Chapter 045 - Revenge of the Red Ribbon Army
Yamcha's ki was severely weakened and critical; if they didn't get him help now he would certainly die. Blood spilt onto the ground in a small crimson pool by his feet, seeping through the large hole in his back. Corset stared wide-eyed in horror and disgust able to see through to the other side. She felt her gagging reflex struggling not to be set off but stubbornly attempted to ignore it. Easier said than done. It had been a while since she'd seen such a brutal injury and becoming more grown-up did not make it any easier to see.
The aged, bearded man released his grip and let Yamcha drop to the floor, the impaled fighter collapsing heavily onto his back. He wasn't moving and his ki flickered dangerously.
"Krillin, Yamcha's still alive! I left the senzu back with Bulma – take him to her and get him one!" Goku ordered.
"R-Right," Krillin nodded, cautiously rushing forwards towards his fallen comrade and slinging him over his shoulder gingerly. He took a quick glare at the two androids before taking off back towards the large towering mountain on the edge of the city.
Corset kept her eyes on the two strange men before them – the men they assumed were the androids. The old man had a bushy white moustache and a mean look whilst his accomplice didn't look so human in appearance, having pure white skin and looking a little rounder. Both wore bizarre clothing; clothing of which would make them stand out in a crowd. Each bore a strange red bow with 'RR' written inside of it in white. Corset wondered what that stood for...
"So you're the androids..." Piccolo muttered breaking the silence. "We get to see you at long last!"
The old android seemed surprised by this remark. "... Interesting. You knew we were mechanical and you seemed to know we would appear here... How?"
The young girl wasn't sure how strong these androids were because they had no ki for her to use as a reference. She couldn't tell if they'd held back against Yamcha and it frustrated her. She'd become so accustomed to using her sensing ability to determine her opponent's power level. The loss of this just made her even more uncertain.
"You'll have to beat it out of us!" Piccolo answered sternly.
"... We'll do that," The android replied apparently indifferent to the change in tone in Piccolo's voice.
Piccolo and Tenshinhan put up their guard, Corset mimicking the older fighters. It was four on two; maybe they'd hold an advantage over them, especially since Goku and Piccolo were here.
"Wait!" Goku cried calling a stop to the almost inevitable attack. "There are too many people here. Let's move to a more deserted area."
"Good point..." Corset mumbled. This city was still packed full of innocent bystanders who'd never stand a chance of survival if they fought here. They had to fight in a place free of innocent people!
"How about it then?" Goku asked nervously speaking more to the two murderers than anyone else.
"A deserted area?" The older android repeated. "That's fine – but we won't need to move."
With little warning a duo of beams shot straight from his eyes! The shots narrowly missed Goku and Tenshinhan who'd almost been caught off-guard; Corset felt her heart thump in her chest as she realised what was about to happen. The beams of ki struck a nearby building, destroying it and the many lives inside of it. Several tiny ki signals vanished as the building collapsed. The android continued to fire off these attacks in rapid succession; a nearby petrol station was hit and erupted into flame with a deafening explosion. Quickly the entire area was shrouded in thick smoke accompanied by a deafening roar from the explosions. Amidst the confusion Corset covered her mouth as she choked on the pungent smoke; fumes mixed in with the dust. She couldn't keep her eyes open and wouldn't have been able to see the androids from where she stood. What if they suddenly attacked?
"Stop it!" Goku was heard bellowing over the loud tremors as several more buildings were stricken and fell.
Corset took a couple of steps forwards joining Piccolo's side; here she found it far easier to breathe and opened her eyes cautiously. She couldn't see the destruction caused due to the large plumes of smoke in front of them.
Goku'd attacked and had stopped the android's onslaught now standing a couple of inches away from the fallen machine; he'd managed to knock his large black hat clean off in the process. The top of the man's mechanical head caused Corset to double-take in disgust and yet she found herself fixated and fascinated. The top half of his head was composed of what appeared to be a glass dome. Corset was almost certain she was indeed looking at a human brain encased inside the dome; glancing at it for too long sent shivers down her spine and made her squirm in discomfort yet she felt compelled to stare. Needing to focus on something else she took a quick look at Goku, almost taking a step back in shock. She hadn't seen Goku look so angry in a long time.
"You monster!" Goku snapped as the android retrieved his strange hat, placing it back on his head.
"You said you wanted a deserted area," the android replied. "I was only aiming to please!"
Corset's fists clenched tightly into balls at this remark, "You just wanted an excuse to cause some damage!" She spat. "What did these people ever do to you?"
"Foolish child," the android's emotionless eyes fell on her, "we were created by the great Dr. Gero to exterminate all life on Earth and to take revenge on Son Goku. Goku wanted a deserted area so I tried to provide him one!"
"That's enough!" Goku bellowed venomously. "Just follow us – we'll tear you to pieces!"
"You cannot defeat us," the rounder android smiled; this was the first show of emotion Corset had seen either of them display. So they were capable of human feelings? Maybe she was jumping the gun a little.
"We shall follow you..." The older android decided. "Choose your place of death, Son Goku."
"H-How did he know his name?" Tenshinhan asked shocked. He, Goku and Piccolo all seemed surprised. Corset wasn't so sure why; she always assumed Goku was well-known by fighters!
"We know you all..." The android answered, "Piccolo... and Tenshinhan... and Corset."
Now she was surprised! How on earth did this android know about her? She didn't get it!
The sound of sirens reached her ears and she glanced to her left; several police cars seemed to be heading towards them, obviously unable to resist the sounds and sight of an explosion. Panic quickly struck her; did that mean they'd now all be arrested for being at the scene of the crime?
"... We'll ask questions later! Let's go!" Goku ordered, bolting full force into the sky, the androids hot on his heels.
With a head full of unanswered questions, Corset followed as fast as she could alongside Piccolo and Tenshinhan, relieved she wasn't finding it too difficult to keep up with them.
The flight took them over the open ocean and over several small islands, eventually leading them to and across the mainland. Corset was sure she could sense they were being followed but couldn't focus enough of her attention to it; she didn't trust having to fly behind these androids considering she'd seen how dirty they played. She was still seething with anger from the needless slaughter of many lives in that city. She'd come to detest mindless destruction and saw it as a sign of cowardice; strong fighters picking on the weak and defenceless was disgusting and dishonourable – especially when it was unprovoked! She'd seen far too much needless killing on Namek; at the time it had scared her and made her grieve. Looking back on it made her feel sick and angered her.
The terrain below began to grow more complex as flat plains became clustered outcrops and twisting caverns.
The androids suddenly vanished from in front of her eyes; Corset stopped reflexively. Goku, Piccolo and Tenshinhan all began to make their way to the ground, the young girl followed. She saw the androids reappear, landing softly on the ground. Her own feet struck dirt and scattered a light cloud of dust as she landed beside Tenshinhan and Goku.
Her eyes scanned their surroundings. They were in a small clearing but surrounded by rocks from all corners. They would make decent hiding places if the androids would try to escape... or if worst came to worst and she needed to make a run for it!
"Before we fight, tell me one thing..." Goku spoke breaking the silence. "How do you know about us?"
"... There's no harm in answering, though you may regret having ever asked." the older android replied. From the way he and the other android behaved, Corset was beginning to think the older-looking android was the boss of the duo. The rounder android had barely done anything and had only spoken once.
"We have been watching you for a long time Son Goku, with tiny little robot spies," the older android explained, "During the Tenkaichi Budokai martial arts tournaments and the battles with Piccolo and Vegeta. From the time you destroyed the Red Ribbon Army, we looked for your weaknesses and sought to know what kind of androids would beat you!"
Corset perked up on a number of times over his explanation. So he knew about her father too? She'd remember hearing about the Red Ribbon Army from her mother; the guy from the future had mentioned them as well. Maybe that was what the RR stood for on their clothes; the Red Ribbon Army's logo. Next was those robot spies he'd mentioned... She'd been at the fight with Vegeta – she'd never seen any robot spies! Just how fantastic had the Red Ribbon Army's technology been?
"So it was all because of a grudge against me?" Goku asked with a huff.
The hint of weariness in his voice had not been ignored but it was only now Corset consciously focused on Goku's breathing; he was sounding so laboured she could hear it from where she was standing! Was he tired from the flight here? That had been nothing even for her... so why was he breathing hard?
"Because of you, the Red Ribbon Army's dream of world domination was snuffed!" The android snarled. "Only Dr Gero remained."
"You're talking as if you were Dr Gero yourself..." Piccolo muttered.
Corset watched carefully; the android seemed to display a faint form of surprise for the briefest of moments before it vanished.
"Ridiculous!" The android snorted. "I am Android Twenty, created by Dr Gero. Dr Gero is no more."
"Did you spy on me on Namek too?" Goku asked.
"There was no need," Android Twenty replied. "By that time we had complied a complete understanding of your strength and skills. Even projecting the most extreme rate of improvement for an adult combatant, we know the full extent of the power you may wield."
Corset raised an eyebrow puzzled. This android spoke in a strange manner. His use of words made him sound like some kind of academic to her. On the other hand this sounded like a perfect opportunity for them. Corset couldn't help but smile smugly; if what these guys were saying was true, they were in for a bit of a shock!
Goku seemed confident. "Too bad you didn't stick with your project. You missed something."
"What?" Android Twenty once again seemed to be caught by surprise. Corset couldn't help but think how amazing it was that a living machine could express real human emotion...
"It'll prove to be a fatal mistake for you guys..." Piccolo smiled assertively, "... not to know about the Super Saiyan."
"... Super Saiyan?" The android echoed.
With a fierce bellow Goku's ki skyrocketed up; Corset putting up her defences anticipating the strong shockwaves which usually seemed to accompany this transformation. She sensed his power strike that particular peak and watched as Goku transformed into a Super Saiyan; the force of his energy knocking dust into the air. The shockwaves had reached the androids too yet they seemed unhindered and even indifferent by the humungous jump in Goku's ki.
"I see..." Android Twenty muttered.
Corset growled and frowned at the androids before them; they could at least show some signs of fear! Perhaps when Goku would reach full power they'd be shaking! She'd questioned why he hadn't gone straight to full power but put it down to him testing the android's capabilities. After all they didn't know the full extent of the android's powers; maybe it was unwise to challenge them at full strength from the start...
"Stay out of this you three," Goku ordered, "I'm the one they want!"
"Indeed it does seem like you've managed quite an improvement," Android Twenty spoke. "Your power has far surpassed the calculated limits. Fortunately we are up to it; even Android Nineteen can handle power such as this, as of course can I."
"Oh really?" Goku asked curious, "Let me find that out for myself!"
The Super Saiyan charged forwards.
In a flash, the rounder android had struck out a palm yet Goku'd anticipated it and now stood behind him, elbowing the stunned android in the back and sending him shooting forwards into a far-off boulder.
'Go Goku! Corset cheered him on in her mind, indeed the android had no doubt underestimated Goku's capabilities.
Seconds later the android was back on his feet and charged Goku; Goku stopping him with just one hand and booting him up into the sky. Up here the fight continued; Goku unrelenting as he dominated his opponent.
"Astounding," Tenshinhan muttered in awe. "I never knew what being a Super Saiyan meant! It's as if he's in a different dimension to us!"
"This is nothing; Goku gets even stronger than this," Corset beamed certain things were going well.
"... It's unreal..." Tenshinhan exhaled almost breathlessly.
Three incoming ki signals quickly caught Corset's awareness; she turned around to see Gohan, Krillin and Yamcha land behind them.
"Dad!" Gohan cried rushing forwards anxiously.
"It's ok," Tenshinhan smiled, "His power is incredible! Being a Super Saiyan must be something else; he's completely overwhelming that android! They talked a great fight but they're nothing against Goku!"
Goku was battering the android, knocking him around rather violently. Corset was too absorbed in the fight to properly register what the others were saying in the background; she had other things on her mind and was growing a little confused and concerned. Something seemed strange about the way Goku was fighting. All his hits were incredibly powerful as if he was going for the win, yet his power said otherwise...
"Have you noticed it too, Gohan?" Piccolo asked.
"Huh?" Gohan seemed surprised from what Corset could tell. "Oh... Yeah, I noticed."
So she wasn't the only one.
"Goku's rushing the battle for some reason," Piccolo confirmed it, "He's already giving it all he's got... but look at how weak he is!"
"W-Weak? Did you say weak?" Tenshinhan spluttered. "Look at him – he's overwhelming the android!"
"This is nothing," Piccolo answered, "His power should be far more staggering as a Super Saiyan."
"Yamcha thought they drain energy," Gohan mentioned, "Could that be the reason?"
"They what?" Piccolo gasped; Corset mimicking her mentor's shock. Draining energy? Was that even possible?
A loud crash not too far from them sent another cloud of dust swooping over the group. Through the dirty cloud, Corset could see the silhouette of the fallen android getting back to his feet. She began to grow concerned for Goku; had this android been stealing his power? Was that why he wasn't at full power? She wasn't sure; it didn't explain why he'd be worn out when they'd first arrived... unless that other android had the same powers too. Goku had struck him in the face earlier.
"Look at him!" Yamcha growled disappointed and slightly irritated. "He doesn't even care about the beating he's getting!"
"Well he's an android," Tenshinhan replied, "He doesn't feel any pain or fatigue."
Up above Goku looked tired. Something was wrong and she didn't like it! It seemed Goku probably knew this as well; he'd drawn his hands back for that familiar ki attack.
"Ka... Me... Ha... Me..." The power surge made it obvious; still it wasn't his full capability. At this level of power Corset wasn't sure if this Kamehameha would end the fight; the android so far had taken everything Goku'd given him and shrugged it off and it was obvious Goku was running short on ideas.
"HAA!" Goku cried, firing off a Kamehameha towards the android.
His behaviour baffled the young girl; the android grinned and extended one hand out. Was he really expecting to stop the blast with one hand?
To hers and everyone else's shock; the Kamehameha struck the android head-on yet didn't explode on impact; the energy seemed to be drawn into the android's extended hand! Within a couple of seconds the entire beam was cancelled out, the android breathing out a satisfied relief.
"W-What just happened?" Corset exclaimed mystified.
"He absorbed it!" Tenshinhan cried.
"I was right!" Yamcha gasped. "They take energy through their hands! It's the same thing as what happened to me!"
"Absorb energy..." Corset repeated. These machines had no ki of their own to speak of yet they were able to steal the ki of living beings? Again she was overcome by the technological feat! She'd come from a family swallowed up by the latest and most complicated technological designs – what she was seeing right now had seemed like an impossibility to her and her family!
She hated to admit it but this Dr. Gero guy was a genius.