I wish I owned DBZ, but I don't. I own DVD's and tapes, but it just isn't the same. I also don't own the rights to any of the music pieces you see selected, just copies of merchandise, such a shame. The artists that created them are geniuses and we all must bow to them.

Chapter 36: Android Rebirth

Doctor Wheelo? Well there's a name I do know. Great, should I be expecting a giant robot next? Verto thought as he shook his head in dismay.

"You seemed surprised that he should call himself that, why?" Kochin asked.

"Guess I shouldn't be, crazy people do strange things," Verto replied.

"He is a brilliant man; please do not speak of him with such disrespect!" Kochin warned.

"My respect has to be earned before I give it. You can start with letting Seventeen go!" Verto ordered.

"I wouldn't advise that, most of his programming still needs adjustment. Just because his memory is mostly intact doesn't mean you can control him," Kochin claimed.

"I don't want to control him; he just needs his life back!" Verto said loudly.

"No, you can't have him! Not until I've finished the next model!" Kochin said as he stepped in front of the pod.

"How about I just break it open instead? Let's see what he thinks of all this," Verto offered.

"Do that, and you will be sorry!"

"Oh really? I'm not just some punk kid you can threaten and push around! Go ahead and bring on all your little biofighters, assuming there's any left after the last two," Verto boasted.

"I know you're one of the hybrid Saiyans. Seventeen has also been upgraded to handle the likes of you!" Kochin said.

"So that's your plan, how original. You sure took you long enough to spit it out. You do want to set him free, but under your control. Then he can fight me and do your bidding, right? Go ahead and try, see if it matters!" Verto grinned.

"If you insist," Kochin mused as he pressed buttons on the side of the cell. The pod slid open all the way, and the motionless android blinked sharply. Verto backed away to give him space, unsure of what Seventeen would do.

"Where am I?" Seventeen asked.

Kochin piped up before Verto could, "In the lab, what do you remember?"

"I was being chased by Protoss forces and then I crossed paths with the Zerg and one of their leaders, some infested chick. She warned me that Eighteen would be targeted along with the others, so I used my emergency beacon to contact her. It overloaded my systems, so I don't know if it even worked. The Protoss were coming back, in force, and I tried to self detonate. Did I fail to do that?"

"Most likely you didn't have enough energy for the total explosion. Your body was salvaged and repaired as best it could be, but your left arm was completely destroyed. I have added an enhanced replacement as you can see," Kochin said as he gestured to Seventeen's left arm.

Seventeen lifted it up and looked it over, "I prefer an actual hand with fingers if you don't mind." He then glanced over and saw Verto, "Hey kid, how long was I out anyway?"

"A little more than a year. I wasn't here for all of that time either," Verto admitted.

"So, did we beat the Zerg and the Protoss then?" Seventeen asked straight away.

"In the end, yes. It didn't end on Earth, but they were driven off. Let's just say there was quite a chase through outer space," Verto explained briefly.

"Who killed that traitor that got the Protoss to turn on us, Aldaris wasn't it?" Seventeen asked. Verto scowled slightly, but sighed. It had been much longer since then for him.

"I did," Verto replied in a truly vile tone. It was enough of a hint for Seventeen to change the subject.

"So, who's this guy? Must have some sort of a brain if he can repair Doctor Gero's technology," Seventeen muttered.

"I am Doctor Kochin, and I am an expert in the fields of robotics and biotechnology. So Doctor Gero also constructed you. I suppose I should have expected that, as some of your circuitry matches this other work of art," Kochin said as he motioned towards the other pod. Seventeen's eyes went wide as they darted sideways, making contact with the numbered label on the pod.

"Android Thirteen! But Gohan and I destroyed him along with the last of Gero's laboratories!" Seventeen shouted in surprise.

"What's special about that one?" Verto asked cautiously.

"He's able to absorb components from other androids once they are offline or destroyed," Seventeen replied.

"That explains why I found additional power sources inside his chest plate. It seems he had already absorbed components from two other robotic designs," Kochin said with a finger under his chin, "We found him in terrible condition and barely able to function. Since then I have done some rather extensive repairs."

"So he's a mechanical version of Cell? Great," Verto grumbled.

"I'm curious to see his potential. Shall we turn him on?" Kochin asked with a grin.

"No!" Seventeen shouted.

"Yeah, I'll pass on that. I've got things to do down here and I just don't have time to dice another robot. I don't want to keep your boss waiting," Verto said as he stepped towards the door.

"Now that is a pity. Leaving just when we're ready to begin, right Seventeen?" Kochin asked in as sweet a tone as he could manage.

"Whatever old man, I'm getting out of this place!" Seventeen said as he climbed out of the pod.

"Oh, I don't think so," Kochin claimed. From behind his back, he pulled a remote switch and pressed the red button on it. Verto turned just as Seventeen's body stiffened slightly and his eyes flashed red for a moment.

"Now why did you have to go and do that? Here I am, mister nice guy, completely all right with leaving you and your lab alone, and then you do that. Well, now you earned an ass-kicking, not a smart move you stupid old shit!" Verto suggested.

"We'll see. Without your Saiyan powers, Seventeen will finish you off easily! Then I will make you into one of my creations!" Kochin laughed.

Verto stifled his own laugh; "You know, I've noticed a trend with you morons. All of you keep underestimating Saiyans! That's a mistake you'll regret here in just a moment when I'm done! As far as your little ki disruptors go, I have ways around that. Pay attention, the show starts in just a moment!"

"Enough! Seventeen, kill him!" Kochin ordered.

Seventeen stepped forward and nodded, "Yes doctor!" Verto slid into a defensive stance for the moment. Great, if I go to full power in here, I might fry him. Same goes for the feedback wave. I'll have to try and get that remote away from the crazy old man! Seventeen rushed forward to attack, slamming into a table when Verto dodged. He flew out of the rubble, nearly landing a kick. Verto phased out multiple times to confuse the android, and then went for the observing Dr. Kochin. Just as he got within striking range, the room lit up with blue light. Seventeen's cannon arm was charging up a very strong blast in its barrel.

"No, don't fire that in here!" Kochin yelled.

"I don't think he heard you," Verto said. Verto moved away from Kochin and Seventeen adjusted his aim accordingly.

"Power Blitz!" Seventeen shouted. The blue blast ripped through Verto's afterimage before plowing into the upper part of a cave wall. Most of the surrounding ceiling came crashing down, burying both Verto and Seventeen for the moment. Kochin scrambled out from behind Thirteen's pod, relieved that the cave was not total. The rocks rolled off a rubble pile nearest him, revealing Verto with torn clothing. Closer to the exit, Seventeen appeared, covered in dirt.

"Don't do that again!" Kochin shouted. Seventeen looked at him with a cold, emotionless expression before turning back to Verto.

"See what happens when you take away free will, it generally doesn't end well," Verto pointed out.

"Get him!" Kochin ordered again. Seventeen phased out, appearing behind Verto, only to punch an energy shield. Once he made contact, a lightning burst shot out and surged through his body several times until he dropped to his knees.

He groaned in apparent pain as his eyes began to flash randomly again, "W-what's going on?" Verto turned towards him as his eyes narrowed. So that was enough to disrupt that controller. That should take him out of this for the moment.

Kochin's eyes widened, "How did you do that?"

"A few little tricks I picked up from the Zerg war. Seems to have an interesting effect on electronic systems," Verto said as he turned back to Kochin. Before the old man could twitch, Verto rushed him and knocked the remote from his hand. He snatched it out of the air and crushed it in his palm without a second thought.

"You won't be controlling him anymore! Now surrender!" Verto demanded. Kochin backed away cautiously, holding his cane as if it would serve as a defense.

"I'm done playing around doc; don't make me warn you again!" Verto growled as he brandished his Psi sword, frightening Kochin. Out of desperation, Kochin flipped the top of his cane open, revealing a blaster cannon similar to Seventeen's arm. Cackling, he pressed a button on the side and a large beam of red energy shot out towards Verto. Just as the beam was about to hit, Verto pulled his other arm up to catch it. The blast pushed him across the room, but faded quickly, leaving only a smoking palm and a deep frown.

"Now, you have royally fucked up!" Verto said sternly. In an instant, Verto had charged and sliced the cane in two. He had his sword in position to strike Kochin's vitals as he held his lab coat tightly.

"Help me Seventeen!" Kochin cried out.

"Argh, no!" Seventeen shouted back. Verto sensed some sort of inner struggle going on with the android. When he looked back, Seventeen was holding his head and his eyes were still flashing intermittently.

"Don't listen to him. You've never needed someone to tell you what to do. You are your own man!" Verto said reassuringly.

"You can't fight your programming! You must obey the sound of my voice!" Kochin claimed.

"How about I rip out your throat?" Verto threatened as he grabbed a hold of Kochin's neck.

"Seventeen!" Kochin gasped.

"I won't!" Seventeen screamed as his cannon arm then rose and aimed at both Verto and Kochin.

"What are you doing?" Kochin asked in dread as Verto dropped him in preparation.

"Eliminating the sound of your damned voice! I know the kid can dodge this, but you won't!" Seventeen snarled as he powered up the blast.

Verto promptly let Kochin go and backed away, "He's all yours!" Seventeen didn't even hesitate and fired, barely missing when Kochin fell to the ground. He didn't miss Thirteen's pod though, and the explosion took out both the wall and the ceiling above. The energy burst carried through the back part of the lab and ripped into many robotic components and computers, rendering them to nothing but scrap. The ceiling fell through partially, but the area around Verto and Seventeen stayed intact. Doctor Kochin was nowhere to be found, most likely buried or stuck behind a wall of rock. Verto scanned thoroughly for any sign of him and received none. Seventeen's eyes returned to normal and he straightened up.

"Well, that went well. One crazy doctor down, one to go," Verto commented.

"Thanks kid, I owe you one," Seventeen said.

"Just give me a hand if things get crazy again and we'll call it even!"

Seventeen nodded, "Deal!"

As they both left the area, the rubble slowly fell away from the cave in. A large blue arm slipped out of the rubble, and a deep laugh followed it.

Doctor Cash slammed his desk again in frustration, intensifying Bulma's grin and further worrying his daughter.

"Who does that runt think he is?" Cash growled.

"Maybe you should ask yourself that question. Of course, you're crazy enough that you might actually get an answer, Flandal!" Bulma said.

"Argh! Stop calling me that!"

Bulma was about to say more when Ranso interrupted, "Doctor, both the kid and Seventeen are coming down this way. We have no way of stopping them!"

Cash's eyebrow went up in question, "They completely skipped past wing B?"

Ranso nodded nervously, "Yes."

"This might be salvageable. Keep them busy, or at least distracted. I'll require ten minutes minimum!" Cash ordered as he ran for a far door. Ranso paled slightly, but nodded obediently as the door opened into a tunnel opposite the main entrance. Cash vanished from sight within a few seconds as the door closed itself.

"Aw, running out just when it was about to get good. What a coward!" Lenz whined.

"I doubt that was the reason, he'll be using his whole arsenal if he thinks it'll work!" Bulma explained. Bulma glared up at Ranso, only to notice her sudden grin as she stared at a display reading. Bulma couldn't see what it was, but she assumed that it couldn't have been good.

Ranso chuckled slightly as she pressed an intercom button, "Doctor, you're going to have plenty of time after all!"

"What do you mean by that?" Kati asked, breaking her long silence.

"You'll see!" Ranso answered. She typed in another command, and a large wall of metal slid over the main office door. Within another minute, the lab shook from a minor explosion. The video display switched to show Verto and Seventeen just outside, and the android was taking aim with his cannon arm.

"It'll take time for them to get in. That wall is almost two feet thick and extremely resistant to explosions!" Ranso declared. Another blast shook the cave before Verto motioned Seventeen to stop as he marched towards the door. Ranso gasped when a bright blue blade pierced through a few seconds later.

"Wrong, try again!" Lenz laughed. The blade cut through the door like butter, and within thirty seconds Verto had made a large enough hole for both him and Seventeen to enter.

"About time little bro!" Lenz said with a fake glare.

"Whew, who is that?" Seventeen asked when he spotted Lenz. She winked suggestively at him, causing him to gasp and drawing a disappointed sigh out of Verto as he shook his head.

"Long story, we'll get to it later. I take it you're Ranso, Gohan's classmate?" Verto asked immediately.

Ranso grimaced, "Former classmate. Now just how did you know that?"

"You know what they say, rumors spread like wildfire. I won't bore you with those details. I don't suppose you'll surrender will you?"

Ranso scoffed, "You can't stop us you tiny little half-pint!"

"Yeah, I didn't think so. So, which part of this lab shall I blow up first? I'm in the mood for target practice, so pick me a winner," Verto grinned as his hands lit up with blue. A loud rumble drew his attention, as well as everyone else's. Verto's eyes darted sideways, but that wasn't where he detected the activity.

"What the, what now?" Seventeen asked.

"We're about to find out, it's behind us!" Verto shouted as he turned. The remainder of the door shattered apart as a huge blue being smashed through it, plowing into both Verto and Seventeen and knocking them both down.

"Right on time Thirteen!" Ranso said happily. Thirteen stood up, revealing all of his features fully. His orange tinted hair stood up much like a Super Saiyan's, and his body was incredibly muscular with blue and silver shades of apparent skin. His belt featured the Red Ribbon logo, giving Bulma the only answer she needed.

"Another Gero-made android, as if there weren't enough," Bulma grumbled.

"An upgraded one, but he still has a few bugs to work out," Ranso admitted.

"Where is Goku?" Thirteen growled.

"Like that one. Son Goku isn't here yet, but if you beat on his friends long enough he'll probably come!" Ranso suggested.

Thirteen snorted, "These two pose no threat to you and Doctor Cash! Seventeen is an insufficient model and there is no energy coming from the boy!" Verto's head shot up at Thirteen's words and he got to his feet, wiping a slight hint of blood from his lip.

"Or, maybe you're so rusty that you can't detect it!" Verto said as he suddenly charged forward. Thirteen didn't move as Verto lashed out with a hard blow to his head, followed by rapid punches to his torso. Verto sudden burst suddenly stopped when Thirteen backhanded him in the face, sending him into the wall.

"That's not good," Bulma noted. Seventeen jumped on the back of Thirteen, locking an arm under his chin and punching his head with the other. This also did little to nothing, and Thirteen threw Seventeen off easily. He immediately started charging up a powerful blast in his hand, one that looked like it would easily take out the entire lab.

"Now you're finished Seventeen!" He fired directly at the smaller android, but his blast came to a screeching halt when a blue sword collided with it. Verto had jumped into its path, with his sword angled downwards to catch the red energy ball. The initial clash pushed Verto towards the far wall until he was about to shift his sword just right and shove the blast upwards. It ripped right through the thick rock and broke into the open air outside, far above the lab. Thirteen observed this with intrigue, and then gave Verto a concerned look before grimacing a bit.

Verto glanced upwards and lifted off, "Alright Tin Can, let's take this up there. I prefer wide open spaces, I'm sure your fat ass won't mind!" Seventeen quickly followed Verto through the hole in the roof, before Thirteen made the breach even wider, dropping rubble in his wake.

Ranso laughed aloud, "That couldn't have gone better!"

"Guess you had better hope that your brute is strong enough to hold them off, I kind of doubt it! Though, as long as your ki disruptors stay online, you should be all right for a little longer. I still wouldn't bank on it as long as Verto remains focused on his favorite hobby, smashing artificial intelligence!" Bulma grinned. Ranso stared at her thoughtfully as she walked off, entering the same tunnel door that Cash had a few minutes prior. Kati watched her go, unsure of anything as she simply sat on the ground and held her knees.

"Well, I hope you're proud of yourself," Bulma muttered.

"I didn't know it would be like this! I'm so sorry!" Kati claimed.

"Sorry won't change anything now!" Bulma said sternly.

"What should I do then?" Kati asked.

"Well, you can start by letting us loose. If you go that far, you might get a little credit!" Kati nodded nervously and walked over to the control station. One press of a button and the energy field deactivated around Bulma, and then unlocked the chains around her feet.

"Can you shut down the ki restrictors?" Bulma asked as she shook her bonds loose.

Kati shook her head as she climbed up with a key, "I'm not sure where the controls are! And Ranso will probably be back any second!"

Lenz grunted, "Like you have to worry about her, she's all mine!"

Kati glanced at her, "Except you can't touch her or else she'll control you! Then where will we be?" Lenz scowled as Kati finished unlocking the chains around Bulma's wrists. As she did, Kati grazed Bulma's skin and her power suddenly started morphing her into Bulma's twin.

"Whoops," Kati said in Bulma's voice.

"Wow, I need a make over bad!" Bulma noticed, as she looked herself over.

"Hey, do me next! You can't see everything with them damn mirrors!" Lenz said.

"Forget that, we don't have time. Okay, if you can shutdown the defense systems, Lenz and I will go after Flandal! Try and see if you can shutdown the ki disruptors too!" Bulma suggested. Kati cautiously depressed the control mechanism for the chains around Lenz's arms and legs. Once unhooked, Lenz leapt out, stretching a bit once she landed.

"Just what are those things made of?" Lenz asked.

"Probably a similar alloy to the gravity room," Bulma replied, "Were you even able to bend them a little?"

Lenz shook her head, "Not a bit!" Lenz picked up one of the chain links and applied pressure. After several seconds, she cringed as her arms shook. The chain barely showed any sign of change.

"Tough stuff," she exclaimed as she dropped the chain.

Kati was currently shaking in place like an earthquake had hit, "I'm n-not sure I can shut things down in time!"

"You won't know until you try. It will at least buy us some time. Get the defense systems off around here and then try to shut down the disruptors, you wanted to help after all. My lab coat please," Bulma motioned. Kati quickly gave it to her, but her jitteriness didn't fade.

"What is it?" Bulma asked.

"I didn't quite mean it that way. I think your son has Chemical Z in his body. I'm not sure what is taking it so long, but it's sure to kick in soon," Kati pointed out.

"WHAT?" Bulma shrieked.

"It's true, and I don't think even a Saiyan's body can withstand it without some sort of effect. I'm not sure what it's going to do to him, but it can't be good," Kati continued.

"He's not stupid enough to take something like that, so how did it get there?" Bulma asked.

Kati paused, "Um…actually."

"Here comes the part I don't want to hear, out with it!" Bulma demanded.

"I kind of slipped when Vegeta had me cornered, it just sort of fell into his IV bag. I don't think much got into his blood stream before Vegeta ripped it out, but it's there. He claimed that after he woke up he used his energy to nullify it, but I think he only wiped out all of the sedatives that were flowing through him," Kati added. The expression on Bulma's face went through various changes spanning the emotions of horror, anger and confusion.

"I guess I should ask why he was hooked up to an IV, but we don't have that kind of time. It seems you've managed to do a lot of damage while you were me. We can address it later," Bulma said, her eyes full of fire.

"I should help little brother then," Lenz declared.

"Hold it Lenz! Without your energy you'll only be in the way up there, not wise around an android. And if Verto goes crazy with that compound in his system, then who knows what might happen. Stay down here and help me out so we can put an end to this. Otherwise Flandal might get away! We need to go now!" Lenz nodded as both women dashed for the door, leaving Kati behind. She sighed slightly as she headed for the control panel Ranso had been working at. Before she had gotten far into the program, the far door opened up, and she had to duck out of view. In walked Ranso, who looked more quite alarmed to see no one chained up. Several loud explosions sounded overhead, allowing random dust and dirt to fall. One large rock fell right towards Kati, and she was forced to roll out of the way, right into Ranso's sight.

"So, silver spoon, where did they go?" Ranso asked with a look of pure contempt. Kati gave her a bewildered expression before realizing what she meant, and thought carefully about how to answer.

"Elsewhere," she replied.

"Very funny Miss Briefs, and I suppose you were to stay behind and try to sabotage things. You can forget about that!" Ranso declared as she held up a gun. Kati put her hands up and didn't dare move, she knew Ranso well enough to know that she would pull the trigger.

"Hmph, Kati must think she's doing the world a favor, trying to stop her own father!" Ranso mused as she began typing commands into the computer.

"She took off running for her life when the hybri…ahem, Lenz got loose. I hope she doesn't break too many bones," Kati said in Bulma's tone. Kati knew she had just slipped very badly, and she hoped that Ranso was too busy to notice. Ranso pulled up the big display, showing Lenz and the real Bulma at the main intersection, turning towards wing B.

Ranso smiled, "Judging by what I see, I would guess that the little bitch was leading that Saiyan to her father. However, why would you still be here if that was the case, unable to defend yourself? And of course, why would she have bothered shifting back to that form, eh Kati?" Kati tensed up, she was caught and she knew it.

"Clever girls, trying to pull the wool over my eyes. I might have believed it if not for one little thing. Bulma always speaks in a bold, pompous manner, and you had to practice that for awhile before you replaced her, right?" Ranso asked as she stepped closer. Kati's eyes widened as she backed away quickly.

"Come here dear, I have something to tell you," Ranso grinned. Kati jumped off the elevated area, rolling on the ground as Ranso attempted to make contact. She reached for her pistol, only to realize that it was no longer there. It had been in Bulma's lab coat, which Bulma now had. Kati got up and ran for the door, but tripped on some of the debris covering the floor. Just as she scrambled to her feet, Ranso tackled her to the ground, making contact for several seconds. She smiled as Kati's eyes dulled into an emotionless stare.

"Now, my dear kitten, you are going to perform one final chore for me. I hope your father gets over your death quickly, he and I have big plans," Ranso said with a sinister smirk. She handed Kati the gun and pointed towards the exit.

A/n: Hoowah! Has this story ever gotten a big shot in the arm? Well stay tuned for quite a ride.

Next time on DBV (yeah I'm actually leaving a preview): Verto and Seventeen take on Super Android Thirteen, who has a disturbing enhancement that is sure to make things difficult. Meanwhile, Bulma and Lenz venture towards Wing B after Doctor Cash and discover even more of the evil doctor's secret experiments.