believed it didn't know what secrets were or how to lie. If it did then how would he even know? That gave him but a seconds pause before he shook such ideas out of his mind. From what he knew of machines, which itself was very little, he didn't think it had the capacity to lie and keep secrets. 12 also found it interesting the computer never 'spoke' of any of the androids as he, only as 'units.' Though he again figured that was simply how a computer saw them as. His eye glowed a little brighter for just a moment and he raised his right hand some. He flexed the fingers and heard the whir of his internal parts and joints.
"I suppose it is what I am now." He intoned before forgetting about any further such musings and moved toward android 14's pod. 12 leaned forward as he stood before the pod. His left hand clasping lazily along the one bulbous viewport. He could see the hulking mannish figure inside. He certainly looked imposing and 12 imagined this one was more focused on brute strength than skill. Then again, as 12 quietly moved on down the pods, he figured it was all up to their designs that made them what they were. Who was he to guess at their individual strengths and weaknesses?
Again he paused to hover over 15 where his earlier thoughts were all the more palpably felt. If he still had brows he might have felt them furrow as he looked in and saw a tiny little man within. Strange clothing adorned his body and he was absolutely miniscule when compared to either himself or 14 before him. His hue of color even from behind the tinged glass seemed off as well. 14 had appeared pale and deathly so, and 12 knew in his skeletal frame he was not one to talk, but all the same 15 looked odd.
"Well I shouldn't judge a book by its cover." 12 intoned to remind himself to again not base the skills and powers of his fellow units on their looks alone. So, he moved on and came before unit 16's pod. Where he was met with another even more massive mannish figure. More massive than himself by a long stretch and of course far greater than even 13, 14, or 15 certainly. The giant looked like a powerhouse and wore odd clothes but simple ones all the same, so 12 thought anyways.
"What is the scale of power between us? Whom is the strongest by design?" 12 again asked aloud as the curiosity and old fire to know the strength of those around him came to the forefront of his mind.
"Question is basic in manner. Unit operational capacities vary between each individual model. Strengths have many facets and meanings between which context this unit speaks of. This unit shall take to mean unit 12 requests to know whom among the units is physically stronger. In this case it is understood by design that in base operational manner unit 16 is the strongest. By modification this may not remain true in regards to other units." 12 found the way the computer talked almost condescending, but he ignored it. Again figuring it was just how a computer would 'speak.' Though he did nod as he looked down on 16 within his pod. This monster of a man on his own, not knowing he was an android or built would have alone given 12 pause had he seen him in his old normal day to day life. Though his mind flashed for an instant as he felt compelled to turn towards the computer behind him.
"What do you mean by 'modifications?'" He asked only then noting the computer left the door proverbially open for others amongst them to become even stronger.
"All android units can achieve modifications for self strengthening."
"That's good, but what modifications?" The computer seemed to pause before responding.
"All units maintain basic ability for self improvement. Tantamount to the definition of the word 'training.' Further modifications for optimization and increased abilities via technical level would require this unit for achievement."
"So you're saying we can all train to become stronger?"
"By strength as a relative definition, correct. However, unit 12's nanite protocols allow for optimization of design errors. Thus further 'training' would not be necessary for unit improvement." 12 nodded, though he wasn't entirely sure what the computer was talking about, and its mannerisms were sometimes hard to follow he understood what his nanites were capable of. For that he could've smirked if he still had the lips to do so. Though something did gnaw at him. The wonder if any of the other android models had their own specific ability to improve without having to train as it were. Though he wasn't sure if any of the others had nanites as he did, but he did not feel like asking the computer so. Asking one question and in return receiving a long winded and simplistic answer was enough. Each question 12 felt deserved some manner of break between them when speaking with the super computer.
Either way, 12 moved on from the hulking and sleeping giant that was unit 16. of course units 17 and 18's pods were not down here among the others. They had been swept up to the 'main' level. For what end he wasn't sure, but now that he was here he figured the good doctor had a keen mind in keeping those two away from any other pet projects or contingencies of his. His mind flew in memory playing perfectly from records to his 'confrontation' with those two. He gave the oddest audible and mechanical chuckle. As he saw clearly why those two were not kept in on every secret the doctor had.
As he paused over 19's pod he leered in towards the viewport. He didn't know what he had expected, but as usual he was completely dumbfounded by what he saw. A more...portly seeming mannish figure with more ghostly toned 'flesh' than even 14 at least from what 12 could tell. There wasn't much to say on the android really. It bore odd clothes but no odder than all the others assorted among them. For whatever reason maybe by personal choice or simply by design they all wore a variety of outfits that ranged from slightly goofy to simplistic. At least as 12 saw them. He wondered what this 19 would be capable of. In fact, as he looked down the row of pods again, he wondered what each and every one of them were capable of.
"Processing of all relevant combat data complete. New parameters and data on individual enemy combatant 'Gohan' shall be uploaded to file and distributed among all units. Current enemy output eclipses abilities of units 13, 14, 15 and 19 given time."
"What do you mean 'given time?'" 12 interjected as he had that same sensation of the computer speaking in his 'mind' again.
"Android models can sustain fight against enemy even in 'transformed' state for a period of time. However, excessive output and provided readings indicate failure of ability to match and defeat enemy given subject Gohan has enough time in engagement. Units 13, 14, 15 and 19 lack sufficient power to overcome enemy form. Additional modifications shall be added to finalization process. Data retrieved via uplinks have shown units 17 and 18 capable of matching and defeating enemy combatant. Analyzing schematics now." The computer spoke and 12 remained silent as he also mused on the fact the twins had been able to defeat Gohan before. He wanted to laugh derisively at that since he didn't think they were capable of much beyond acting like brats certainly with too much power on their hands. But, he remained silent.
"Cellular modifications of units 17 and 18 likely cause for greater strength. Modifications for preceding units will require different approach than this method. Improvement to all mechanical parts and energy engine units shall begin." A hiss was audible through the room as all the pods save 16's lit up and within them the modifications the computer spoke of began to take shape. To what end or even how really 12 didn't know. Though, all he cared about truly was seeing the end result and the power his newly come allies would hold. It excited him on some deep forgotten level to see how strong these beings could be, but it also gave him a sense of assurance. In knowing that his fight with the halfbreed would pay off, even if he had failed in his hope and attempt to destroy him in the one battle. The halfbreed was already dead. He just didn't know it yet.
Many hours had passed and honestly time was just passing him by without much care or notice on his end. Trunks sat alone on the top of one of the larger buildings left within Sizzle City. He guessed it was probably midday by the looks of the sun. The city was still deathly quiet and though Trunks still hadn't found any body be it living or dead not a peep had sounded signaling in life or returning person. Sometimes, the bold ones anyways would try to return to the fallen city they once called home. After all he along with his mom lived in West City. Though the 'bold ones' were becoming less and less prominent these days.
His left foot dangled over the side of the building while his right was held up close and allowed him to somewhat lean forward and place his chin down as his eyes were downcast. Past his legs and jeans towards the empty and beat in ruined cityscape below. His mind went over what he saw just that early morning. It jumped back to Gohan too, and the more he thought about everything the more he felt his jaw tighten and muscles constrict in anger, frustration and anxiety.
"Damn it Gohan, where are you!" He growled out in a seethe as his hands again came up and ruffled through his own hair in weary exasperation. His mind was in near constant thought ever since leaving for Sizzle City. Everything from Gingertown to Peri to the Saiyans to the damn monsters, the twins and now whatever the hell that thing was last night! Everything just flew through his mind one after the other after the other without pause and without calm. It wouldn't leave him alone, none of it! He didn't know what to do, his eyes narrowed as he thought that yet again. All day he thought that same depressing realization. He didn't know what to do, he couldn't make decisions like Gohan could. He made call in the heat of the momentTrunks knew that and a lot of times he let his feelings guide him in the moment. But Gohan was the one to make big decisions, at least that's what Trunks saw. Now he was gone, and Trunks didn't know where he was...if he...no he wouldn't let himself imagine ay other possibility!
"You're out there Gohan. I know you are." He mumbled lowly to himself in the quiet of the abandoned city. One of many on this one planet. He sighed as he again let that sink in. This one planet in the universe, the one world he called home was so utterly ruined and ravaged. City after city, town after town, village after village. All ranged from living in fear to utterly ruined. His hatred for the androids again caused his hands to grapple at his jeans and legs in futile pent up frustration and rage. His left hand swapped down and slammed into the roof of the building in a fist and the whole building gave a thudding shake against his power as Trunks felt that anger tingle all along his back travel up his spine and finally enter into his jaws.
He picked himself up from where he sat. The building beneath him still shaking with the vibrations of his sudden angered strike. Glass fell like rain droplets to the ground as Trunks felt his anger bubble beneath the surface. He swung both arms across one another before flinging them back down towards his sides and his aura exploded around him. A white shining fury of power as he pulled out all he could from within himself. His teeth ground together, his body shook and Trunks slammed his eyes shut trying with all his might to force more power out of himself.
"I...I can do it. I can become...stronger!" He howled to the open and silent city around him. The mixture of emotions the memories of the death and destruction cascading over him. He loosed an intense howl and the city around him began to shiver and quake under him as his aura exploded. All the rage and all the pain, the loss and the unknown of his day to day life. The suffering endured the losses taken and the heroes of old. All came to his mind and Trunks demanded more power come from within. His aura exploded outwards winds thrashing around him as the building beneath shook harder and harder loosing all glass and debris still left clinging to it.
"Come on! I can do it! I can become a Super Saiyan! I can Gohan!" He screamed into the deserted streets and lifeless torn city as he tried with all his might and fed on every ounce of anger and rage kept within. His body shook and his grunts and growls along with the seethes between his grinding teeth echoed out around him. His muscles constricted and he felt his body tingle his eyes narrowed as he felt more pained than empowered, and Trunks for just an instant thought it was going to happen. He was going to become a Super Saiy-
"Ahh!" He cried out as his body fell backwards. His aura pulsated out in an explosion abandoning him as he slammed backwards into the roof of the building. His arms outstretched from his body and eyes glaring upwards through narrowed slits. His body quaking and shaking as every muscle pulsated with pain and aggravation. His breaths were labored and heavy as he picked his head up and cruelly slammed it back against the roof.
"Damn it! Why?! Why can't I do it?!" He howled his question with no ear around to hear him. His voice cracked with failure that rippled through him as the midday sun shone down and warmed him. For another good while, maybe ten to fifteen minutes Trunks lay there. The wind rustling his hair sprawled beneath him and his body beginning to calm and relax from the tension and pressure he had willingly placed it under. His eyes stared up and noted the clouds moving peacefully, thoughtlessly and serenely over and past him. The melancholy of his loneliness set in again and he sighed closing his eyes.
"Why can't I do it, father." He intoned lowly and morosely towards a man he did not know. An aching inside of him struck deep and he let the helplessness of his weakness set it. The heroes of old, Goku, Piccolo, and he guessed he could say his father along with even Gohan now could do what needed to be done. They made the choices that were important and found that strength inside of them to fight any battle whether they won or lost them. Yet, Trunks felt a deep rage set in, and its target was himself. He couldn't do it, but he wanted to do it. He knew he could help Gohan, and he had to! Not just for his sake and not for his mother's but for the whole damn world. To save everyone left alive from the horror that had plagued them for so many years. He didn't even know what life without them would be like. What living day to day without fear and hate and rage was. He knew what mom had, and what her plan was, but that would still take a while to complete. Her idea was...out there, but if anyone could do it, it was her. He just wished...she didn't have to. That he could do what no one else could and help Gohan save the world.
Again Trunks pushed himself up and sat cross legged. The wind again rustled his hair and clothes as he closed his eyes and sighed a couple deep breaths. He felt tired. More than just bodily so as his mind played images and memories that didn't have a purpose or active thought on his part. He was so tired of all of it. Sizzle City made him tired, the struggle made him tired, the endless horror and fear made him tired and wanting to help and impress Gohan made him tired. There were times, quiet and towards himself Trunks could recall sitting in the dark of his home or out in the wilds with Gohan, where he would muse. Think about what it would be like, to simply give up. To lay down and let those two monsters kill him, or beat him. However, as usual his eyes hardened and he felt his nostrils flare as he jumped into an immediate stand.
"No! I wont give up! I can't! I swear to you Gohan, father, mother, everyone!" He again howled to the great emptiness of the city around him. All melancholy forcefully expelled from his mind. He was alight with energy and vigor once more. Though he deep down knew nothing had changed. Trunks knew he had to do what needed be done. Gohan had taught him that, and if that meant his life...he was sorry for his mother, but so be it.
He closed his eyes and he let himself reach out across the world. He let himself sense out and look for Gohan's energy signature once more. He had done it before, but had sensed nothing, but he had to find him. The two of them together had to be the ones to stop those two and whatever else threatened their world. He dug deep, his eyes straining beneath the pressure he put himself under to reach out and feel. He needed to find him, he had to find him. They still had a lot to do.
"There...that's something." He intoned opening his eyes and turning northwards. It wasn't Gohan's but it was some energy signature. The damn androids didn't have one.
"It has to be...the Saiyans." He figured, and he clenched his hands together nervously. Gohan's wishes for him to stay away from them fluttering through his mind. However, a gnawing voice in the back of his mind ate way at him. A silent hope that they could help him, and help Gohan.
"I'm sorry Gohan." He spoke to himself and in an instant his aura pulled in around him forming a white field around him. Before he blasted off into the air once again and bound northwards towards that power he sensed. Hoping beyond hope that these aliens of whom he shared some genetics with could help him. Find and save Gohan, wherever he may be, and maybe even save the world itself.
"Final retrofitting completed for units 14, and 15. Please stand by." The computer announced stirring 12 from his thoughtless trance. He found himself standing motionless again facing the computer and found it odd he hadn't really noted the time, or his silent stance. He slightly shook his head before turning towards the two pods in question. They gave a final buzz as the lights that swirled within came to a stop. Then, much to his shock both pods gave a loud snap and they hissed open ever so slightly.
Before the pod doors gave a whir each as they opened upwards with a hiss before they came to a stop revealing the two machine men inside. 12 took several steps towards the opened pods. He came to a stop between the two and back enough to observe both units. They were quiet and unmoving for a few more heavy moments. The silence of the room only interrupted by the slight hiss of the pods. Until finally both androids opened up their eyes at the exact same time. They remained unmoving for a while longer as 12 clasped his metal hands behind his back and coat. He waited patiently until 14 finally sat forwards, his ghostly white hands clenching the pod as he angled up out of it into a full stand. 15 on the other hand simply floated up from where he had lain and lowered down to the ground just outside his pod as he methodically and silently adjusted the rather large and odd hat he wore atop his head. Both stood facing 12 then and all three remained silent as they seemed to slowly acknowledge one another. 14 and 15 both turned and noted one another as well before returning their combined gazes towards 12.
"Welcome units 14 and 15 into the realm of consciousness." 12 began.
"We were intended for scrap. Why have we been awoken?" 14 simply asked as though perplexed at his existence. 12 again would've cocked a curious brow had he still the ability to do so.
"Do you regret your awakening?"
"I do not comprehend 'regret.' I simply inquire as to why our intended purposes have been modified." 14 stipulated.
"All new mission parameters have been uploaded to each individual unit. All units shall review new parameters promptly. All scrap orders rescinded. Androids 17 and 18 are designated rouge units." The computer explained within all units present worming its way inside of their collective skulls. Both 14 and 15 went coldly silent as their eyes seemed to light up, though 12 looked for lights flaring from behind the glasses 15 wore over his eyes. Either way they both underwent review of their new parameters.
"Ah, so we're the new watchmen of the world. Seems good to me." 15 intoned with an odd inflection about him. Though 12 found it odd he ignored it as the little android gave a slight smirk.
"Our new main target is the son of Goku, Gohan. His whereabouts are unknown however, with my battle data records on hand we should have a better idea on how to defeat and destroy him. It is for the betterment and protection of Earth that we see an end to all alien operatives on planet." 12 declared calmly through his heavily mechanical voice.
"Further operations include the subjugation of all remaining humans on planet Earth." 14 stated though it sounded partially like a question. Even though his face remained deadpan and without any real emotion showing through.
"All prior protocols rescinded. Elimination of primary target, Goku, no longer valid. Units 17 and 18 are officially counterproductive to grand design for further operational procedures. Their elimination, however, does not fall to any numbered units." The three androids shared a question silently within their minds. Their combined curiosity turned towards the computer at just 'what' was going to bring down the twins. They were given within their minds access to a basic idea that...something was going after them. Just not exactly what it was.
"Establishment of healthy environment for human population a priority. Elimination of all enemy combatants and threats to Red Ribbon dominion of planet Earth top priority. All preceding and successive numbered android units thus fall under operational command of unit 13. This unit shall continue to search for enemy combatant, Gohan, and alert operational units for countermeasures. Review relevant data on fighting capabilities and power output of subject Gohan. Possible confrontation with units 17 and 18 also added into localized databanks. Review parameters for any such confrontation and await further instructions. Units 13, 16 and 19 shall be optimized within a few hours time. Please stand by." The computer went silent after repeating its new mission objectives to the trio of androids.
"Unit 13 is to be our command unit." 15 stated simply looking towards the pod.
"That is correct." 14 retorted. 12 looked between the two and felt like sighing. The both of them showed only a modicum more of personality than the super computer. Though he sensed 15 had a stronger sense of self than 14 did as the pale android seemed all too willing to remain silent.
"Your data is intriguing. Did you believe you could defeat Gohan all on your own?" 15 asked seemingly casually.
"It was my intention to do so. However, power output and strength of the man exceeded all previous thought and data on subject. In the intervening time between the computer's last running cycle and now he grew not only in age and body but immensely in power. Both units 17 and 18 have enough power to kill Gohan but have thus far failed to do so. Be it by unwillingness or otherwise."
"They are indeed faulty units." 14 intoned simply.
"Well if we need to subdue them this data provided should be more than enough to do so. To what end who knows." 15 replied as simply as 14 as he pocketed his little purplish hands into pockets along his yellow coat.
"Our mission does not yet concern units 17 and 18. Our primary concern is the alien halfbreed. Until we are fully prepared and at full strength we will wait."
"Of course." 15 gave a dip of his head towards 12. A renewed silence then fell between the three as 14 meandered himself towards the doorway. His dull but serious expression forward facing as though waiting for the millisecond he was given leave of the laboratory. While 15 began...well humming. 12 turned towards the little android and found this one certainly odd. He was still less talkative than he had hoped, but there was still some manner of a personality matrix to him. 12 resigned himself in silence to the two newcomers and their oddities and machine like natures. He was again left wondering just what exactly he had expected. As he turned and crossed his arms over his chest facing unit 13's pod. Again, he felt hopeful that whatever, and whoever this android turned out to be, he'd be a bit more engaging than either of these two. As well as the computer which buzzed and beeped on in quiet work and processing behind him.
He sat motionless atop a dirt hill. His eyes were open and staring blankly ahead of himself. He was wondering, or at least that's what he thought he was doing. The warmth of this planet's star spread itself across his back as he sat facing...somewhere. His eyes stared forward at nothingness. There were some blades of grass that swooned in the wind that caught his attention. His head tilted towards the right and his hair flowed in the same direction. He watched the grass for a moment, as his mind fought to form any thought and any idea of worth.
His name...he remembered his name. It was Broly, or he thought it was. No, of course it was. His right hand came up and loosely rubbed at his temple as his eyes squinted. They opened again with a shaky flutter as he felt a sharp pain stab at and numb his skull. A grunt loosed from his barely parted lips before he quieted and dull apathy took root inside of him again.
What had he been thinking about? He couldn't remember, but he thought it had something to do his father. No, no that wasn't it. His father wasn't nearby, and Broly didn't think much about him. Broly? He cocked a curious brow at the name. Oh right, it was his name. He smiled thinly, happy with his memorized deduction. Of course it was his name, how foolish of him to think otherwise.
His right hand slowly moved forwards rustling and brushing along the blades of grass beneath his touch. The slight tickle they brought to the palm of his hand bringing another thin smile to him as his dark eyes traced his own movements. He waved his hand back and forth over the grass around him dumbly and mutely to any who would look in on him. He was content and quiet as he was thoughtless. Until a sudden sound brought his hand to a stop. His body tensed and immediately his pupils dilated as his mind was racked in another renewed sharp pain.
He turned a shaking head left as he saw three men dressed in strange armor...no those were his fathers men. Either way, he saw them huddling around some machine, a large box of metal and they were laughing. Their faces unseen and backs to him Broly...yes Broly was his name for sure, he heard them laugh and something tore at his insides. Their laughing grew louder and louder, or did it? He couldn't tell but it burned a hole in his head! His hands flew up grasping at his free flowing ebony black hair and digging his fingers through the locks. He slammed his eyelids shut as the pain echoed through him, but it wasn't physical, it was something unseen that dug a hole into and across him.
Didn't they know who he was? What he was?! His eyes snapped open and he felt his chest tighten and teeth grit as those sounds came back to him. They laughed and laughed their voices eating away at him as the screaming just kept going! The crying, and the wailing! Old and tired memories that wouldn't give him rest that mocked him, and set something inside of him some instinct on fire. They were mocking him, and he hated them! The crying wouldn't stop and he just wanted it to stop, to just stop!
A feral pained grunt released from between ground teeth as his hands reached down grabbing at his exposed flesh around his abdomen. It burned with pain but there was nothing there as the voices grew louder, and the screaming became stronger and ever endless. His abdomen, his gut burned, but the longer it went on the more it felt like it traveled like a metal claw down and up his spine. Something inside wanted out, and it wanted out now! It coursed through him and his blood pounded in his ears setting his mind alight with even greater frenzy than before. It wanted out, and it wanted loose from him, but through it all the screaming, that damn screaming just got louder and gnawed at him. It fed it, it fed that pain that crawled just beneath his flesh and demanded freedom. It beckoned and begged him to be freed but there was something keeping it under control, but certainly not himself.
His eyes snapped open as his lips contorted into a feral sneer.
"Ka...Kakarot...Kakarot...Kakarot." He repeated in low mumbling intones that drove him even more insane. The more he said that word...that name, his body burned. It wanted out, and it had its doorway. It was that...that word. It latched onto it, and it made him latch onto it. He hated it, he wanted it to shut up! To leave him alone and be quiet! To stop screaming, to stop them from laughing! His hands pounded their palms one after the other into his forehead as all those sounds beat into him and drowned out all sound taken in by his ears.
"Kakarot, Kakarot, Kakarot." His voice cracked as it begged him to be let out, and he wanted to give in. He wanted to let it out, but he couldn't! Something compelled him not to, something told him to hold on, something kept it contained just below his burning flesh. As sweat beaded down his brow and fell in heavy thick droplets and coated his back a subtle whir sounded out. A light began to glow subtly in the daylight of the world as four lines of purple flashed out like a bursting star in the great distance of the universe.
His breathing became slower, his mind started to calm, and his grunts turned back towards groans as his body stopped aching, but muscles continued constricting. That unseen purple light hummed as some unseen and intangible power repaired thoseunseen tentative barriers of his mind, and suppressed those feelings. The emotions, the instinct and the memories that instinct fed on to grow and come undone from the prison inside the man. Until that name too began to fade, the laughing died down and the wailing turned to silence as that feral itch and wild rage died. His eyes turned numb and vacant as his brows fell and his arms hung down with his knuckles grazing the grass beneath him as his back fell and his face fell forwards. His body was covered in a thin sheen of sweat and his crown began to ebb in both light and sound as that beast that was caged behind it cooled and calmed. The real man, the real monster inside restrained a time longer in the silence of his repressed mind.
His name...he remembered his name. It was Broly, or he thought it was. No, of course it was. The Saiyan sighed and his right hand came up rubbing idly at his forehead. A thin smile graced his lips as he cocked his head towards a nearby blade of grass. His right hand falling and skimming along the tips of the blades. Allowing for him to enjoy the tickling sensation the blade tips brought to his hand. His dark eyes were a little less vacant, his mind void of real thought, and waiting to be called upon by his master. That voice, his father's voice, it always brought him back. It always made him remember, and it always made him say just the right thing. Yet, for some reason that made him...sad? No, his eyes hardened for a second and he didn't even know why. But no, he wasn't sad, he was...angry.
A slight tapping sounded out. Like patting against rock and grass, and Broly barely registered it from where he stared downwards. His mind still mostly a blank slate.
"Uh...um ex...excuse me..." Broly heard a voice speak. His eyes remained staring blankly down at the ground. His thoughts muddled by nothingness, but calm nothingness.
"S...sir?" Broly felt his brow twitch and his nose wrinkle on instinct. His eyes slowly turned upwards as his head did and he was soon faced with the sight of someone standing just ahead of him. He wore strange simple clothes, his hair was short and cropped finely along his head full around and of a dulled color Broly wasn't sure of what to call. His eyes looked down on Broly unsure and obviously nervously. Though for the hulking Saiyan he appeared like all the others did. He made no noise nor welcomed the new figure. He merely tilted his head to the right quizzically.
"H...hello. I'm...my name is...Trunks." The boy offered, and Broly barely made out the sound of others speaking suddenly behind him and where he sat.
"That's nice." Broly responded coolly but lowly and in seemingly polite a fashion. His eyes threatened to turn away from the boy again.
"I'm sorry...I know you don't know me, but I'm a friend of...Gohans. You...do know him right?" Broly felt his brow furrow. Gohan? That name...was it a name? Well it sounded familiar, but how familiar he couldn't tell. An old memory maybe.
"Gohan?" Broly repeated.
"Yes, Gohan. I'm looking for him! I think he's in trouble or maybe hurt! I know he talked to you guys just yesterday earlier in the day and I was hoping someone among you would have-"
"Ah greetings!" The boy's rambling was cut short as another voice cut in. This one familiar, older and raspy. Broly felt a tingling sensation of recognition flutter across his mind, and he remembered then his father with more clarity than usual. He tilted his head left to see the older Saiyan approach flanked by two of his soldiers. Broly said nothing but for some reason he felt compelled to force a thin smile onto his face and he turned it back downwards to face the ground. He heard voices exchange words they garbled together and his hearing numbed as he seemed to ignore all sounds with utter ease.
His name, Broly that was right. His father, his strong father Paragus. He always knew what to do. All he had to do was whatever his father told him. All he had to do was keep quiet and keep calm. His right hand grazed a patch of grass and felt the tickle of the blades brush against his palm, and he let the world drift away around him.
"Ah greetings!" Paragus announced happily with his usual rasp. He brushed his cloak aside even as it curled easily back around him as he moved towards this newcomer who stood before his thankfully more subdued than usual son. The newcomer, a young man so he seemed had turned towards him. His eyes showed someone obviously guarded and unsure as they sharpened and narrowed at Paragus' approach. His clothing was...very basic to put it simply. A simple shirt of some sort, and leggings and boots. Nothing much to note of them. His hair was a dimmed but strange lightly hued color that fell in a short pattern around his head.
"I welcome you to our base. It's nothing much as you can see. Though I had not been expecting any visitors of this world." Paragus continued coming to a nonthreatening stop just behind where his son sat. He bowed his head placing his right hand to his chest piece as he did so and appeared lordly. He bore a smile on his face and did his best to seem welcoming.
"H...hello sir." The boy began politely much to Paragus' honest surprise. He relaxed just a little as well as he eyed Paragus and Broly. Though Paragus thought maybe the boy also eyed his men who stood behind them all. Undoubtedly some watched on defensively and carefully.
"I...I'm sorry if I'm...intruding in on you and your men at all."
"Ah, no need to apologize." Paragus offered with a wave of his hand. He was sure to play the part of the welcoming and gracious host. His eyes watched the boy intently and caught him gazing back and forth between his face and his waist. Paragus guessed he must've noticed his tail.
"O...okay then." The boy went on awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck.
"My...I mean I was looking for you guys. My fri...I mean Gohan told me about you guys a few days back."
"Oh?" Paragus began.
"You're a friend of Gohans then? Well in that case you're most welcome here err..."
"Trunks, sir. My name is Trunks." He informed still sounding awkward and unsure. Though Paragus smiled and bowed his head in acknowledgment.
"Trunks." He nodded. "It's nice to meet you then. I am Paragus." He bowed again in gracious a fashion.
"I see you've...met my son Broly already." His son ran his hands along a patch of grass numbed to the world so it seemed. Obviously having a more controlled and subdued day than some of the past few. Though usually Broly would've turned towards whoever Paragus spoke to this time he didn't and so Paragus mutely cleared his throat.
"Don't mind my son. He's...quieter than I am." Trunks again cast a curious gaze down towards the man he now knew was Broly and nodded.
"So, Trunks whatever can I do for you?" Paragus asked as though he didn't know. Of course he had heard from Otato of Lim's report. He knew this boy matched a description from the sniveling little soldier. Thus, it was a simple matter to deduce what the boy was after, or rather whom.
"We...well you see um...Paragus sir, Gohan left the night before to intercept and fight the androids. I think you know about them right?"
"That I do." Paragus nodded again.
"Right. Well he went out after them, or I thought he had, but I'm not so sure anymore. Well no I'm sure he went after an android. Just not so sure if it's the androids we're used to. Either way he went after it to the south of here in a city called Sizzle. He didn't come back and now he's missing and I was wondering if maybe you've...if any of you have had any contact with him?! He...he's vitally important to this planet, and in the fight against the androids!" The boy beamed and frantically announced as every word seemed to pull him further and further down the path of anxiety. Paragus noted this obvious devotion and admiration for the half-Saiyan he currently had cooped up in one of his healing pods.
"Ah I see, you're looking for him." Paragus began sounding mildly humored by the boy's anxiety. That caused Trunks to furrow his brow and send the elder Saiyan a curious gaze.
"Well you needn't worry yourself, Trunks. You see we here sensed Gohan's little 'engagement' with these androids of yours last night. I regret that we were unable to arrive in time to take part in the fight, but we-"
"You saw him?!" Trunks cut him off ever so frantically as he took an equally as anxious step towards Paragus. It hadn't really disturbed the Saiyan though he did sense his men become a bit more tense at Trunks' sudden movement.
"Was he okay?! Did you find him?! Have you seen him?!"
"Whoa, slow down my boy." Paragus offered laughingly and waving a calming hand.
"You needn't worry about him. As I said we didn't arrive in time to see the fight play out, but we had seen the end. A marvelous display of power on his part if I may say so. Though he was drained and badly beaten from what we could see. He passed out in the middle of the city and we quickly brought him here for healing in one of our medical pods. Where he currently still resides inside." Paragus pointed his right thumb over his shoulder towards the large egg-shaped ship Trunks had noted before. The boy visibly released a relieving sigh and his shoulders relaxed as an ever so small smile crept onto his face.
"Thank Kami." He intoned lowly before turning back to Paragus.
"Thank you Mr. Paragus sir! I told him not to go alone, but he's...overprotective. Can...can I see him then?" He asked politely enough. Though Paragus again noted the boys choice of words and deduced quite easily based on his presence, words and Lim's report that this one was indeed important to Gohan. Perhaps a good bargaining chip if it ever came to such? Paragus smiled all the same and nodded motioning his hand welcomingly towards his ship. His men nearby silently moving about away from their Lord and newcomer seeing as everything seemed well.
"Right this way." Paragus offered and took a tentative step towards the ship himself. Trunks began to follow but paused and turned back towards Broly.
"Um...nice meeting you, Broly." He offered but the hulking sitting Saiyan only looked to Trunks and stared blankly for a moment.
"Good meeting you as well." He offered in low a tone and numb an expression as his eyes seemed most vacant and lifeless. Trunks nodded slowly and was obviously uncomfortable by Brolys mannerism. Either way he moved off and after Paragus who watched Broly intently and secretly tightened his unseen grip on the control gauntlet. As Trunks came up alongside him he offered another smile before beginning the walk for the ship his face twisting quickly after into a mild frown. His son ever a worry upon his mind.
Nonetheless, the two of them moved quickly towards Paragus' ship passing many men armored in strange clothes, at least they were to Trunks. All of them turned quickly at Paragus' coming and bowed in respect towards he and Trunks. The repeated scene made the boy slightly uncomfortable each time and he awkwardly bowed his head to some and waved at others before he felt his face turn hot in blush and embarrassment. He then tried his best to ignore them all as Paragus swiftly and seemingly inattentively moved past them without much acknowledgment. Trunks turned his head slightly down and followed. He turned his mind to the relief that still washed over him at hearing of Gohan's safety. It was like having the weight of an entire planet taken off his shoulders. Heck, he thought that was both a figurative and literal analogy in this case.
"So," Paragus began simply as the two entered into the ship where Trunks found a series of cold white hallways and holds.
"Gohan never mentioned anyone else on world helping him. Of course I wouldn't expect him to relay all details to us. We just arrived after all, but since you're here," Paragus glanced over his left shoulder towards Trunks.
"Mind telling me just who you are? Not your name of course, but how you came to know Gohan, and in what way you two work together?" Trunks again felt heat course through his face. A sudden knot formed in his gut as he felt more observed than he wanted to be. He knew Gohan didn't want him here, and he was already preparing himself for anything and everything he would send his way once he met up with him. The Saiyans though? Trunks didn't exactly know what to say, he hadn't really thought his way that far yet before coming here as a shot in the dark to find Gohan. His mind raced and he cursed as he demanded of himself a good lie. A series of good lies in fact. He would honor Gohan's wish...well one of them.
"I...me and Gohan...we're brothers."
"Brothers?!" Paragus stopped and turned towards Trunks forcing the boy into a sudden stop himself. A slight jump came from him as well that he fought to mask as he stood firm. The elder man eyed him again and Paragus hummed thoughtfully before nodding.
"I see. I should have guessed it really. I can sense hidden power within you. At least now that you stand before me."
"Uh...thanks." Trunks intoned awkwardly back as Paragus turned and again began leading Trunks further into the ship. Trunks felt that knot inside of him tighten as his heart raced. One lie committed, and he knew others may have to follow. He felt even more nervous now.
"Forgive me, but I couldn't help but notice you and he share few...if any features." Paragus again began and Trunks could almost smell the probing of his question as he again glanced over his left shoulder. A move Trunks only then noted was somewhat futile with his scarred eye. It somewhat unsettled him, before he lightly cleared his throat.
"Ye...yeah. Well...you see we share...uh we share the same father. Yeah, Goku is our dad." For some reason saying that felt more like he was reaching to try and convince himself. Even then it felt oddly wrong to say and Trunks grimaced at his own feeble lie. He only hoped it would sell to the older man.
"Hmm Kakarot then, I see." Paragus intoned lowly as the two circled down one hall towards one turning inwards deeper into the ship. They passed by two men crouched down by some vent in the wall that was popped open. One was using some buzzing tool inside while the other watched on. Though, at Paragus' coming they both jerked around at the sound of boots hitting the ground and immediately jumped to stands. Then they proceeded to bow in reverence, and again Trunks felt immensely uncomfortable. He almost wondered if this was what it was like to be known as a Prince. If so, he was kind of glad he wasn't one...well known as one. Even that thought made him uncomfortable.
"You both have different mothers. How did you come to meet then? Or, forgive me for asking, is it common for females of this world to share their males?" Trunks felt an intense blush form across his face and a frown form as he was forced to imagine...no didn't wanna imagine whatever Paragus was assuming...or implying.
"N...no I...it's not really a...as far as I know girls...women don't share...men." Trunks more than awkwardly stammered out.
"I...my mother I don't think knew...a...about Gohan or his mother. It was...just uh...sorta happened. And...well here I am." Kami he wished he could smack himself.
"Hmm, I see. Forgive me, I ask too many prodding questions." Paragus apologized and Trunks nodded though the man wasn't looking at him. A subtle breath of relief escaping his mouth as he believed he somehow managed to sell the lie.
"Your mother? Is she still among the living?" Paragus began again, his voice layered with curiosity. Trunks immediately regretted thinking the probe was over. His heart again beat harder than before and his mind turned towards his mom. Gohan wanted him not to mention his father...Vegeta. What about his mom? Was it better they knew, or better they didn't know? His face flushed and he grumbled lowly.
"She...she's fine."
"Ah, that's good then." Trunks again sighed lowly. Paragus turned another corner into a hall devoid of any life save for a doorway ahead of them. On either side stood two figures in the armor Trunks had been used to seeing at this point. Trunks took a minute to note that they had passed quite quickly through the ship. Though it wasn't exactly massive from the outside, it wasn't small either.
The boy stretched out his senses where he felt the low vibrations of his mentor just ahead. His eyes lit up and face turned to a smile as he felt ready to jump for joy. Though he did contain himself outside, inside he was turbulent with happiness and relief. Gohan was here, and he was okay! Everything was going to be okay. That filled his spirit with hope once again and all other thoughts in that instant again became secondary.
"It's good to find others in the universe who share our Saiyan blood." Paragus went on carrying down the hall with Trunks having to slightly pick up the pace to catch up to him. He hadn't even realized he had paused to check for Gohan.
"As it stands there are so few of us left. Finding even one who can be counted among us is rare. Though I must say I am surprised still that the local population is compatible with Saiyan genetics. But, I'm rambling." Paragus seemed to almost chuckle somewhat leaving Trunks to cock a curious brow. He had been rambling, or so Trunks had thought, but still he seemed to carry an oddly curious tone of voice. Gohan was right about one thing, these Saiyans seemed...strange. No, not strange, but Trunks certainly didn't feel inclined to be trusting. Even if there was some part of him he did not acknowledge that was burning with interest for these beings. These people who his father was part of. Still, he shut all musings and questions down as Paragus approached the doors and motioned the two guards to move aside with a flick of his hand.
"Here he is. Forgive his manner of dress, but his clothes were hardly worth keeping." Paragus warned as the door slid open and Trunks ignored him bounding inside the room. The half-Saiyan bore a widened grin on his face as he burst inside unconcerned with all other sounds and sights. His eyes traveled towards the first and only active pod. He remembered them from the one Gohan had brought home not too long ago. Inside of it he saw Gohan floating in a vat of liquid that randomly bubbled around him. Trunks pressed his hands against the pod and didn't bother stopping a series of relieved chuckles from escaping his mouth.
"Thank Kami you're alright Gohan!" Trunks announced aloud again only barely noting the subtle footsteps behind him from Paragus.
"His battle with that android cost his body quite a lot. My doctors tell me he'll make a full recovery after a little while longer inside the pod. He woke just a few hours ago. Though only for a moment."
"Really?" Trunks replied and without thought he tapped his right fist against the pod glass making a tapping noise that mutely carried through the fluid and pod. Inside Gohan's brow furrowed some, but he didn't make much movement. Trunks repeated the tapping looking for even the barest conscious response from his mentor and friend. Again Gohan's brow furrowed. Trunks noted the mask covering his nose and mouth that led to a tube that headed towards the top of the pod. He did his best to ignore Gohan's nakedness though it hardly bothered the boy. All he cared about was seeing him well and alive and okay.
It took a moment longer then, but finally Gohan's eyes wearily opened. Trunks brightened again and pressed both open palms against the glass.
"Gohan! It's me!" Trunks declared hoping his voice carried through the pod well enough. Gohan's eyes droopingly tracked him for a moment before Trunks watched them widen somewhat as he assumed the haze of sleep began to drain from Gohan.
"You scared the hell outta me! You know how long you've been gone?!" Trunks went on with a clearly faked angered tone. His smiling face and clear joyous wide eyes gave away his relief. Gohan had gone 'missing' in the past of course. Though in those times Trunks could've easily found his presence just by reaching out and sensing for his ki. This last time was about as far as he wanted to ever go again with his mentor going MIA.
Either way Gohan's eyes remained a little sunken and droopy but Trunks could see a little tinge of mirth in them. However, they turned suddenly towards Trunks' right where they stopped. They narrowed somewhat and then looked back towards Trunks. Trunks was slightly putt off by the sudden intensity in his eyes. However, he grumbled a little and sent his gaze downwards as he knew what gave Gohan his sudden turn. He wished he could tell him sorry, but with Paragus right next to him that was obviously impossible.
"Your brother was quite worried for you, Gohan. It's fortunate he found us, and you." Paragus began and Trunks turned back up to see Gohan's brow furrow and cock curiously. Trunks rubbed the back of his neck and laughed nervously.
"Yeah bro. We...I and...mom...my mom weren't sure you were okay." Gohan looked between Trunks and Paragus in the silence of his healing pod. Trunks in kind did his best to point towards Paragus using only his eyes. Something he hoped for his sake and his lie's Gohan would notice. It took another moment but Gohan's gaze narrowed again on Trunks before the boy watched him nod very subtly and slowly. Trunks knew he had some serious explaining to do later.
"Well, it makes me happy to have accommodated you, Gohan." Paragus began again bowing ever so slightly.
"It also pleases me to meet another who carries Saiyan blood in his veins. I'm sure together we can all face any threat these machines pose." Gohan cast what looked to Trunks to be a wary glance towards Paragus. The elder Saiyan remained smiling the entire time, and Trunks didn't know if he caught Gohan's expressive gaze or not. If so, it made him wonder what he was thinking, and why he was still smiling. Yeah...these Saiyans, and especially this one were...odd. He cast Gohan one more apologetic look to which Gohan met his gaze. His eyes still looked tired though, and Gohan merely gave a final few nods towards Trunks. He didn't really know what they meant though. He hoped it was something along the lines of Gohan telling him it was 'okay,' but he didn't know.
"Hmm, he still seems quite tired. We should allow him to finish up his rest and healing. It shouldn't take but a few more hours." Paragus offered glancing his one good eye down towards a beeping screen planted just on the rim of the healing tank. Trunks nodded and watched as Gohan's eyes didn't reopen. He guessed he must've drifted back into unconsciousness. He smiled thinly all the same. He was alive, and okay. He would accept any tongue lashing or punishment from he or his mother later.
"Until then, please stay for a while." Trunks somewhat jumped as he felt Paragus place his right hand on his left shoulder. He turned to again look at the man who smiled in that same welcoming manner from before.
"I shall have some food prepared. Nothing I'm sure you're used to, but if we in fact share Saiyan blood you must have quite the appetite." Trunks made to open his mouth but his stomach almost on hearing the word 'food' growled and grumbled without control. He hummed thoughtfully turning towards the sleeping Gohan one more time. He'd be up soon, so Paragus said. Why not wait for a little while longer? Then he and Gohan could head back to West City and get to work training together.
That brought a smile to his face, but then he felt his eyes widen only a little and memory smack back into him at full force. His mind flashed back to that black cowled...thing in Sizzle City. Its monstrous metal frame and skeletal figure staring at the sky. The strange goo that dripped from every cracked and broken orifice that reformed its fallen body in a battered and broken city. His eyes narrowed, and Trunks realized neither Gohan nor Paragus knew about it. Should he tell Paragus? He looked back to the elder Saiyan man patiently waiting his reply.
"I...thank you, sir. I'd like that." Trunks offered with what he thought to be a better faked smile. Paragus smiled in kind and swept his arm back toward the doorway leading into the medical bay.
"Wonderful, this way please. I'm still itching to learn more about these 'androids.' I'm sure you know your share about them. Of course, if you don't mind the prodding of an old man such as myself." Paragus chuckled and Trunks returned his own laugh as he took a few tentative steps for the door. He cast Gohan a final glance. He would wait, and he would let Gohan decide what to do, and what to say about that thing. Whatever it had been in Sizzle City. For now, he'd wait, and he had to admit as he looked at Paragus once more taking lead in step ahead of himself, he too was itching to ask some questions about the Saiyans. Why not ask them from one? Though a meal wouldn't have hurt either, he thought coyly with a smile all to himself as his stomach growled in agreement.
He huffed and heaved with burning woozy eyes. His gulps of air resounding through a desolate and quiet street made of nothing more than a strip of dirt marking its location. His sweat fell in great droplets down his brow as he slammed his hands into the wooden walls of some building and skirted along the right to the other side. He was out of sight now, but he was not beyond sense. The creature's eyes narrowed some and a slithering grumble loosed from its oddly oval beaked maw.
Its footfalls sounded out like thumping creaks as it walked forwards. Behind itself a slithering whipping tail swayed in the air ready to satiate that ravenous hunger born and programmed into him. At least it was so long as he remained in this form, imperfect and incomplete. The sun shone down casting his shadow upon the ground as he stepped forwards down the quiet street. A simple street of a simple and likely forgotten village. Forgotten by the outside world and his brother and sister in their rampages. Good for him, and his thirst for he was so perpetually famished.
He slowly moved past that same building and turned the corner where the man had gone. His grumbles and groans sounded hoarse and slithery though he didn't speak a single word yet. His reptile like eyes scanned the area and he found nothing. Old carts and wagons left about and some older than his time spent here. Truly a village lost to time in this world, but that worked best for him anyways. No communication to the outside to arouse suspicion from any unwelcome guests. He stepped forwards again, his footfalls creaking and loud his tail whirling behind him in mounting anticipation. He didn't know from whom he received this great and intense joy he found in the hunt, but he did love the feeling and rush of it. Especially when he made his mark.
"AHH!" He turned back right to see the man from before jump from underneath the building from what looked to be a hole cut in its side leading into a crawlspace. He had hid behind a plank that had gone ignored and the man scampered back away from the building into the same street from before. The man cried and screamed and he smiled at the terror. As he thought about it he thought maybe it was one of the Saiyans who made him feel this way. Or perhaps the other alien, Frieza. A smooth but croaky laugh loosed from his mouth as he turned toward the man once more in flight and took an even pace after him again.
Sabal had turned back right down the desolate street and ran so fast his legs looked ready to break from each intense impact he made against the dirt laden ground. He stumbled, his hands falling to the ground both pushing and in an instant propelling him forwards as he barely managed to stay standing and continue his run. His breaths were labored and loud his gasps turning to coughs as his lungs burned with his furious attempt to escape the terror in tow of himself. His eyes burned with the sweat that fell into them as his whole body was soaked from his flight and he felt exhausted, but he had to run, he had to get away. Whatever this thing was, it was killing everyone, maybe it already had.
Sabal came to another bend in the road and swept right into another street. His ankles twisted at the sudden change of direction and he didn't know if he sprained anything, but he sure as hell didn't feel anything. Not yet anyways, but he didn't give a damn. He continued to run with all his might, his arms flailing at his sides as he bound down a familiar road towards a familiar building. Off to his left a shop stood, a creaky door left swung open and glass laying across the floor. A sign having stood on it was old and dusty but still readable. 'Chen Gun Shop.' His mind raced and heart pounded as he made for his one hope.
His boots, dirty and beginning to tear slammed against the ground and thrashed up one and then two little steps where they then crunched glass beneath him. As unnoticed by him a set of clothes rustled in the wind. His hands slammed the door already swaying freely open even further open as he nearly fell inside the dusty interior. He cast crazed and wild eyes right and then left where he found a rack of guns. He dashed towards it, pushing a small swing door open and letting it flap freely and forcefully behind him. His hands crashed onto a shotgun and he shakily pulled it off the wall and checked to see if it had any shells inside by snapping the barrel loose from the wooden stock.
"Dammit!" He lowly seethed with a cracking wheezed voice finding nothing inside. Of course there wasn't it was on the damn wall! He fell to his knees where ahead of him behind the glass of the shop counter he could see some shells. Whether they were the right ones or not for this gun he didn't know nor particularly cared as he took the gun and slammed the stock against the glass shattering it into a thousand different pieces. His hands dug in, cutting and gashing his flesh as he did and he yanked the shells and their box out where they fell around him. He easily scooped up two shells and tried unsuccessfully to load the shotgun once, twice, and three times before finally slamming one and then two into the damn contraption as best he could intuit.
A sudden cracking and crunching of glass sounded out, and Sabal froze where he knelt. He had just slammed the shotgun back closed and readied it for firing. His heart was pounding in his ears as he felt his blood racing. The room was quiet dusty and dark only the light streaming in from the windows and doorway illuminated anything in the little gun shop. His teeth chattered behind cracked lips as he slowly turned his head towards where the door was. The unmistakable sound of those footsteps sounded as he heard wood creak, and the monsterhad to be inside. His leg still raised and bent at the knee was tired and pained from the position and he could feel his other leg becoming numb and falling asleep under the weight of his own body, but he barely gave the sensations any mind. The footfalls entered in and got louder, and louder, as whatever it was got closer and closer.
The counter rose high enough to conceal him just above the top of his head. But he barely had enough room to look up and watch as that green spotted tail with that horrible pincer at its tip swing over the counter freely whipping in the air. His breaths were short and low but he needed more air with how fast his heart was pounding, but every gulp sent him into a panic that the monster would hear him as he shook uncontrollably. He heard another low moan loose from the monster as it moved just a bit away from the counter by the sounds of its steps.
"Come out...come out...wherever you are." The raspy low voice commanded innocently enough, but it held unnatural menace in it that the man swore he had only heard in movies until now. He had heard stories of the androids. How they acted like rotten teenagers while they murdered cities wholesale with no remorse nor thought. Yet to him Sabal thought this thing, this monster was terror incarnate. The monster sounded wrong, it looked wrong, it slithered and rasped every breath with its diamond reptilian eyes. It made him sick...he didn't want to think about what it had...done to the others.
"I know you're in here." It slithered and Sabal clenched his hands tightly to the shotgun and pulled it close as he felt his bones shake beneath his flesh.
"The longer you play hide and seek, the longer you delay the inevitable." It made a sickening chuckle.
"Though I do enjoy hunting for a good meal." The man felt his nostrils flare his eyes widen and every inch of him crawled in hurried horror as he let loose another scream of horror and used all his might to jump into a stand. He aimed his shotgun down sights and looked towards the monster. He only noted for a second its long insect wings turned towards him, his crown adorned head glancing over its left shoulder at him and tail paused in an upside down U in the air before he pulled the trigger. The blast threw him back and he felt the air pushed from his lungs as his back slammed against the rack behind him unhinging and loosening several guns that fell around him. The shell exploded out and uncountable small pellet like balls flew out unseen to normal eyes before they crashed into the monster. However, Sabal opened his eyes after being thrown back and he felt them immediately widen. The monster hadn't moved an inch, his one seen eye looking dead toward him dully. The smoke of the gun filled the man's nose and his arms shook from the power of the weapon, but he was utterly frozen with only light gasps escaping his mouth. All the while the sound of falling beads hung in the room for a moment.
"Well now," The monster's slithering voice began as a sick and strange smile graced its beaked face and it turned slightly more towards the man.
"I'll let you have that one for free. Now," The monster continued turning to face him directly, before it then lowered its arms and slightly raised them out in an almost inviting manner.
"Go on, hit me with the other. Judging by that barrel you have two shots, so go on give the next your best shot. Make sure you have it count." The man looked on in horror his eyes widened and gawking toward the monster. His hands were shaking and he felt a knot in his stomach and he wanted to vomit. His mouth opened and closed several times. Ready to talk, or scream or anything at all neither he nor the monster knew, but all that came out were weak gasps.
"No?" The monster asked seeming almost genuinely surprised.
"Well then allow me to make this quick then." The monster took one step forwards with a smile still on its unnatural mouth and Sabal flinched. He dug his back into the wall shaking another gun down from the rack as he pointed his shotgun down at the beast.
"S...s...stay away you freak! I'll...I...I'll shoot again!" It paused and tipped its head lower with that same smirking look about it.
"Then please, go on then." It took one more step and Sabal shrieked sharply, and more squeaking than he even thought his throat possible as he let the other blast loose. The explosion shook his body and his ears immediately rung from the sound that boomed out into an echo through the little store. He watched it, and this time he saw the pellets whirl out faster than he could follow as they slammed into the beast, and then, they fell harmlessly to the ground again. They thrashed into his body and simply fell off like a child's ball thrown against a building's wall.
"Hmm, what a pity," The monster hummed lowly and threateningly as it bent its knees somewhat.
"You wasted your last chance." Without second thought or notice it jumped onto the counter top sending more glass crashing down. Sabal screamed turning to run, but he felt the monster's arm reach out and snatch the neck of his shirt yanking him back with an audible gag as the fabric pulled around his throat. A sickening laugh sounded as Sabal felt himself lifted off the ground and with utter ease he was thrown, propelled through the window leading outside next to the store counter and gun rack.
He fell onto the wooden landing and crashed over into a roll clear off of it into the dirt road. He then rolled a few more times kicking up dirt and forming a pile around his head as he came to a stop in the middle of the road. He coughed and gagged harshly as he inhaled dusty dirt and his head throbbed painfully. He weakly pushed his hands against the dirt and with all his might began pushing himself up. Before a shadow then fell over him and he watched the daylight fade across his vision as the figure of the monster obstructed the sun's rays. He paused, his face the etching of terror as sweat fell in clear visible droplets to the ground just beneath his face in a panic of adrenaline and exhaustion. The creaking of the monster's footsteps sounded and it whirled around Sabal, he turned right just to see it stare down at him and smile wickedly, before he felt rather than saw its foot crash up into his abdomen.
A sick crack sounded and he howled as blood and spit flew from his mouth and he was throw into the air several feet where he crashed back down to the ground harshly that threw the air from his lungs and left him gasping for breath. His breaths were gags now and his body shook with trembling pain from that one hit. The creaks of its approach sounded again and Sabal barely managed to turn his head back left to see it loom and pace slowly towards him. Unconcerned and intent on him, with its eyes unmoving and unblinking as its tail rose in the air and loomed just at its shoulder looking where his eyes did, so it seemed at least.
"Do you know why you tried to shoot me? Or why you ran away with all your might?" The monster rasped questioningly as it loomed over Sabal.
"I...I-" The monster raised its right index finger to hush him.
"Because of instinct. It is the driving force for why you still breath, why you breathed before I came. Even as 17 and 18 tear your world apart something unknown and silent to you bids you to keep on going and living. It's programmed into you from hundreds and thousands and many more years of evolution. The drive that keeps you alive and assures the propagation and continuation of your species. I understand, honestly I do." The monster hissed as it raised its right foot, and easily crashed it down onto Sabal's left leg. He howled in tormented pain as he felt his bone crack and break so swiftly that he didn't know whether to feel shocked or horrified. The beast again bent itself at its knees to come closer to Sabal's face as he heaved delirious and pained breaths and stared wide eyed at the creature's gawking face.
"I too am a creature of instinct. I feed because I hunger. I hunger because I need energy. I need energy to move, and I move because I must live. Why must I live?" It again gave its weird unnatural smile.
"You humans you wonder that often don't you? Many people wonder what it means to live. 'What is the point?' Well I needn't worry about such mundane questions. I live because I must become...perfect. To do that I must feed, and until I find my brother and sister I must satiate that hunger with the dying species. This world...it no longer belongs to you, friend." The hiss of the monster sounded out as it relished in its taunt and Sabal barely even noted anything it said as his mind raced with terror. His heart throbbed, pounding away in his chest and his breaths were caught and coughing.
"Be honored, for you'll serve a greater purpose now. In helping me assume my perfection you shall live forever in me." Its tail drew over its shoulder and the tip pointed down ready to strike in a stab that left Sabal stammering to say something, anything! Anything to make him, to make it stop!
"Take this freak!" A new voice cried and the monster turned over its right shoulder just as a hail of bullets flew out and dozens crashed against its face and winged back. It hissed a grumble lowly as it pulled up into a stand and Sabal threw both arms over his face in vain hope he wasn't struck by one of those bullets.
He peeked through a gap in his arms to see a line of men, some he knew in fact, all holding rifles, machine guns and pistols firing at the monster.
"Sabal stay down!" One cried, his neighbor, Mr. Rhapis.
"R...Ren!" He stuttered with a hoarse and tired voice trying to make his friend hear him. He was too quiet, too weak and the hail of bullets drowned him out. The monster simply stood there, every bullet that slammed into it bounced off of him impacted and useless. Yet, still then men fired on and on. Some even ran out of bullets, their casings littering the ground as they loaded up more and more.
"Amusing, I had wondered where some of you were hiding." Sabal barely heard the monster croak as it lifted its right arm. Its hand stretched out and palm faced the group of men. A silent and unseen burst of wind suddenly swept across him and Sabal gagged on the upturned dirt and dust as that same power stretched down the road and in an instant crashed into the men, all five of them. They all cried out and yelped as they were tossed up off the ground and from their footing. They fell one after the other, some more harshly than others and the beast hissed another grumbling sigh of pleasure as it lowered its arm.
"Re...Ren! Run!" Sabal managed to howl even as it made his sides burn in pain and throat ache. Ren looked up from where he had fallen, his eyes wide and bearded face the vision of horror as Sabal's had been.
"Wha...what are you?!" He howled picking up his pistol, aiming it and firing dead at the monster who took each bullet to his neck, face and chest unflinchingly. Without a word it zipped through the air, its wings rising only slightly as it floated at breakneck speeds over the ground towards Ren who kept firing seemingly at open air now. Before the monster threw a kick up and into the man's face sending him back down the street by several feet with blood flowing in his wake and Sabal knew all too well what that felt like and his heart sank for his neighbor.
The beast then one by one in quick succession brought its foot down and snapped each man's leg who was left. Each one howled in pain, each one sounded tormented and their shrieks filled Sabal's ears as he heaved in terror and tried helplessly to turn over onto his stomach and...and crawl away! Whatever he could do to escape!
"Needn't any of you worry!" The beast howled in glee as its tail flailed in the air before slamming downwards and piercing into one man's gut forcing a renewed howl of pain from him.
"None of you will suffer much longer!" He cackled for an instant before his tail began to bulge and climb upwards into his body. Each one turned the man beneath him from normal, to sagging, to sinking, to creasing and oozing. His very bones turned to liquid and his flesh began to break down and become little more than a thick paste as it too was sucked into the pincer of the beast's tail. His cries turned warbled, unnatural and freakish as he slowly seemed to age, and began to fade into nothingness leaving in seconds only his clothes where he had once laid. The monster gave another grumble, low and hissing, but this one all too satisfied.
Sabal managed to get onto his stomach and gagged in pain as blood spat up from his mouth to the dirt. He thrashed his right arm forward and used it to pull himself forward away from the horrible display. The screams of the next man rung in his ears and he smashed his eyes shut as he began to sob from pain and the shear horror of it all and pulled with his left arm forward crawling along the ground with an undoubtedly snapped rib beneath him.
"Next." The creature called raising his tail from the second man's clothes that began blowing in the breeze of the open road. One of the men had snatched up his rifle. He aimed it up at the monster and with a deafening crazed howl he opened fire. Each round slamming one after the other up into its chest. Each one bounced and sounded out without a scratch to be seen.
"You...ugly bastard! You monster!" The man screamed and the beast grumbled as its tail whipped around from its back. With a sudden strike it slammed across his hands and his gun was thrown from them. He howled, shrieked even as he pushed away using his elbows but the monster merely planted its three toed foot against his chest and with ease forced him to the ground. His tail rose up and its eyes narrowed intently, before the pincer slammed down into this one right at his neck. He gagged in pain and shock, his eyes bulging before he too quickly began to liquify and become consumed, piece by piece and batch by batch by the monster. He too would prove little sport, his clothes joining the others spread about this village and tossing freely in the wind.
He eyed another man to his left and tilted his crowned head towards him. This one was already crawling on his gut away from him and the monster snarled happily as he paced after the insignificant little creature. His right hand fell down and he grasped the back of the man's right leg with ease sending another terrified shriek sounding out. Though whether it be from true terror or the fact it was his broken leg he had grabbed he didn't know. Either way, with a harsh yank the man was pulled back and in another flash the tail's pincer fell down and bore into this one's back. His scream that followed slowed, turned to a slow gurgle before his mass was consumed drop by drop and the monster doing it reveled in it. His body shook from the fulfillment, even if a miniscule bit, of his hunger. It filled him with great satisfaction and a surge of power.
His tail pulled back up into the air and the monster turned his head up relishing the power and fulfillment that radiated in him. He smiled before glancing over his shoulder to see the first victim from before. Crawling on his stomach slowly and with wheezes and sobs sounding out from afar.
"It's a little pointless to try and escape. Don't you think?" The monster called just loud enough for the crawling man to hear. He only wheezed and cried harder as he tried with all his might to pick up his pace along the ground. That same sickening smirk came to the creature's beak as it again began to loom and zero in on the fallen man. His footsteps again sounded out creaking and foreboding as ever as his tail whipped in anticipation to satiate his hunger just a tad more. However, he paused.
His head turned right only some as he heard the rev of an engine. His already slit diamond eyes became even more narrowed as he stared down an amusing sight. In fact his smirk only widened as he saw that man from before...what had the other called him? Ah yes, Ren, his nose bleeding and face red from pain from his savage kick. Somehow he had lost track of him and the little miserable fool jumped in a truck. Amusing really, especially since the beast saw this...thing was more than old. Ancient even.
"Hmm, come on then." The monster slithered in a low seethe turning to face the truck again revving its engine as the man behind the wheel stared him down as though he were the prey. The man's eyes narrowed on the monster and the monster lowered itself down. Its wings spread out and upwards some, its arms pulled back and hands as fists as its tail again curled upwards over itself and hung in an upside down fashion with the tip pointed the truck's way.
Another scream, a single feral howl set among dozens and hundreds loosed from the man. The wheels of the machine tore into the dirt and the vehicle swayed as it howled much as the man did and it flew forwards towards the creature. It smiled broadly and relished what was to come. The man behind the wheel of the contraption bore a hateful, enraged but all too clearly terrified glare as he neared closer and closer, and even closer. Until only after a few seconds a resounding crash rung out, the truck slammed full force forward and crashed against the giant bug. It flew back and the truck carried on until it slammed again even harder than before thrashing itself and tearing through the wooden walls of some nameless and likely all to vacant shop. Heaps of planks and timber from above crashed down sending dust and dirt flying up as the engine sizzled openly and loud enough for any nearby to hear.
Inside the truck Ren groaned painfully. He picked his head off the wheel where it had slammed and he coughed violently as his right hand reached down to clutch and nurse his ribs. He grimaced but managed to tear his eyes upwards. The cracked and shattered glass ahead of him on the windshield allowed him enough view. Half the glass was gone just to his right. An entire foundational log...or whatever someone wanted to call it was jutting inside of the truck...what had been his truck. He didn't care much though. He wearily placed his forehead back against the wheel. He saw nothing, and had heard nothing, and a sliver, a faint hope entered into him and-
The truck gave a violent jerk and Ren yelped at the suddenness of the movement. Outside the cracked windshield he watched the lumber and support beams dropped all around the car fly upwards where they swiftly fell back down atop and around the truck. From beneath them that same green and black spotted creature simply pulled itself up back into his view. Its eyes stared numbly towards him before the creature placed both hands atop the dented, smashed in and smoking hood of the truck. Its unnatural maw again twisted into a smirk as it pulled itself back and with a single thrust forward of its hands the whole vehicle flew backwards while Ren cried in terror. It flew back and thrashed itself into the front of another building with a mighty shake and crash that sent more foundational lumber tumbling around the bed of the truck while inside Ren slumped back in his seat in a daze.
He opened his eyes wearily as he felt an acute nausea hit him from the pain and adrenaline all mingling together inside of him. He scanned his eyes across his field of vision and didn't see the thing. The building from before was void of any person and only showed some pieces of the building shaking from the sudden removal of the truck.
"Where-" The truck gave another violent shake and atop him Ren heard and then turned to see two dents form in the roof. He yelped again before slamming his hands to his door where he yanked on the handle and pushed with all his might. Only to hear metal scraping against metal. Every violent push and nudge he gave only produced the slightest movement from the door.
Above him Ren heard the metal tear allowing light to burst through inside the truck. He howled as the terror took hold as he turned to see the hulking monster reach his right arm inside. The black clawed hand grasped at his shirt and with a violent heave that sent him mentally into a haze he was pulled through the roof widening the gap in the roof. His hands flailed as he began screaming incoherently.
"An admirable attempt at survival. Ultimately futile, however." The slithering voice intoned before it tossed Ren lazily through the air. He landed on his stomach with another great heave as his whole body shook from pain.
Immediately he thrashed his hands and knees against the ground in attempt to escape. The crash of a hard and powerful foot against the back of his left leg not only stopped him dead but released another horrendous scream through the open air. Before a great stabbing pain shot through him that radiated from the center of his back. Like the others he screamed, and like the others it became quieter and quieter. Until there was nothing left, but silence and clothes floating freely in the wind.
Beneath his foot his toes clutched all that remained of the man. He kicked aside the pair of jeans and let them toss in the breeze along with the shirt and all other clothing. His eyes looked down numbly and silently for a moment. He took in his work and felt a keen sense of enjoyment tingle up his spine and fill him with intense pleasure. Not only did he feel but a fraction more fulfilled, but that gnawing sense inside of him that took part in the hunt felt invigorated.
A slithering groan passed his mouth and he turned both left and right slowly and methodically. His eyes scanning the renewed silent streets and watching as more clothes tussled against the winds. Some flew upwards and fell back silently, and others flapped on the ground before being rolled about. There was more damage done to two buildings of course. He gave the faintest of chuckles as he found he never imagined someone ramming a car into him to be a valid prospect of an attack. Though, as he glanced over his shoulder towards the truck, he supposed he was as wrong about the prospect as the dead man was about its usefulness against him.
Either way, he turned away form the car and started walking off towards the right. There was one last piece of business to attend to, here anyways. His steps again creaked and rattled the air, his tail whipped in the air behind him and his eyes remained unblinking as he made down the street and followed the barest hint of disturbed dirt. He could also sense his target, though it was weak and weaker than even the average human since his encounter from before. He didn't like consuming something already dead. Not when taking their lives their essence and strength and their mass into him while they still had a beating heart made it far more satiating.
He began to hear the whimpers and whines and in another second he saw the man crawling. Still on his stomach, still using his arms to pull him and his whole body forward along the ground. His cries were only strengthened and made more desperate as he approached him. He had heard his name from the man he had just consumed too. He gave another twisted smirk as he approached.
"Now now, that's no way to treat a guest in this village of yours, Sabal." The man glanced over his left barely able to get a view of the monster. He tried desperately to pick up the pace his panicked clawing at the ground tiring his arms, wearing down his muscles and kicking dirt into his already reddened and burning eyes. The shadow of the beast once more engulfed his retreating figure laid prone and helpless to the ground before he again cried out suddenly as the foot of the monster stomped onto his back and he was forced unceremoniously fully to the ground.
Its other leg coming from Sabal's left kicked into him lightly turning him over onto his back. His arms flew up and into an X covering his face. The sun above cast light down and turned the monster's face and torso into a shadow, a dark demonic shape that loomed and towered before him. Sabal's eyes were wide his teeth barred and body shaking in convulsing fear as all senses screamed at him to run, to get away, to do anything! The monster's tail whipped over its right shoulder, and that deadly pincer pointed down towards him menacingly.
"Wha...what kind of...m...monster are you?! What are you?!" Sabal screamed and the monster again smirked hidden in the shadow created by the beating sun above them.
"As to the what, that explanation may take too long and I don't think you have long left friend. But, as a 'thank you' for being but a miniscule part that shall help me reach perfection, I shall tell you who." Its tail lowered down and the sharp pincer loomed at his chest and the man watched in horror as sweat pooled across his beaten and broken body.
"I am Cell." A final terrible scream echoed throughout the dead village. For not a single soul remained within it. The tail pierced its target and like all the others before took into it the mass of the man known as Sabal. His power, his energy, like many hundreds now joined together inside Cell and made him that much more powerful, and that much more hungry to find the two targets he so longed for.
Cell rose up into the air and hovered above the village. Nearby a sign waved freely in the wind having been knocked from its post that read out, Chazke Village. It now bore nothing within but the deafening silence of death left in the wake of the beast who now soared above it.
Cell flexed both hands before himself. He pulled his arms in tightening his hands into fists and his aura formed around him. His eyes lit up as they narrowed looking into the distance. He had to control how much ki he let loose into the world. There were still some he didn't believe himself ready to face. Though a smirk crossed his face as he reveled in the added power coursing through him, for it wouldn't be too much longer before his power was beyond any Saiyan, half-Saiyan and even his brother and sister. He began to laugh, a low raspy thing that echoed around him. His aura grew ever so slightly around him and below the ground began to give the faintest quake. His laugh turned uproarious and loud covering the valley and village in the maniacal sound as the village shook more and the dirt rustled as winds tore through Chazke.
His power surged and he chanced to let it rise just a bit more as he delighted in his rising power and anticipated perfection. A stream of clothes whipped and whirled into the air from the winds he shook through the valley. More rose and swam around him where he hung in the open air until even more came and Cell was surrounded by dozens upon dozens upon dozens more individual articles of clothes that swirled with the winds around him. A sea of forgotten names and faces set about a sea of their only remains, the only thing they could ever be remembered by.
Until at last Cell quieted himself and calmed his laugh. His arms fell to his sides, his eyes stared forwards towards the north he thought. Another satisfied low grumbling hiss escaped his maw as that sea of throwaway cloth fell slowly around him back to the ground. A raining testament to his power, so he thought with another smirk of pride. He then reached out with his senses and ignored those places he felt intense amounts of ki. Those would come later, when he needn't worry about anyone standing in his way. For now, he would eat the little scraps left by his twin siblings.
The smirk still gracing his face broadened as he found another little concentration of life. He exploded off after it at full speed and with as little energy as possible. After all, he was still hungry for more.
"Reporting from the remains of Sizzle City is like reporting on every city hit by the android menace. While the landscape is reminiscent of what a modern city should look like what we see is a fallen shadow of its former self."
"I can't believe they destroyed another city! That's three over the course of only a few days!" Videl went on as she leaned into the seat she sat on. An old picnic like table in the middle of an open field. The radio sat before her on the table with the reports filtering through with the usual static and poor connections afforded them these days. Her eyes were hard and serious as she glared at the radio. Her anger towards those machine killers trying to reach through the inanimate object to throttle them.
"Towers have been shaken and torn, streets are cracked and battered. Cars, trucks and street light have been uprooted, scorched and mutilated by power we can hardly explain. Sizzle City stands as another stark reminder of the horror the androids can bring onto any unsuspecting city. Any town, any village and any dwelling can fall to these depraved twin murderers."
"Well it's nice to see them calming any fears." Videl intoned lowly as she rubbed her forehead wearily.
"Now come on Videl, you shouldn't be listening to any of that! Not when we got dinner to eat at least." She looked up to see her father carrying over a large dish from the mobile camper they called home. They were currently parked in the middle of nowhere, a flat grassy plain with some trees spread sparsely around in all directions. Though the camper itself was nestled beneath several trees using the natural leafy canopy as cover from the air. He wore an apron, almost comically as he wore that same satisfied grin of his upon his face. He had managed to get them another huge helping of food from a town they passed through along with the reporters who he insisted follow them. She wanted to say something. To mention taking food from those people was wrong, especially since everyone barely had enough to eat these days. But, she didn't. Despite herself, and despite the truth of it all she stayed quiet. Her father, still beaming came over and smacked the platter down. A steaming sweet smell entered her nose and she whiffed it in and sighed hungrily.
"I see you managed pork this time." She smiled up at him thankfully to which he chuckled.
"Course' I did! The Champ and his girl gotta eat!" He declared placing those hands of his to his hips dramatically. She gave him a cocked brow look of disbelief, but only for a moment. She let it fall and simply shook her head. It was exactly that attitude that gave everyone hope. Managed to somehow sell a lie to the world that her father was powerful enough to find and beat the androids. They were the cowards, too afraid to show themselves against the Martial Arts Champion of the world. From a game that happened...over a decade ago? Did she believe it? No she figured out a long time ago the limitations of her dad, and his shortcomings with his...well lies. But, as she looked back at him smiling away and preparing a plate for her she gave another smile of her own. He was still her dad after all. If he could give people who were hopeless some glimmer of light than who was she to try and take that away?
"Well we best do so while it's hot." She offered smiling still as he finished serving her a helping. A simple plate, some of the pork, she didn't ask how it was cooked and just decided to appreciate it. Some bread and what she think counted as something of a salad? She wasn't sure, but she'd eat it anyways. Her father was actually pretty decent at cooking she thought.
"Alright well eat up! Cause' tomorrow we gotta get moving on again."
"Oh yeah? Where to this time?" She asked moving her plate nearer towards herself.
"Sizzle City is too far south for us to reach in time to do much of anything. So, I figured the androids are in this general area here out west. Gingertown, Peri City and Sizzle. I think we should stay in the general area. Keep our ears to the radio and wait to see where they pop up. That way we can try to catch em' by surprise!" He laughed on and Videl wondered sometimes if he even bought what he was saying. She didn't know, but again nodded though more subtle than before.
"Sure thing dad." A bit more morosely than before she looked back down at her plate as her father sat opposite her. He looked at her and cocked his head to the side. She caught him and before he could think anymore on her sudden shift in attitude she forced a big smile onto her face.
"Best get to eating then." She offered happily enough and he nodded in kind with his own more restrained smile. However, the buzzing and quiet chattering from the radio caught both their attention.
"Well maybe we should turn that off for the time being."
"Yeah, that sounds good." She replied reaching over and grasping the little thing. It buzzed as its connection waned and rose with every little movement she made.
"...enough it's not known why or how, but amazingly not a single body has yet to be found inside the city." Videl froze just as her hand waved over the off switch. Her eyes narrowed and she looked down towards the machine.
"Uh, Videl?" She raised her hand to quiet her father and listened on intently.
"Being residents of the city ourselves we can only report on what others have told us of course. The city is deafeningly quiet to be sure, but not one body has been found. Not a single soul killed. A few stragglers, few and far between, have made their way back into the city. From what we can gather to take any items and supplies they may need as everyone has chosen to vacate Sizzle in spite of the lack of killing. This, we can only approve of, as there's no telling when the android menace could return to finish the job they started."
"N...no one's dead? Well that's great then!" Her father chimed in happily.
"Yeah, but that's not like them. To not kill anyone I mean. Even in Peri there were remains and all those...free floating clothes."
"Well I wouldn't think too much on it. I'd just be happy no one got hurt. At least nobody known about yet."
"Yeah." She trailed off in thought as the radio lost a decent connection before it buzzed back in.
"...sketchy to say the least. However, when the android appeared nobody had ever seen anything like him. Of course I use the word 'him' liberally, for the android was most definitely of machine nature. Body of metal and unnatural look. If we look to the reports and eyewitness testimonies gathered from across the globe on the androids though we find some stark differences. For one this android traveled alone. He bore the shape of a man but his body is reported to have been completely black. Wearing dark clothing and a hood, according to one eyewitness he bore no face. Rather, he looked to have the skeletal frame of a human eyes glowing and ghostly."
"What?" Videl intoned as her father looked between her and the radio. Himself seeming confused, but more basing his own reactions on hers.
"He spoke very little, and we cannot say how the initial attack began for certain. According to one source we talked to just an hour or so ago who was near the site of his arrival within the city, this android landed in the middle of a street. His attack began with the destruction of several unoccupied vehicles before his voice, a growling mechanically warped thing, ordered everyone to flee immediately. Without much need for further motivation we can say everyone did as commanded of them by the menace. The android proceeded to fire more of those terrible blasts in many directions hitting various points near him that were reportedly bereft of life.
'I am not one to state rumor so lightly to anyone who's listening. However, we have even been told by one family that this android appeared to protect their children. According to the two young boys they were lost within the city. Separated from their mother in the panic of the evacuation they knew where to meet them should something like this happen. It's always important to have designated meeting zones outside of your city should an android attack it."
"If you can even get out of the city." Videl replied again sounding more morose than before as she listened on.
"The same unknown figure, the 'Golden Fighter' and this android fought one another ferociously. However, he Golden Fighter unleashed a terrible blast that accordingly ripped buildings down where they stood from the explosive power. Once more I'll state I am not stating hard fact backed by evidence, but according to these boys who are alive and well now, wee it not for the android not only seeing them but meeting the Golden Fighter head on with an already seriously injured bodily structure they would both be dead."
"Wh...what?!" Videl again asked as though someone would answer her.
"Yeah now it's a bit beyond strange at this point. What kinda android blows up half a city but then protects kids?"
"A very good question." She went on still glaring intently at the radio.
"Whatever the case may be, and whatever the truth is w can only be happy the two made it out of the city alive. Furthermore that, so far, everyone else has as well. Make no mistake people Sizzle City is in ruins, and were it not for the android menace still at large we could rebuild. However, it is better the city be left to rot. Unclaimed and silent as a ghost town. Whatever the truth may be one can never know when this android or the others should decide to return and finish the job." Videl let the radio fall into her lap. Her eyes turned upwards seemingly looking towards her father, but truly past him. She wasn't actually looking at him, but he was looking at her. The intense thoughtful and obviously confused look she bore threw him off, even if just a little.
"V...Videl?"
"This week just gets stranger and stranger. What does this even mean?! Are there good androids out there?! Or not? Was everyone just in its way, or did it not want to hurt anyone? If it didn't want to hurt anyone then why destroy the city?!" She carried on from one question to the next.
"Well," He began a bit boastfully and Videl could just smell what was coming and forced herself not to roll her eyes.
"Maybe it was looking to draw out the Champ! Wreaking havoc throughout an entire city to draw out your opponent the defender of Earth! Sounds like a decent strategy to me, but that android obviously failed to get its hands on me! That poor 'golden guy' took the brunt of it, but hey at least he got the job done this time."
"Oh dad." Videl intoned very lowly as she let him do his usual thing. She snapped the radio off not wanting to hear anymore. Her dad was thoroughly enjoying his own bravado again. He'd calm down in a little bit, always did. Though, as she darted her eyes back and forth in thought and confused musing she did think her dad maybe had one point.
Maybe that machine, that android wanted to draw someone out. Her mind flashed to that familiar so called 'Golden Fighter.' Many around the world heard of him, and some even saw him, but everything was confused. From his look, his clothes and his name no one hardly knew anything about him. Only that he often showed himself to fight the androids at no call or incentive other than the threat they posed. In hindsight she actually admired him, whoever he was for that. Even still, the whole scenario spelled out by the reporter on what happened in Sizzle confused and angered her.
"Well uh, anyways lets eat." She was shaken from her musings by her dad who sat himself back down and pushed her plate further towards her. She looked at it for a second before again forcing a smile onto her face.
"Right." She offered honestly thankful of him. Even as she made to take the first bite of what would turn out to be a good meal she knew her mind would be plagued by what happened down in Sizzle. The thought of an android protecting rather than killing, and the Golden Fighter would be no help in her sleep tonight.
Oh well, sleep was more of a luxury these days anyways.
Authors Note: So if anyone has any questions on what's going on with whoever let me know. I am hinting at several things with several characters and hopefully everything is being hinted at rather than stated. If you ask a question that is spoiler central I will simply say wait and see as I think my inferences are hopefully working then. ;p
Once again if you notice any grammatical errors feel free to let me know as I will gladly fix them. Or, do your best to ignore them. Yes I know they can and have broken immersion in the past. If you feel inclined leave a review, or not...totally up to you. Flames of any/all types shall be promptly and easily ignored. :)
Thank you all for whoever is reading this, and I greatly appreciate it. Also one final note about DB Super from last time. I am ignoring MOST of the lore in that show. I will cherry pick some things from it but overall I am not entirely impressed with the show. But I hold nothing against it nor anyone who likes it. It's just not for me. Anyways, thanks for reading, and until the next one!
