CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
The Arrival
The morning air in Neo Sadala was heavy with anticipation. Almost a year of grueling training had led to this moment. In the palace war room, Zukanna stood at the head of the grand table, her arms crossed as she surveyed the Z Fighters gathered around her. The tension in the room was palpable.
General Cabal, ever the disciplined strategist, was the first to speak. "Your Majesty, I've positioned security forces across several key cities. If the androids deviate from the expected target, we'll be ready."
Zukanna nodded, her sharp gaze meeting Cabal's. "Wise move, General. Cressa, I want you to stay behind and guard my mother. If things go awry, the palace must remain secure."
Cressa, standing with her hands clasped behind her back, gave a curt nod. "Understood, my queen. I won't let anything happen to her."
Zukanna's attention turned to Broly, who looked hesitant. His eyes reflected an inner struggle as he stepped forward. "I… I want to help, but every time I get into a serious fight, I get glimpses of Paragus and the collar. I'm still working through what Paragus made me do." His voice was low, tinged with guilt.
Walking over to him, Zukanna placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Broly, you've done more than enough. You don't have to fight if you're not ready. Protecting our people and ensuring Bulma and my mother are safe is just as important as being on the battlefield."
Broly's tense expression softened as he gave her a small smile. "Thank you, Zukanna, I promise I'll keep them safe."
Shiva, the former queen, stood gracefully from her seat. "Go with confidence, my daughter. I'll ensure everything runs smoothly here. Our people will look to me for leadership in your absence."
Zukanna gave her mother a rare smile. "Thank you, Mother."
The warriors soon departed, soaring through the skies toward South City. Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo, Krillin, Trunks, and Cressa flanked Zukanna as they flew, their auras trailing behind them like comets. The group descended onto an island near South City, scanning for any sign of danger. Gohan and Nio, as instructed, stayed behind to guard King Furry, while Neo Sadala's security forces stood vigilant across other cities.
Hours passed with no sign of the enemy. The tension in the group grew heavier with each minute. Vegeta stood with his arms crossed, his impatience evident. "How long are we supposed to sit here waiting? If these androids are as dangerous as the boy claims, they'd better show themselves soon."
Before Zukanna could respond, a deafening explosion shattered the stillness, sending a plume of smoke and fire into the sky from a nearby island. Citizens screamed and scattered in panic. Zukanna's sharp senses locked onto the source of the commotion. Her fiery gaze turned to Trunks.
"This has to be it," she said, her tone firm but questioning.
Trunks nodded; his expression grim. "It has to be. Let's go."
Without hesitation, the group launched themselves into the air, speeding toward the chaos. As they neared the source of the destruction, they saw the culprits: two androids, all with humanoid appearances but radiating cold, mechanical menace. The androids moved methodically, blowing up vehicles and terrorizing the civilians who hadn't managed to flee.
Zukanna clenched her fists. "Enough of this," she muttered, raising her hand and firing a powerful energy ball that exploded just to the side of the androids. The shockwave sent debris flying, catching their attention.
The androids turned toward the group, their glowing eyes scanning the Z Fighters with analytical precision. One of them, an old man, wearing clothing with the red ribbon insignia, smirked. "Well, well. Looks like we've got some new playthings to test our power on."
Zukanna stepped forward, her white aura flaring as she hovered above them. "You've made your choice by coming here. Now, let's see if you can handle the consequences."
The tension escalated as the old android stepped forward, his metal frame creaking slightly as he walked. His expression was cold and calculating, and his voice echoed with a mechanical edge. "Well, well, it seems we have quite the gathering of warriors here. How delightful. I am Dr. Gero, and I'm here to correct a mistake. Today, Son Goku will pay for what he did to the Red Ribbon Army."
Trunks tensed, his eyes narrowing. He turned to Zukanna, his voice low but urgent. "This isn't right. These androids… they're not the ones I fought in my timeline. There are more of them, and they're different."
Zukanna frowned but kept her focus on the androids. "We'll handle it, Trunks. Stick to the plan for now."
Before she could say more, Goku landed beside her, his cheerful confidence a stark contrast to the gravity of the situation. He pointed at Gero with a smirk. "So, you're the one behind this? I'm more than happy to finish what I started with the Red Ribbon Army. Let's see what you've got."
Zukanna stepped up next to Goku. "Dr. Gero, you've made a grave mistake coming here. Do you really think you can defeat all of us? Surrender now, and we might show mercy."
Dr. Gero chuckled, his laugh devoid of warmth. "Oh, my dear queen of the Saiyans, I know all about you. And I assure you, I've prepared for every contingency." He turned his gaze to Goku, his tone shifting to mockery. "As for you, Son Goku, you may think you've grown stronger, but I've calculated your growth precisely. None of you stand a chance."
Zukanna's eyes narrowed. "Calculated our growth? That arrogance will be your downfall, android."
Gero ignored her, raising a hand to gesture toward the chaos behind him. "And while you waste your time here, my other creations are already carrying out their missions. World leaders across the globe are being eliminated as we speak, paving the way for the Red Ribbon Army's rise to power. This planet will finally enter a golden age—under my rule."
A collective gasp echoed from the Z Fighters. Goku clenched his fists, stepping forward. "I won't let that happen," he said, his tone suddenly serious. "We've been waiting for you, Gero. We knew the androids were coming, and we prepared for this."
Gero's smirk widened. "Oh, you prepared? How quaint. But I'm afraid it won't matter. I've accounted for every scenario, every possible increase in your power."
"Let's put that theory to the test," Goku said, his voice steady. He spread his legs into a stance and began to power up. The ground beneath him cracked and shook as his energy surged. His golden aura flared, and his hair spiked higher as he ascended into his Super Saiyan 2 form.
The sheer force of his transformation sent shockwaves through the area, blowing debris into the air. The androids watched impassively, their mechanical precision unshaken, but Dr. Gero's confident smirk faltered ever so slightly.
Zukanna observed the interaction, her mind racing. Gero's mention of other androids targeting world leaders gnawed at her thoughts. This fight was only the beginning, and the stakes were far higher than she had anticipated. For now, though, the battlefield demanded her focus. With a sharp breath, she stepped forward to stand shoulder to shoulder with Goku.
"This ends here, Gero," she declared, her aura flaring brighter. "You've underestimated us, and that will be your downfall."
Gero's eyes glinted with malice as he gestured to the androids behind him. "We shall see about that."
The Z Fighters stood behind her, each one preparing for the battle of their lives. This was the moment they had trained for, and Zukanna knew there was no turning back. The android threat had arrived, and the fate of Earth—and Neo Sadala—hung in the balance. Goku rushed towards Gero, but before he could land a hit, android 19 intercepted him.
As Goku and Android 19 clashed, the fight had initially seemed evenly matched, even favoring Goku as he weaved through Android 19's attacks with his characteristic agility. His strikes were sharp, his movements fluid, and for a while, it looked as though Goku was in control. However, Zukanna's sharp eyes caught a troubling change. Goku's attacks began to slow, his strikes losing their edge. His breathing grew heavier, his once-flawless rhythm faltering.
Zukanna glanced at Piccolo, who stood tensely, his sharp features twisted with concern. "Piccolo, are you seeing this?" she asked quietly.
Piccolo nodded grimly. "Yeah. Something's wrong. He's not moving like he should."
The other Z Fighters continued cheering Goku on, oblivious to the subtle shift in the fight. Vegeta, however, stood apart, arms crossed, his scowl deepening with every passing second. His dark eyes were locked on the fight, scrutinizing every movement.
"Fools," Vegeta muttered. His voice cut through the cheers, drawing Zukanna's attention. "Kakarot isn't losing power because he's tired. That blasted android is absorbing his energy."
The revelation sent a chill through the air. Dr. Gero, standing smugly on the sidelines, clapped mockingly. "Ah, so someone finally noticed. Excellent deduction, Prince Vegeta. The red energy absorption orbs on Android 19's palms are designed to sap your precious energy during combat. And as you can see, it's working perfectly."
Despite this, Goku grit his teeth and smirked. "It doesn't matter," he said, his voice strained but defiant. "I've been holding back this entire time. You'll see!"
Zukanna's unease grew. Goku's bravado wasn't reassuring, and the sweat dripping down his face wasn't from exertion—it was something far worse. A terrible realization struck her like a bolt of lightning: the heart virus.
"Of all things," she murmured, her voice laced with frustration and fear. "He forgot to take the medicine."
Goku let out a yell, attempting to power up further, but instead of the surge of golden energy they expected, he faltered. His legs buckled, and he fell to his knees, clutching his chest in visible agony. The cheers from the Z Fighters died instantly, replaced by gasps of horror.
"Goku!" Krillin shouted, his voice filled with panic.
Android 19 seized the opportunity, lunging forward to strike Goku. In an instant, Zukanna's aura flared, and she transformed into her Ascended Super Saiyan form. She dashed forward in a golden streak, delivering a thunderous kick that sent Android 19 flying across the battlefield.
Powering down, she turned to Krillin. "Get Goku out of here. Now. Take him home and give him the heart medicine. Don't waste a second."
Krillin hesitated, looking between her and Goku, but the determination in her tone left no room for argument. "Got it." He hoisted Goku onto his back and took off, leaving a trail of dust behind.
Zukanna turned back to the battlefield, her gaze locking onto Dr. Gero. Before she could act, Vegeta landed beside her with an air of indignant authority. "Step aside, sister. I'll handle this."
"Vegeta—" Zukanna started to protest, but his glare silenced her. With a slight growl, she relented, flying back to stand beside Piccolo and Trunks.
Piccolo crossed his arms, his eyes fixed on Vegeta. "Think he's strong enough to take them on?"
Trunks, still staring at his father, nodded. "He is. He's been pushing himself harder than ever to master Super Saiyan. He's ready."
Dr. Gero's mocking laughter filled the air as he gestured toward Android 19, who had recovered and was now lumbering back to the fight. "You think you can do what Son Goku couldn't? Don't fool yourself, Vegeta. My creations are far superior to anything you Saiyans can muster."
Vegeta smirked, the faint glow of arrogance lighting his face. "We'll see about that." He turned his gaze to Android 19, his tone dripping with disdain. "Tell me, do androids experience fear?"
Before the android could respond, Vegeta spread his legs into a stance, and the ground beneath him cracked under the weight of his energy. He began to power up, golden light engulfing him as his hair transformed into the iconic spiked form of a mastered Super Saiyan. An explosion of power erupted around him, shaking the battlefield and silencing even Dr. Gero's smug laughter.
As Vegeta's transformation completed, his golden aura pulsed dangerously, and he stared down Android 19 with a fierce, unrelenting gaze.
"Allow me show you the power of a royal Saiyan."
Nio POV
The office of the Furry King was unusually quiet except for the playful bickering of Nio and Gohan as they sat cross-legged on the plush carpet, playing yet another round of rock-paper-scissors.
"Rock, paper… scissors!" they said in unison.
Gohan groaned as Nio flashed scissors against his paper. "That's six times in a row! You're totally cheating, Nio!"
"Cheating?" Nio smirked, leaning back on his hands. "It's not cheating—it's experience. You just need to up your game, little brother."
Gohan scowled, crossing his arms. "I'm not little. I'm almost nine."
"That's adorable," Nio teased with a laugh. He was about to challenge Gohan to another round when the Furry King cleared his throat, his regal voice cutting through their banter.
"Excuse me, young men," he said, adjusting his gold-fringed coat. "Aren't you supposed to be taking your guard duty seriously?"
Both boys straightened up but quickly flashed reassuring smiles. Nio gestured toward the window. "Don't worry, Your Majesty. We're keeping an eye—or, well, a sense—on everything. If anything, dangerous gets close, we'll know."
Gohan nodded. "Besides, we can feel the others fighting the androids right now. Everything's under control."
The Furry King huffed but didn't argue further. Satisfied, the boys leaned back into their game.
"Alright," Nio said, cracking his knuckles. "One more round, and this time, no excuses when I win."
Before Gohan could retort, the ground beneath them shuddered violently. A deep rumble echoed through the building, and suddenly, a massive section of the wall was ripped away. Dust and debris filled the air as sunlight poured into the office, exposing them to the outside.
"Get down!" Nio shouted, grabbing Gohan by the arm and pulling him back. The Furry King dove behind his desk for cover, his crown falling askew.
Hovering outside the gaping hole were three figures. The one in the center, a man of average height, stood out with his trucker cap, green waistcoat, and matching pants. His arms were crossed casually, and he wore a smug grin. Behind him floated two androids, complete opposites in appearance. One was a towering, pale-skinned figure with a braided black ponytail, armored shoulders, and a green cloth draped over his waist. The other was a short, purple-skinned android with a strange hat and a red ribbon coat.
The man in the cap stepped forward, his accent thick and unfamiliar. "Well, well, well. What do we got here? Couple of kids playin' hero and a dog on a throne. Guess we found the right place." He tipped his cap mockingly. "Name's Android 13. Big guy here's Android 14, and the little fella is Android 15. And we're here for the king."
Gohan and Nio stood protectively in front of the Furry King, their expressions hardening. "If you want him," Gohan said, clenching his fists, "you'll have to go through us."
Android 13 chuckled, his grin widening. "Kids these days. Always gotta make it difficult." He turned slightly, addressing his comrades. "Alright, boys, looks like we're doin' this the hard way."
Android 14 cracked his knuckles ominously, while Android 15 adjusted his hat with a wicked smirk. Without hesitation, all three androids surged forward, the air around them rippling with energy.
Nio and Gohan exchanged a quick glance, a silent agreement passing between them. "Your Majesty," Nio called over his shoulder, "get to your bunker now! We'll handle this."
The Furry King didn't need to be told twice. He scrambled out of sight, leaving the boys to face the androids.
Nio and Gohan launched into the air to meet their attackers head-on. Gohan powered up, his aura flaring gold, while Nio followed suit, his own energy glowing bright around him.
"Let's see what you've got!" Nio yelled, rushing forward to clash with Android 14. Meanwhile, Gohan squared off against Android 15, leaving Android 13 to hover back and observe, his arms crossed and a satisfied smirk on his face.
The battle for the Furry King's life had begun.
Nio launched himself toward Android 14, his green, wrathful aura crackling like wildfire around him. The towering android met him head-on, their fists colliding with thunderous force that sent shockwaves rippling through the air. Android 14 was unfazed, his stoic expression unchanged as he traded blows with Nio, each strike resonating like an explosion.
Nio ducked under a heavy swing from Android 14, the force of the missed punch splitting the air above him. Seizing the opening, Nio countered with a double kick to the android's chest, the impact sending Android 14 hurtling skyward.
"Not bad," Nio muttered, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. He immediately powered up, his green aura intensifying and surging like a storm around him. Without hesitation, he shot after the android, but Android 14 recovered quickly. With cold precision, the android charged back down to meet him, fists glowing as he unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks that began to push Nio back.
Meanwhile, Gohan was handling Android 15 with surprising ease. The smaller android's cackling and taunts fell silent as Gohan powered up to his maximum strength, his golden Super Saiyan aura flaring bright.
"You're tough," Gohan said, blocking a flurry of punches with ease. "But not tough enough."
He vanished from Android 15's sight, reappearing behind him to deliver a devastating punch that sent the android flying. With a blur of speed, Gohan darted around him, striking from all angles and pummeling the android like a ping-pong ball. Finally, he soared high above, charging a brilliant yellow energy ball between his hands.
"Masenko!" he shouted, hurling the attack down. It struck Android 15 dead-on, detonating in a blinding explosion that left nothing but debris in its wake.
Android 14 caught sight of this mid-battle and growled in frustration. His calm demeanor cracked as he glared at Nio. "You're going to pay for what your little friend just did!"
Nio smirked, brushing off the threat. "Don't feel bad," he retorted. "You'll be joining him soon enough."
The Saiyan's green aura flared violently, pushing back against Android 14's advancing attacks. Nio focused his energy, and in an instant, a shimmering golden light engulfed him. His hair turned golden, his eyes teal, and his aura shifted to the fierce glow of a Super Saiyan.
Before Android 14 could react, Nio blitzed him. He moved with incredible speed, delivering a powerful kick to the android's midsection that sent him spiraling away. Nio held his hands out, charging a searing red sphere of energy. The sphere crackled and roared like a living flame as it grew larger in his palms.
"NOVA BOMB!" Nio screamed, launching the attack with all his might. The fiery red sphere streaked toward Android 14, who barely had time to register the attack before it struck him. The ensuing explosion tore through the air, obliterating the android in a fiery inferno.
Breathing heavily but victorious, Nio lowered his hands and looked over at Gohan, who was already flying toward him. The two exchanged a triumphant grin before turning their attention to Android 13, the last enemy standing. They approached him slowly, their golden auras crackling with power.
"It's over," Gohan declared. "Your friends are gone."
"Yeah," Nio added mockingly, folding his arms. "Sorry for your loss."
Android 13 chuckled, shaking his head. "Loss?" he drawled, tipping his trucker cap back. "Boys, their loss is my gain."
Before either Saiyan could respond, pieces of Android 14 and 15 began to rise from the ground, glowing faintly as they flew toward Android 13. The android extended his arms, welcoming the parts as they latched onto his body. His form began to shift and grow, muscles bulging as his skin turned a gleaming blue. His hair morphed into a vibrant crimson, and his voice deepened as he let out a booming laugh.
Nio and Gohan exchanged worried glances, both still in their Super Saiyan forms. The shift in Android 13's power was palpable, the air around him charged with an oppressive energy that made their skin prickle.
"This just got a lot more interesting," Nio muttered, clenching his fists.
Gohan nodded grimly. "Yeah... here we go."
The two Saiyans braced themselves, knowing the real fight was just beginning.
Hello people,
Chapter Twenty-one is done,
Please feel free to drop reviews or give suggestions as I feel they will help improve the quality of the story.
cheers,
maximuskahn1994