A large man through the window of the van, appreciating the beauty of nature, and yet he finds himself somewhat bothered.
"Something's wrong 16?" He turned around and saw his fellow androids staring at him with curiosity.
The man designated as Android 16 looked at them with a blank stare, even though he had been traveling with them for a couple of days, he couldn't help but feel that he should let them know about the new Android.
"My sensors said that another android has been activated," Android 16 stated plainly, causing Android 17 and Android 18 to look at the large Android with annoyance. Although 17 quickly turns his gaze on the road to prevent damaging the van.
"Ugh, another one of Dr. Gero's creations. Why did he even bother with us if he has dozens of other androids?" Android 18 groaned at the absurdity of the revelation.
"How did you know that info?" 17 questioned, his eyes raised slightly upwards.
"I was given an online network that informs me about every Android that was activated. I have been informed that Android 21 has been activated for several hours by now." 16 explained, earning a curious glance from 18.
"Care to tell us how many Androids are there left?" Android 18 asked with boredom.
"According to the network, there are currently four active Android. There is one android that has yet to be activated that is predicted to be activated in 19 years." Android 16 divulged what he knows to his companions.
"Wait, there is another Android that will be activated for almost 20 years? What was Gero thinking?" Android 18 incredulously, now irritated at the strange insanity of the late scientist.
"I don't care about the new android unless they somehow care about Gero and try to avenge him, which I doubt since you don't care about him at all." Android 17 commented as he drove the truck they worked so hard to find.
"I must warn you that my sensors indicate that Android 21 is exponentially more powerful than you." Android 16 states, making 17 and 18 skeptical of his words.
"More powerful? I keep telling you, those sensors of yours are malfunctioning." The black-haired android said in skepticism. It was ridiculous for him to think that the new android is stronger than them despite being activated already.
18 listened to her brother's words with boredom. "That doesn't matter right now, we only care about killing Goku. Maybe we will deal with the new android after we kill him."
They hated Dr. Gero for what he did to them but they can't deny that he did a good job at creating the strongest beings on the planet. Even if he went for an energy-stealing technology to fight Goku on his own.
But the idea that the mad scientist made an even more powerful android is laughable to them. If this Android was that powerful, why didn't he use that Android to take his vengeance against Goku?
Although, they weren't very cooperative with Gero anyway. For all they know, the same can be said for the new Android. That could be fun if that was the case for them.
Android 16 looks at his companions with indifference, he is very aware that his fellow androids are too arrogant for their good. It doesn't matter to him, he is programmed to kill Son Goku and he will fulfill his program regardless of his feelings.
"I guess you're right sis unless we cross paths with the new android." 17 smiled enjoying the slight twitch on 18's face. He always found a way to get past her emotions no matter how muted.
Slightly annoyed with her cocky brother's jabs, 18 looked back with the same indifference. "As I said, we deal with the new android after we kill Goku." His twin sister repeated, not caring about anything besides killing Goku because she have nothing better to do.
"How about we think about what ifs? That should sate our boredom at the moment." 17 suggested with a sly smile.
"Is that so? What about this, what if Goku and his family left their home before we get there?" 18 stated with both amusement and annoyance. She found this ridiculous, she wanted to deal with Goku and be done with it. But no, her brother just has to make this a game and made things inconvenient.
They could have just flown over to Goku's House and finished this in a day but instead, they went through the trouble of finding a van and driving over there. At least she got some clothes to replace her ruined outfit, even if she's not a big
"Then we looked for him in the most likely locations. Kame House and the Lookout seem to be viable places where he's hiding. I'm thinking the Lookout is where he is currently, it would be interesting to see a place where god resides." He responded to his sister with a thoughtful look.
"I bet they're holed up on Kame House. Seems to be the closest location so far." She stated plainly before turning to the larger android. "16, what do you think Goku is hiding?"
"There is an increase chance Goku resides in Kame House if not found at his residence." Android 16 said his opinions loud and clear.
Seeing that he lost, 17 conceded. "Alright fine, Kame House it is. Besides, even if we won't find Goku there, there has to be someone who would at least know where he is." He declared.
"So you let another android who is possibly stronger than the androids Cell needs to become perfect., leave with our timeline's Cell with her..." Piccolo couldn't help but repeat the words of Krillin when he came back to Kame House to tell the bad news.
Piccolo thought the situation was going to get better when Goku suddenly woke up and took Gohan, Trunks, and Vegeta to the Lookout to use the Hyperbolic Time Chamber so that they could train for a year worth in a single day to get stronger.
Unfortunately, Krillin just told him the bad news he and Trunks have experienced. Completely ruining whatever hope and morale of the group.
Krillin gulps at the tone. "Y-yes, according to Trunks, the android might be more powerful than the androids that were looking for Goku when they fought." He said in a grim tone, equally as frustrated as everyone when they heard the news.
"Dammit! Of course, it's going to get worse! Even after I fused with Kami, it might not be enough to stop all of them! Not only that, we have to wait a day for Vegeta and Trunks to train in the chamber so that means more time for Cell to get more powerful!" The namekian ranted in frustration at how helpless the situation was.
"Hey, just because we have to wait a day doesn't mean that it's the end of the world. We just need to hold out, Cell can't sense the androids so we need to hope that he can't find them within a day. Besides, Bulma is using the blueprints I gave her to make the shutdown remote!" Krillin said in an attempt to make light of the grim situation.
Despite the dwarf's words, it didn't make Piccolo feel better. He doesn't know why but he has a feeling that the remote wouldn't even matter in the long run somehow, he had to be vigilant. Out of all the androids, Cell is no doubt the most dangerous one that needs to be killed before the worst could happen.
"It doesn't change that Cell is out there killing people and getting stronger, we don't even have dragon balls anymore so we can't reverse the damage," Piccolo said with a hint of shame at the consequence of fusing with Kami.
It was a calculated risk the namekian took in hopes that he could defeat the androids but now he is starting to regret taking it. Had he known of Cell's existence then maybe he could have held off from fusing Kami for a bit.
"Oh, I completely forgot about that," Krillin said out loud with dread, remembering the fact that the dragon balls are inert.
"It's too late to regret it now, what's more, important is that we need to stop Cell from achieving his perfect form. Our only solace is that even if he couldn't sense the androids, that can give us time to make a plan."
Tiem grimace. "He eventually going to find them. Cell can't sense their energy but the androids will do something big that will attract his attention."
Hearing that, Piccolo almost growled. "I have to destroy at least one of them before Cell gets to them." He stated darkly, earning a shocked look from everyone.
It's a risk but the namekian knew that this is the only way. Cell is getting stronger from absorbing people every day and he can't imagine how powerful the android can become once he got both Android 17 and 18.
"Piccolo, are you sure about this? Even when you fused with Kami, it's not enough to fight all of them at once." Yamcha chimed in with concern. Even though he never fought the androids, he knew that Piccolo is barely a match for them.
"There is no other option… Cell cannot be allowed to reach his perfect form and he has likely reached a point where he can overpower the rest of the androids himself. If I could just destroy Android 17 or Android 18 then his chances are ruined forever. The problem is where could I find them." The namekian stated plainly.
"Then how are you supposed to find them? None of us can sense their energy and who knows where they are right now? Our only option is to have them come for us."
Piccolo scowled for a brief second before an idea came to him. "Wait, that it's. They are going after Goku so that means." He looked at the ocean in deep concentration.
Everyone looks at him confused until a realization dawns on them. "But Piccolo are you even sure they wouldn't just work together against you!?"
His face contorts into a wicked smile. "I've seen their behavior before, arrogant and overconfident in their abilities. Besides that giant Android, I can easily convince them in a one-on-one duel. I can take one of them and that is all that matters now, I might have to bet on Goku's location to get their interest but that's a small price to pay." He explained, ignoring the widened eyes of his allies at his new plan.
"I hope you know what you're doing…" Chi-Chi muttered fearfully, scared that Piccolo is risking the safety of her husband to set things right.
Android 21 looked at the device she tried to create with frustration, she put back the object on the table and brooded over her lack of success.
Her attempts to create a tracking device meant to find Android 17 and 18 were met with failure. She tried to modify a spare energy scanner to specifically track the energy of her fellow. Without a way to know the energy signature of their infinite energy core, she has no means to track them.
Normally this shouldn't be a problem, all she needs to do is to turn on spy drones and wait for the Androids to start using their ki. Their usage of their power should be caught by the drones and give her the data needed to get her tracker working.
But that's the thing, the Androids as yet to do anything. For some reason, they haven't done anything at all which made things difficult because now she has no means to track them. This could mean that something went wrong with their programming which could mean a lot of things. Some good, some bad.
She could just wait but that is a risky idea. The prototype bio android could find them and absorb 17 and 18 which could be bad depending on its program.
Android 21 sighed in irritation, she need to calm down. She is supposed to be a scientist! Calm and collected is essential for a scientist like her!
She turned to look at the embryo, the vat that contains it sat idly in the middle of her desolate lab. She looks at the screen and presses several buttons. The screen comes to life, displaying all sorts of information to 21.
"Let's see what we have here. The prototype contains the DNA of the fighters on Earth and those that came from space." 21 murmured to herself, she study the assortment of DNAs and the unwilling donors.
"Seems like it has the same as mine. Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo, Frieza, and his father are the most dominant in our genes, unlike the others who have a small presence." 21 drawled, listing each DNA and taking notes on rather concerning data.
It seems that whatever species Frieza and King Cold are, their genes are incredibly strong. Nearly overwhelming the rest of the DNA from many lifeforms. It's a miracle that Goku, Vegeta, and Piccolo's DNA can keep up.
Android 21 turns on another screen containing data on her genetic makeup and sees that it's the same for her. That's rather unfortunate, that means her combat form is stuck with the appearance of the vicious warlords.
Continuing to compare data between her and the embryo, she noticed what should have been an obvious genetic feature of the fetus.
"Oh right, having a stinger to drain the plasma from living beings to sustain itself. That is not good, I can't even remove that feature even if I tried. Although I can change its genetics to have a diverse dietary requirement so that it won't need its tail to survive." She gets to work, modifying the prototype in its embryotic state is a simple matter.
The same can't be said for removing key features of the embryo, it's hard coded into its genetics. The results would be fatal if she made the effort.
21 looks at the modified fetus with a satisfied smile on her face. "The embryo is at an acceptable stage with the modifications I made for it. As long as the vat does its job, the prototype will grow as a great specimen of science!" She exclaimed proudly, her voice echoing throughout her lab.
Well, that ruined her mood. All alone in her lab that may as well be abandoned. The only thing that keeps her company is an embryo that is not even remotely close to maturity. How depressing…
With a sigh, Android 21 went to find something to do to bide her time. Perhaps she should just organize the lab, it's clear to her that her place is a mess.
Hopefully, there is a broom to collect the dust nearby
Author's Note: I have no excuse for how long it took for me to post the second chapter…