Author's Note: Okay, well, that didn't work.

Howdy all, and happy holidays! Hard to believe we're bumping up on the end of the year already, but it's been a wild one.

Now I do have some information I need to share and it's not the best. I'll have to stop posting chapters on a monthly schedule for now. Unfortunately, I did spend a bit of November ill which kept me from writing as much as I wanted and planned to. When I had recovered, I wasn't able to get my schedule back on track which had me missing my deadline.

This whole thing made me realize that my self-imposed deadline was causing me more stress than I thought, especially while I was sick. In the end writing without a schedule seems to be the best move for me right now.

This means that I'll be continuing to write this series but posting without a schedule. I do apologize but this should translate into chapters that are of a higher quality and hope they come as fun surprises.

Now with that out of the way here is the next chapter I've got in store. Thank you all for reading, please enjoy, and see you all in the new year!


Several months earlier:

"No."

The answer was short, curt, and quickly followed by a strong frown from the blue-haired scientist.

"Sheesh, can you think about it at least a little bit?" Yamcha asked with a half grin.

"I gave you my answer, Yamcha. I'm not doing it," Bulma said, turning away from her ex and focusing back on her work littered across her desk. The former bandit had shown up at Capsule Corp with an idea that had put a skip into his step. A replacement eye for the one he had lost on Namek. Bulma had paused in her work to hear him out but stopped once he had explained his idea in full.

"Can I ask why, at least? I think it's a good idea. Sure, would be nice to see out of two eyes for the first time in years."

"It's not my field, Yamcha."

"Not your field? Who else am I going to go for this?"

"I don't know, Yamcha, but it's not going to be me."

"You can't leave me hanging like this Bulma," Yamcha said, his patience weakening. "It's a good idea."

"I'm not saying it's not. I just have a lot of other things on my mind right now."

"You always have something on your mind. Isn't that a benefit of being a genius?"

"You know that's not what I mean."

"Then just say what you do! If you're worried about me, don't be. I'll be fine!" The wolf said, thumping his chest.

"How can you say that when you don't know? Yamcha," Bulma said with a long, heavy sigh. "Look, if you aren't going to drop this fine, here's why. I can probably make you a robot eye as you put it but you're asking me to install it into you. I…I don't feel comfortable doing that Yamcha, I could make a mistake."

"Oh," Yamcha said softly. "I can understand that."

"Glad you can," Bulma said, turning away from her desk in her chair. "I agree, it would be a good idea and I know you're fine with it, but I don't want to risk hurting you just so you can see out of two eyes."

"Then what if it was more than that? What if it could do other things?"

"Oh really?" Bulma said crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow. "Like what?"

"Well, I mean. Trunks mentioned that the androids won't have a ki signature, and that's one reason Goku and Krillin had so much trouble with the one that attacked Chichi. Would be helpful if it could help me locate them without an energy source. Like a scanner or something."

"That's actually a good idea," the blue-haired scientist admitted.

"See," Yamcha smiled, recognizing the look of a genius's mind starting to pick up.

"I'm not a surgeon Yamcha I don't want to hurt you."

"I already lost the eye Bulma. You're not going to hurt me more than what's already been done."

"…still."

"Look," Yamcha said massaging his forehead for a moment. "If we're being honest here, then the reason I'm even asking you about this is because Krillin gave me a hard truth. He told me I pushed myself too hard during the fight with Cooler. If I'm not careful, I could be in real trouble if I try anything like that again. Figure having two eyes again would at least help me, I don't know, help me avoid something like that."

"Wait, is it that serious?"

"Krillin isn't one to mince words, so I think so. He told me as things stand that I won't be able to keep up with Tien or even Yajirobi.

"Even Yajirobi?"

"Yeah," the wolf nodded solemnly. "Even Yajirobi."

"I didn't know."

"I understand that you don't want me to get hurt Bulma I do. But I will, and if having an extra eye will help me at least avoid some of it then I'd rather be under your knife than someone else's. Besides, I know you wouldn't do anything to harm this moneymaker," Yamcha said, showing off his handsome face with a wide grin. "Captured your heart once with it, after all."

"Sure you did," Bulma laughed. "But the more you keep fighting, the less that face is worth."

"Ouch, well, isn't that just another reason to help me out with this?"

"Fine, fine, you win," Bulma sighed. "I'll just add it to the laundry list of things I have to do."

"Thanks, Bulma."

"Don't thank me yet. I haven't even started, but if I am doing this then I'm making sure your eye is going a lot more than just scan alright?"

"I'll keep that in mind. Oh also, I told Yajirobi I was swinging by here today and he wanted me to ask if-"

Bulma's face twisted in anger before giving her a response. "No, his sword isn't ready, and tell him to stop asking me about it!"

Present:

A small rabbit that had survived the onslaught that shattered the surrounding forest months ago slowly crawled out of its hole. Sniffing the air cautiously and hopping out with uncertainty, the rabbit quickly dove back into the safety of its hole as the wide blue sky boomed overhead.

Matching punches and kicks, the human and android rattled the remains of the forest high in the sky as a battle started in earnest. Yamcha's android eye buzzed in his head as it scanned his hidden opponent.

Need to keep him in view just for a bit longer. Yamcha thought to himself, as his eye could only show him the android's outline. Lose him now and might not be able to find him in the debris.

Dodging through a quick succession of punches, Yamcha threw his weight behind a hand shaped like a claw. The android leaned left to avoid the scratch but left its head exposed.

"Saw that."

With a tight spin, the wolf caught the back of the robot's head with a snap kick sending his enemy flying back.

Not willing to let the android escape, he continued his attack, firing a ki blast. The outline of the android established itself in the air just as the energy beam closed in on it. Raising a hand towards the beam of light, it took aback Yamcha as he saw the android sucking up and absorbing the ki entirely.

"What the?" Yamcha stammered as he tracked a sudden spike in power surrounding the android's outline.

The android redirected its hand, still crackling with energy, and pointed it toward Chichi, who could not follow the battle to this point.

"Chichi dive!"

Hearing her mentor shout, the ox princess dove toward the ground just as a blast of energy far larger than the one Yamcha had shot out lit up the sky. The burst nearly signed off her shoes, but the attack flew wide and fell onto a pile of trees that had been uprooted more than a year ago. The blast obliterated the small patch of the forest forcing Chichi to guard herself as bits of wood exploded outward.

"What was that?!" Chichi shouted.

"Looks like it can absorb ki and fire it back," Yamcha answered, still in a fighting stance. "We should stick just to hand to hand for this one."

"Easy for you to say. I still can't see it."

"Hang back for now. I'll let you know when you have an opening."

"Got it."

The human and android clashed again a booming gust of wind erupted outward as flesh met metal. With King Kai's technique enhancing his movements and power, his unseen enemy started to lose the fight.

A cutting jab that sliced across the robot's cheek gave Yamcha the confidence to lunge with the sidekick that connected with the android's stomach. He felt the kick break and crush several important parts of the android's skeleton, yet it wasn't enough to stop it. Though he couldn't see the android's face, Yamcha could guess that it was sneering as it grabbed his leg with both hands.

Almost instantly, he could feel his energy leaving him. The iron grip the android now held on his leg allowed the machine to drain his ki through his limb. The burning red aura started to flicker as more and more of his power was stolen right out of his body.

Unable to yank his leg free, Yamcha instead grasped the android's wrist with his own hands and dug into it with his claws while shouting.

"He's right in front of me!"

He felt a burst of ki erupt behind him and Chichi ascended higher into the sky. With a simple flip, the ox princess fell with her heel out as she brought her leg down hard using her entire body as if it were a meteor.

Crunch

She felt the bottom of her foot hit something as a loud crunch rang out. It propelled the entire body of the android down into the ruins of the forest, but its grip on Yamcha's leg was so focused its arms remained on the limb, torn clean off.

"Holy s-" The former bandit started before being cut off by the invisible android's landing.

The impact brought up another gust of chaos and a whirlwind of earth as a pillar of dust nearly reached both student and master floating in the sky.

"You alright?" Chichi asked, looking at the android's arms attached to her mentor's limb.

"I'm fine, but that was way too much Chichi! I have to get down there before it gets away."

"Why? You think there's anything left of it?"

"We have to hope so," Yamcha said, ripping the two arms off of him. "Who knows what kind of havoc it'll create if it gets away?"

Yamcha didn't wait for his student to respond as he dove into the direction of the opponent with his new eye open wide.

Come on, where did you go? The wolf asked himself as he started to stalk his prey.

However, it wasn't his android eye that located the android but his hearing enhanced by the kaioken that caught a snap of a branch. Turning toward his left the wolf captured the thin outline of the android rushing through the dead forest. A ping only he could hear emanating from his eye as a robotic voice sounded out from his communicator.

Download complete.

In an instant, the android's outline was filled in with its details in full as in Yamcha's eye, its invisibility was dismissed.

"There you are," the wolf grinned before beginning his hunt.

Digging his heels into the dirt, Yamcha gathered his power into both of his legs. His acceleration shook the forest. Flying at a speed great enough that the decimated forest started to blur, the distance between man and machine disappeared in a breath.

"WOLF."

The first strike took off the android's leg, causing it to fall face down into the dirt.

"FANG."

The second melted away its back, exposing the wires and inner workings of the mad doctor's design.

"FIST!"

The last strike delivered from above went through the back, exploded through the chest, and burned a hole deep into the earth. Yamcha's energy ran hot enough that his entire arm sizzled through the android's circuits as the metal melted around his ki-encased claw.

Yanking his limb out of the android, Yamcha shook his arm free of his opponent's remains while kicking the robot over onto its back. There, now devoid of function, Yamcha could get a better look at his attacker.

White skin, two dangling earrings, extra-large orange pants, an extra-large banana white strap-on vest, and a broad red sash caught Yamcha's eye first. The next thing of note was that this android's figure was wider than he thought a killer robot should be. Looking into its eyes the wolf could see that the iris was a dull grey and wondered if it was always that color or only had taken that shape after its destruction. The last thing to catch the former bandit's attention was the orange pointed hat with a Red Ribbon Army logo on the front that had rolled away from the android once he flipped it over. He also noted a strange red button on the center of its right hand.

Strange, nothing on this android looks like the bit of foot we found on the island where Yajirobi fought. I also find it hard to believe that something this weak was able to beat him. Maybe he was fighting a different android?

Scanning what was left of his opponent, Yamcha felt a twinge in the back of his head as his android eye began to calculate and download the full scope of the automaton in front of him.

Need to be careful not to overuse this thing. Yamcha thought to himself as he closed his right eye. Bulma did warn me that my body still needs to adapt to the implant.

"Did you get it?"

The question from the ox princess grabbed the wolf's attention as she descended onto the ground.

"Yeah, looks like it's over," Yamcha said with a smirk. "Wasn't that hard either."

Chichi didn't respond but instead looked over the defeated android was a cold stare. "It's not the same one."

"What?"

"This android, it's not the same one that killed my father."

"Oh, wait, wasn't that one destroyed by Trunks?"

"Yes, but part of me was hoping this one would look the same or something."

"I get it," Yamcha nodded. "Unfortunately, Gero seems to have a strange design philosophy, so these look more like a fat clown, I guess."

"…why?"

"Really couldn't tell you. The good news is that I got the things schematics downloaded here," Yamcha said tapping the left side of his head. "Just need to send this through to Bulma, and she should be able to take a better look at it at Capsule Corp."

"Maybe adding that to what Tien is bringing might help us find Yajirobi."

"That's what I was thinking. Guess I was a pretty good teacher, huh?"

"You didn't teach me common sense," Chichi said without any sense of humor in her voice.

"R-right, of course," Yamcha said, trying to laugh. "Well, guess I'll contact Bul-"

Before he could finish, the sound barrier being broken multiple times reached his ear.

He felt the ground rumble as something dropped out of the sky right in front of him. Immediately opening his right eye he saw three exact copies of the android that he had just decimated surround him and Chichi.

"We are Android 19," the three machines said in unison. "Surrender and die."

"Don't you mean or?" Yamcha asked, while immediately returning to a fighting stance.

The androids offered no response other than reading for battle.

The wolf let his crimson aura flare as he dove deep into the kaioken state. Yet it wasn't him that the three androids moved for, it was his student.

Chichi was on guard as she felt the area shake from the invisible androids and heard their voices, but she still could not see them approach.

"Chichi!"

Her name was deafened as a hand she could not defend against grabbed her by the face. Her own hands went towards her mouth in an attempt to rip off the hidden obstruction but not before she felt her feet leave the ground as she was hoisted up. She felt her ki start to drain away as the android's grip tightened.

With his android eye wide open, Yamcha could see his students struggling against the android and took off toward her. Yet the other two identical androids rushing at him interrupted his lunge.

"Get out of my way!"

Kicking up the intensity of the kaioken Yamcha engaged both enemies at the same time. However, the androids were coordinating almost perfectly and could avoid his attacks and keep him at bay.

Chichi looked over to Yamcha weaving through and striking out at unseen enemies, his face distorted in fear for her. The constant draining of her energy made her arms feel like lead and her legs grow numb. It was difficult just keeping her eyes open as more and more of her power left her.

Is this all I can do? The ox princess asked herself as her vision began to blur. Finally, get a chance to fight alongside the others and I can't even take care of myself?

She kicked once and then again with her legs and only the third time she tried did she make a solid connection against the android that had her grappled. While the kick itself did very little damage, it did give the ox princess a better idea of where her opponent was located.

Trying to shift her weight in a way that would sway the robot's hand enough that she could break free, Chichi felt her face pale when there was no movement despite her best efforts.

Now…now what? The ox princess said her eyes began to grow heavy. What do I do?

She heard Yamcha scream her name again, but something kept beating him back, creating an unseen wall stopping him from getting to her.

He's still trying, which means I can't give up, but I can't see the android, so how do I fight it? What should I do? What would you do? Goku?

As if to answer, a memory crossed her mind. One of the most prominent memories she had of her husband performing this exact motion almost every day through the years they had been married.

Despite the hold over her mouth, Chichi used the flickering flame of strength she had felt to pull her head back far enough to open her jaw wide and bite down. While her teeth didn't sink deep enough to do any lasting damage to the hand that held her, she did make contact with the red button that had been siphoning off her energy. Realizing she had grabbed hold of something, her aura flared as she had left. Chichi swung her legs up and wrapped them around the outstretched arm she could not see. Once she was coiled around the arm, the ox princess yanked her head away while twisting her entire body in the opposite direction. The pull was sudden enough with power far exceeding what the android had been programmed to prepare for and the effect with immediate. The button in the palm was bitten clean off.

This stopped the drain of her energy and gave the ox princess enough breathing room where she could hear.

"Down!"

A cry from her master shifted Chichi's attention to her right where Yamcha had found his opening.

He had been practicing his patience and working on his defense until he found the gap between the two invisible androids. Diving headfirst toward his student he had shouted out with a ki-clocked claw.

Seeing the lunge, Chichi pulled back further with enough force to make the android stumble forward, just in range for her teacher's strike. The attack came down and severed the arm cleanly, dropping Chichi out of its hold and onto her side. Despite her captor remaining invisible, Chichi saw the sparks fly out from the lost robotic limp and leaped toward her enemy, fist reared back. Screaming with a power she thought stolen from her, a grin didn't take her face until she felt her punch impact.

Crunch

Again, the telltale sound rang out as she felt the overblown clown's chest cave in. Hooking the punch hard while her fist was within the android, Chichi's hand burst through the side of the android. Her anger overcame her exhaustion as she tore the wide robot nearly in half. With most of its body removed, the oddly dressed android fell onto its back amidst sparks and wires, expelling the last bit of energy as its invisibility faded.

"It's…the same?" Chichi asked as she gasped for air, falling onto her knees.

"Yeah, and there's two more," Yamcha answered as he looked over the two he had avoided and were hanging back. "You okay?"

"F-fine…just need to catch…my breath."

Doubting his student, Yamcha stole a glance at the exhausted princess only to see a small blotch of grey on her shoulder.

"You used too much power," Yamcha growled. "I warned you about that. Don't make my mistake."

"Had no…choice."

"Well, you do now. Hang back here, use your Senzu if you need to, but let me handle the rest."

"No…I can-"

"Not a suggestion! Rest now, so you do more later."

"…okay."

The conversation died just as the two clowns dashed toward the human. Yet the ferocity of the wolf overtook both as Yamcha cut off their charge with one of his own. With a red aura burning through the sky, he pushed back against the twin androids and pushed them deeper into the dead forest, and away from his student.

Dammit! Chichi thought to herself, punching the ground with one hand while the other went to her ear. "Senzu."

Instantly, the relief of a Senzu bean washed over her exhaustion and dispelled it. Slowly getting back to her feet, Chichi scowled as she heard the sound of battle in the distance.

With their invisibility in place, I'm getting in the way more than I'm helping, but I can't just stand here on the side. I'm done doing that.

It was then Chichi noticed that the button she had bitten off of the bisected android had been tossed a ways off into the grass.

Might want to keep this, could be helpful for Bulma and her gadgets.

Walking over and picking it up, Chichi pocketed the button, and it was only then did she caught a glimpse of something else hidden in the trees, her original reason for returning home.


Might have bitten off more than I could chew here.

It was the last thought Yamcha had before two fists smashed against his forearms aimed at different portions of his body. Shrugging off the attacks from the twin androids Yamcha refocused his stance and his center. Tracking both of his enemies' movements as they weaved through the graveyard of scattered trees, the wolf bared his fangs.

"Alright, listen here, you piles of scrap!" Yamcha roared as his aura flared crimson. "It's going to take more than what you got to beat me!"

Both androids leaped at him firing a deluge of energy blasts from different angles. Increasing his speed to the point where his entire body was condensed to a blur, Yamcha dashed through the trees, using them as cover from the blasts. Grabbing displaced tree trunks with one hand the former shortstop dragged the enormous length of wood while gaining enough of a lead from the ki bursts. Finding an opening, Yamcha spun around and threw the tree trunks over his shoulder as if he pitched it.

With the massive log taking up most of their space, it forced the clowns to shred the tree apart with their energy blasts. In a matter of seconds, the tree trunks were reduced to ash and the wind took its remains. The two androids looked around the forest, having lost their prey.

"Right here!"

With a kick that snapped through the sound barrier and connected with one of the clown's backs, Yamcha launched the android high into the sky. Its wide girth scraped against the branches of the few trees that still stood tall. The other turned toward the human, only to have its face gouged with ki-enhanced claws.

The strike took out one of the android's eyes, but it wasn't slowed, and reached out to grab Yamcha by the wrist.

"Not this time."

Backing up then lunging forward with a spin kick that had his heel connected with the gash sent 19 hurtling into the dirt, its head removed. As the pieces of earth drizzled down from the impact, the wolf's attention turned back towards the 19 he had sent into the skydiving down toward him with arms at its side.

With a grin, Yamcha curled two fingers downward, aimed at the charging robot. Four shimmering ki spheres that he had fired into the sky after throwing the tree were sent screaming into the android, crashing into and detonating all four simultaneously. Having displaced a large amount into every sphere, the resulting explosion scattered every cloud in the sky and reduced the android in the middle to pieces. The wolf watched as two legs, an arm, and the upper torso of Android 19 slammed onto the forest floor as he let out a huge breath and let his aura fade.

Okay, that's done. Yamcha told himself, wiping away the sweat from his head. Fighting these things is a lot easier once their capabilities are downloaded.

Walking over to the android that lost its head and with his android eye open wide. "Alright, you creep. Let's see if we can figure out how you're jamming our comms."

With the specs of Android 19 fully downloaded, Yamcha can use his eye to look deeper into the body.

Thing is pretty advanced from the looks of it. Bulma will probably have a field day with it. Wait a second, is that what I think it is?

Most of the technology Yamcha was looking over was beyond his knowledge but buried deep in the abdomen of the android was something he recognized. Tensing his hand into a claw, Yamcha buried his right hand into 19's chest and pulled out a small piece of technology he knew very well. It was a communicator.

Wait, how is this here? Yamcha asked himself while looking over the communicator in his hand. With this, it would be easy to scramble the comms, but Bulma only made these for us. Could this be Yajirobi's then?

Looking over to the other defeated android, Yamcha scanned what was left of its torso and felt his eyes grow wide in disbelief once more. Walking over, he skewered the remains and pulled out an identical communicator.

No, if Gero had stolen Yajirobi's he would only have one and if this is any indication, then all four androids and the one Yajirobi fought also had this. Does this mean he can make replicas of the communicators? How?

Instead of an answer, Yamcha felt a shift in the air and could only grin in disdain as he felt the ground rumble in the distance.

"Don't tell me-"

Before he could finish, five identical Android 19s burst through a wall of trees. Ignoring the twinge of pain coming from his eye and the scream of exhaustion from his body Yamcha enveloped himself into the kaioken.

Unable to keep track of five new opponents, Yamcha propelled himself backward, hoping to outpace the clowns. Unfortunately, the distance only encouraged the androids to open fire with more than a dozen ki blasts suddenly littering the battlefield.

Not good!

Kicking two and dodging four, it forced the wolf to extend his barrier outward as the rest of the energy beams bombarded his ki sphere. His barrier could withstand three direct hits before it shattered and faded, leaving him completely exposed.

Offering just his arms as defense, Yamcha gritted his teeth as his body was encased with ki explosions that rattled his brain and burned his skin. Having survived the onslaught, Yamcha continued his retreat, but a ping from his eye caught his attention and forced it toward his back. While he was struggling against the ki blasts, two of the 19s had flanked him and were additional ki blasts of their own.

With no choice, Yamcha flew skyward, leaving the little protection the forest could give him. The five androids reconverted as each of them fired one single powerful blast of energy. The five streams of ki congealed together, forming a beam larger than Yamcha's entire body. In an instant, the beam was upon Yamcha, denying him any chance of escape.

"Sh-"

A howl of violent wind ripped away the rest of Yamcha's sentence. A sudden typhoon engulfed the battlefield, ripping the giant blast of ki out of its trajectory. Yamcha was bowled over and sent flipping head over heel out of the sky and landing on his shoulder.

What in the world? Yamcha could only ask himself as he watched the storm rip and tear its way through the ruined forest.

Another shot of pain in his eye forced him to close it as he flew for cover, hoping to outpace the chaos.

"Yamcha! Over here!"

Hearing Chichi's voice over the storm was difficult, but his keen ears picked up his student standing over a ledge just outside the typhoon. Rushing toward her he couldn't help but notice what she was holding with both of her hands. At first glance, it seemed to be a fan of unusual design, with a red rim surrounding a green base. The rims seemed to hold a simple heart shape before extending out a bit, keeping the green base held together with a brown handle at the end. The handle itself was accompanied by two strings tied together with two small fistfuls of red hair.

"Chichi, what is going on? What is that thing?"

"It's the bansho fan," the ox princess said, showing off the weapon with a smile. "This is what I was looking for."

"The bansho fan? That sounds familiar," Yamcha said, brooding with a frown on his face.

"It's what I was looking for back when my father's castle was surrounded by fire. I was on a mission to find that old pervert Roshi and ask him for it," Chichi said before her mood soured. "I was on my way to find it when you approached and said you loved me."

"O-oh, yeah, that was it," Yamcha said, shifting uncomfortably. "Sorry about that."

"…it's in the past."

"Wait, does that mean this fan is what caused that?" Yamcha asked, pointing to the roiling storm still ongoing.

"Yes, my father told me it's a magic fan that can raise a typhoon with a single wave, a thunderstorm with two, and a monsoon with three. Looks like he was right."

"Well, it certainly helped me out of a jam."

As the conversation between the two ended, so did the typhoon that had washed over the forest. A quiet took over the area, one that Yamcha didn't trust in the slightest. Forcing his right eye open and ignoring the pulses of pain it brought, he started to scan the area the typhoon had demolished. It didn't take long for him to locate five figures in the distance, rise off the ground, and start flying toward them.

"Damn, looks like they are still up," Yamcha said, closing his eye.

"How many are there? I couldn't see them, so I just started swinging."

"I beat the other two, but five more appeared. They seem never-ending."

"Should we just run then? Should be able to cover our tracks with this," Chichi said, holding up the fan.

"…actually, I think I've got one more bad idea left in me."


The 5 19s had survived the storm with little harm done. While the wind was enough to scatter them and move their energy, nothing could cut through their tough android frames. They had spread out as they scanned for energy signatures, yet kept a close enough formation flying through the sky that they could swarm either human should they appear.

"Humans located."

The four other 19s instantly turned toward where their twin was pointing downward. There on a wide cliff raised above the devastated forest stood both Yamcha and Chichi. The master stood in front of the student as he slowly steadied his breathing. The ox princess held the bansho fan behind him with a firm grip.

"They're here," Yamcha said, his android eye open wide and watching the swarm approach. "You ready?"

"Maybe you weren't kidding when you said you had a bad idea."

"Got a better one?"

Chichi remained silent as she slid into a wide stance that would give her room to fully swing the fan with all of her strength behind it.

"That's what I thought."

The wolf refocused on the five androids diving on the two of them and knew that it was time to act. Taking a strong fighting stance, Yamcha gathered his energy while inhaling and let it reach every bone in his body on the exhale.

"Here we go."

The burning crimson of the kaioken overtook his entire form as the wolf reached deep into the wellspring of his ki. Just as he had during the fight with Cooler, he strode to take a fistful of power that would allow him strength beyond what he was currently capable of in exchange for an unknown amount of his very life.

However, this time, he was far more prepared for this moment. With the android eye that his ex-girlfriend implanted into him, Yamcha felt the second limiter give way as he dug deeper for strength. An influx of power emanating from his implant boosted his energy output even higher. With an aura of red that started melting the cliff, he stood on Yamcha and shouted.

"WOLF."

The pillar of ki pouring out of him fluctuated and started to gather into both arms. The intense heat licked at his forearms with the only thing stopping them from sizzling was the thin ki barrier around them.

"FANG."

Reaching out with both hands, he aimed his palms at the androids as his right eye gleamed with potent energy. Behind him, Chichi raised the fan above her head and prepared herself one final time.

"FIRE!"

The discharge of energy shook the melting cliff as a wave of energy lit up the sky, speeding straight at the five androids. In response, all five 19s stretched out their arms with their palms facing the blast to absorb the ki energy.

"Now Chi!"

Swinging with every ounce of strength she still held, Chichi swung the bansho fan. Immediately, the magical fan generated a blistering typhoon. Rising from nowhere, wind swarmed and battered the five androids with the fury of a former housewife. The 19s were spun around and separated, but none of them were harmed as they tried to weather the storm. Yet none of them would escape fully functional.

So massive was the storm that despite being just a step forward from his student, Yamcha could feel the pull of the typhoon threatening to swallow him whole. Yet just as they had planned, Chichi grabbed hold of his waist and dug in her heels, refusing to budge an inch. With all of her power focused on keeping her teacher close, the ox princess would not be moved.

With his safety secure and his arms still scorching hot, Yamcha conducted his energy just as he had a thousand times before with his ki spheres. With his instruction the typhoon began to absorb the torrent of raging ki he let loose. Tightening the swirl of his ki within the typhoon, a vortex of energy burning like magma began to take shape.

"Gotcha," Yamcha grinned as his energy started to pick up speed and sent it hurtling toward his first victim.

The first 19 raised its arms to absorb the energy, yet powered by the winds of the bansho fan, it dissolved its entire upper body as the whirlwind of dense energy phased through it. Three 19s gathered and fired multiple ki blasts at the fire yet their attacks flew wide inside the typhoon. Lunging forward, Yamcha's ki tornado devoured the madman's designs reducing the killer machines into ash.

The last 19 stared at the wolf's energy twister with wide eyes. The vortex twisted and turned through the typhoon as if it were an animal circling its prey. At that moment, despite Dr. Gero's express orders and programming, the android attempted to flee.

Turning completely around, the last 19 flew in the opposite direction, doing its best to keep steady admits the howls of the typhoon.

"Is this you luring me into another trap or are you just afraid?!" Yamcha said, racked with sweat as his arms shook under the weight of his own power. "I didn't know a machine could experience fear!"

Rising his right hand into the sky before bringing it down with a force that shook the sizzling cliff, the wolf's firestorm within the storm inhaled the android, and nothing remained.

Collapsing in a heap and letting the kaioken fade, Yamcha gasped for air and a sense of balance as his head ached from the exhaustion.

"You okay?" Chichi asked with concern.

"Y-yeah, just…just need to catch my breath," Yamcha said before coughing.

"Don't pass out right after we won," Chichi said with her hands on her hips.

"Wouldn't dream of it," Yamcha said, pressing down on his communicator. "Senzu."

Feeling the full restoration only a senzu bean can provide brought him back from the brink. The wolf let out a long sigh of relief. "Much better. Oh, sorry, just realized I called you Chi again."

"…that's alright."

"Wait really?" Yamcha said with surprise. "I thought only Goku was allowed to call you that."

"He was, but maybe I can start opening that nickname up to other people," Chichi said before offering a hand to her collapsed teacher. "Maybe to people who I can consider, friends."

Yamcha looked at the offered hand and took it with a wide smile. With a single tug, the ox princess yanked the wolf back onto his feet. "So, what's the next step?"

"Mom!"

The two humans looked up toward the recognizable voice and saw Gohan speeding toward them, with his father close behind. Before Chichi could get a word out the young half-saiyan tackle hugged her, nearly knocking her off her feet.

"Gohan? Sweetheart, what are you doing here?"

"Looking for you," Gohan said, fighting his hug. "We figured out that we couldn't sense Yajirobi's energy while he was fighting and realized we couldn't find yours either. We saw the big storm, though, and thought you were being attacked."

"Well, you were right," Chichi said, letting out a breath she was holding and returning her son's hug.

"You alright Chi?" Goku asked with a worried look on his face.

"I'm fine, thanks to Yamcha."

"Could say the same to you," the wolf replied with a weak smile. "Wouldn't have survived another minute against those androids without your help."

"So, you were attacked," Goku said with a frown.

"Yeah, they were invisible this time, too. Almost an army of them, so that must be how they got Yajirobi. Thankfully Chichi could find the bansho fan. Without it, things would be a lot worse."

"The bansho f- oh hey I remember this!" Goku said looking at the magical item his wife still had in her hands. "Forgot we had it at the house."

"Glad I didn't," Chichi said, letting go of Gohan and fitting the fan underneath her belt and tying it tighter so it would stay put. "Are you two okay?"

"We're fine Chi but we should get you back to the lookout," Goku said, preparing his instant transmission.

"Not yet," Yamcha answered, reaching into his pocket and pulling out the communicator he had taken from one of the 19s. "I yanked this out of one of the androids that attacked us. It's a replica of the communicator we use. My guess is this is how they have been jamming our signals."

"But I thought Miss Bulma said that our communicators were just for us," said Gohan.

"You're right, which is why we need to get this to Capsule Corp right away."

"Then that's where we're going next," Goku said with a nod. "Hang on to me."

Gohan, Chichi, and Yamcha all placed a hand on Goku's shoulder or back. Closing his eyes, the full-blooded saiyan placed two fingers on his forehead and reached out with his senses toward the location of the capsule corporation.

A moment passed, and then another, and the four warriors continued to stand in place without moving.

"Dad?" Gohan asked with concern. "Everything okay?"

"No, it's not," Goku said, lowering his fingers. "I was trying to find Bulma, Launch, or Tien's energy. But I can't sense any of them."


Tien saw the dome of the capsule corp in the distance greet him and he continued his flight towards Bulma's lab. Dropping down and through the secret entrance at the top the three-eyed warrior found himself looking at the familiar sight of Bulma hard at work at her desk.

"Tien!" the scientist said, standing up out of her seat as she saw her friend approach. "What's going on? I can't seem to get in touch with anyone!"

"I know, things are bad right now," Tien answered, moving quickly and pulling out Yajirobi's weapon and placing it on Bulma's desk. "I met up with Yamcha and Chichi while inspecting where Yajirobi was last, and it doesn't look good. The island was decimated by fighting and all we found of him was his sword."

"Dammit, this shouldn't be happening," Bulma said through clenched teeth. "It should be impossible for Gero to break through the communicator's connection."

"Unfortunately, it seems he can," Tien said, reaching into his pocket again. "However, we did find something else on the island that may help."

Handing the scientist the remains of android 15, Tien watched Bulma look over the small piece of foot with a critical eye.

"This is part of the android?"

"That's my guess, but you're the expert here. Anything you can figure out with this? Like Gero's location?"

"It's not much, but can't say for sure without digging deeper," Bulma said, placing the bit of foot on her desk. "I contacted Krillin on the lookout to tell him what I know, so no doubt he's scrambled the others looking for any sign of Yajirobi too."

"Good, Yamcha and Chichi were together and no one else should be moving by themselves now that we know we're under attack."

The two turned as a door to the lab slid open as a blue-haired Launch walked in. "I finished with my inspection of the perimeter, Ms. Briefs. No sign of anything or anyone suspeciou- oh Tien!"

Locking eyes with the martial artist the hired bodyguard seemed to sink into herself as a warm blush crept over her face. "I'm…I'm glad you're okay."

"Y-yeah, same to you," Tien said, coughing into his fist. "Everything's okay here?"

"I think so. At least I couldn't see anything wrong outside. I was going to start checking the cameras inside the building right now though."

Before she could continue, a loud buzz emanated from her wristwatch, grabbing her attention. "Oh sorry, hello?"

"H-hello Miss Launch t-this is Julie from the front desk at Capsule Corp."

"Hi, Julie!" Launch said with a wide smile on her face. "How are you doing today?"

"I'm…I'm n-not so Miss Launch, there is a-"

"Aw, I'm sorry to hear that, Julie," Launch said, her wide smile disappearing. "I know you've been working hard so let me know if you need some time off and I can talk with Ms. Briefs."

"Thank, thank you Miss Launch, but I'm calling b-because there is someone here who requested an audience with Ms. Briefs."

"Oh, you know that she doesn't like to be disturbed, Julie, especially when she's working."

"I-I know Miss, Miss Launch, but there is a m-man here who isn't taking n-no for an answer," Julie said, her voice shaking.

"Um, alright. well, unfortunately, in this case, it would be best to call security."

"I-I did, and the man and the security team g-got into a fi-fight and…o-oh the man wants to tal-"

A sudden scream from Julie was cut off as a new voice no one in the room recognized replaced hers.

"Hello there, and who do I have the pleasure of addressing?"

"This is Launch, the bodyguard of Ms. Bulma Briefs," Launch said, her voice growing serious. "Ms. Briefs is unavailable now and I must politely ask you to please leave the premises immediately."

"Oh, won't be doing that now, love. The doctor's orders were that he wanted to see the little lady personally. Not to worry, though, I'll be right up in a moment."

"…who are you?"

"Me? Think you have a pretty good idea already, don't you?" The voice chuckled. "But if you want to put a number to the name, you can call me 13."