This is not the Android 21 from the game. She is much stronger than those around her to start and as she gains power so will the rest. She does not have a split personality that has to constantly fight against her evil half. She will have side effects from absorbing people but she isn't her own antagonist. This is an AU where 21 strives to become the strongest in the multiverse within the normal timeline, bending the multiverse to her will.
This has a sort of 'gamer-lite' version, where the gamer stuff is based on a HUD.
21 starts out much stronger than those around her, but she cannot fully access it to start. Power levels are on my own scale, and won't reflect any scale out there. I started out with the levels from the video games at the start of Dragon Ball, but 21's influence changes that.
21 x Future Trunks - Mild fade to black scenes
01 - Status
If got to make a wish, a real wish, it would be to join the DBZ universe. I would join around the middle of Dragon Ball Z and would plan on using the Dragon Balls to become a Saiyan, or maybe an Android mix!
I was watching Dragon Ball Z, once again binge-watching my favorite series on a lonely weekend. I was on my couch watching as Future Trunks killed the present Cell. I found myself speaking along with the dialogue, something I knew almost word for word.
The timeline of DBZ began to flow through my mind almost like watching one's entire life before they died. I fell asleep and dreams that made time feel like it was passing quickly ran through my mind. The entire known canon Dragon Ball timeline was burned into my mind. From the original Dragon Ball to Z, to Daima, to even Super, all of it was there.
What could have been minutes or years passed as I watched my favorite characters interact with each other. The tragedies and hardships, the wonder and love, all of it together. I love this series.
A heavy thud indicated a fist was pounding on something as if I was behind a glass wall. I heard voices trying to wake me up, and my mind was foggy and lost. I opened my eyes and my body felt heavy and tired, as if I had been through a car accident.
"I think she's alive!"
"We should kill her," A recognizable voice said. I knew they couldn't be talking about me, as I was a man...right? Did they know something I didn't?
"Look at her Trunks! She's vulnerable and alone! You think she is evil as Dr. Gero? She's probably a captive like the others," Another familiar voice said. I knew that voice, but where from? And...Trunks?
"What if she is evil? What if she is more powerful and kills all of us!? You want to take that chance?"
"Who would we be if we didn't take that chance?" The voice said, drawing a pause before continuing, "We would be no better than them."
It felt like they were talking about me, but I couldn't be sure. Still, I had to speak up. Forming words was difficult as my mouth was different but I was able to finally speak, dry throat or not, "I'm not...evil."
My breath was slow coming and difficult to come by. I raised my hand, palm up to try and ward off the possible attack, a futile gesture, but my hand collided with the glass wall in front of me. I noticed my nails looked like they were painted black, which was strange. I had never done that, except maybe once for Halloween or something.
"Please...don't hurt me. Help me!" I pleaded, my voice echoing loudly through the small chamber I was in. It was like a glass coffin.
"I'm getting her out of there!"
I heard a crazy sound, like some kind of pressure that was so dense that the atmosphere was groaning to accommodate it. The glass in front of me was suddenly filled with golden light, and I shielded my eyes against it. The pain of the light somehow hurt my brain behind my eyes.
A fresh breeze of cool air hit my face, it felt like I was wearing something on my head. I am pretty sure I was bald, so it couldn't be hair, but when the straps holding my chest were cut, I fell forward into someone's arms. It was strange to fall so far but be caught by someone so strong...and so short.
"Whoa, I got you. Just relax, you're safe now," The same voice said. He picked me up in a princess carry and my eyesight had still yet to clear.
"Thank you, I don't feel good," I said.
The wind picked up and I felt myself rising up like an airplane lifting from the tarmac. It was then that something crossed my vision. Something I couldn't help but see, regardless of my eyes remaining closed. I wondered if it was because I thought about my current 'Status.'
Windows filled with words, just like a video game appeared across my vision.
Android 21
Status:
Health: 23%
Stamina: 10%
Ki Reserves: 4%
Magic Reserves: 2%
Status Effects:
Severe Dehydration
Malnutrition
Cellular Degradation
Exhaustion
Soul Scaring
Racial Make-Up
Saiyan 20%
Human 20%
Arcosian 20%
Majin 40%
Android 21? Wasn't that the hot doctor that could transform into the hot pink lady?
I couldn't help but think about how bad the health statistics looked, but the numbers were steadily growing, regardless of the Status Effects.
Seeing that Ki and Magic was a resource similar to stamina didn't seem to matter to my muddled mind. This all felt like a strange dream anyway. Wondering about other screens, I thought about the abilities I might have.
Android 21
Abilities:
Ki Techniques:
Ki Manipulation - D Tier
Energy Blast - D Tier
Detonation Ball - C Tier
Photon Swipe - A Tier
Magic Techniques:
Connoisseur Cut - S Tier
Hungry Beam - B Tier
Absorption - S Tier
Sweet Tooth - S Tier
Racial Abilities:
Regeneration - S Tier (Disabled)
Survivability - S Tier (Disabled)
Arcosian Infinite Potential - S Tier
Hyper Intelligence - B Tier
Connoisseur Cut Slots - 8
Empty
Absorption Slots - 4
Empty
Transformation:
True Form: Majin Transformation - S Tier
Arcosian and Saiyan Aspects
Okay, it definitely said Android 21 again. Wasn't she from a video game? What the hell!? My mind started racing with concerns, wasn't she plagued by a split personality and the constant need to feed? I don't feel hungry or like I might fall into deeper evil tendencies as a part of a split personality disorder...I think.
If I was dreaming, which was likely given the pop-up screens, then it was like someone just grabbed my soul and stuck it in 21's body. Then they dropped me off in this timeline...speaking of which.
I opened my eyes once again and found an extremely familiar face looking past me, as he lifted me through a rock tunnel. It was Krillin from Dragon Ball Z!
"K-Krillin?" I asked.
"You know me?"
I nodded, what an amazing dream! "What year is it?"
Krillin raised an eyebrow, "It's May 12, Age 767."
"767..." I knew that date was important but I couldn't figure out why, my mind was too overloaded with information. I had input from my senses, the virtual interface, and the knowledge that I was not only in a new body but in the world of Dragon Ball. All of a sudden, things started to feel real, as the pain my body felt transferred through the haze that clouded my mind.
I flinched as an explosion rang out behind me. Followed by many, many more.
"What is going on?"
"We are destroying Dr. Gero's lab, our present-day Cell is in there. Do you know about Cell?" Krillin asked me. He apparently could sense that I was hurting from the realm transference, but was still weary of me, since they pulled me from the same lab where the present Cell was located.
"Cell," I nodded. "He's terrible, a bio android that can evolve with the consumption of 17 and 18," I said.
"WHAT?" Krillin asked. He wasted no more time and flew up the rest of the distance of the tunnel extremely fast. My adrenaline spiked at being carried through the air at such insane speeds. We cleared the tunnel and landed on a nearby flat ridge.
I nodded, "Cell will consume them, and then he evolves into his perfect form, growing exponentially in power."
He set me down, and I stumbled but was able to fully stand. I looked down and realized I had some sort of red and blue checkered mini dress on, with black leggings underneath. The dress was weird since it was sleeveless, but I was wearing black sleeves that ended mid-bicep and went just over the base of my hands. An odd way to dress.
There was a golden ring on my left middle finger, unmarked and unblemished. Long brunette hair cascaded around me in wild locks, it had to be long enough to reach my lower back!
"Okay, what else can you tell me about Cell? And are you on his side?"
I shook my head, "I am not, unlike the other androids, I am...different. Even different from Cell."
"How so?" Krillin asked, the ground shook as Trunks continued to blast things underground.
Words that I knew to be true fell from my mouth, but I wasn't sure where I got the information from, "The others were programmed by Dr. Gero to relentlessly hunt Goku, but I was left unshackled by that burden. I think my template was a clone made from someone important to Gero...his daughter or wife or something."
I couldn't remember my body's connection to Gero, but I shuddered at the thought regardless. It was like I was a soul in a shell but I didn't know how I came to be. My memories of my past life were essentially absent, minus my knowledge of the Dragon Ball Timeline, both Manga and Anime. I couldn't seem to remember who or what I was before today. Like I had just been reborn.
"So what does that mean?" Krillin asked. "What are your plans?"
"We need to stop Cell before he can absorb 17 and 18."
"What about 16?"
I frowned, "16?"
Wait, Android 16 was the one that befriended Gohan and was killed by Cell, a soft-hearted warrior who loved nature.
"I think he is still programmed and is stronger than 17 and 18. But he won't survive against Cell," I said.
Krillin shook his head, but it was then that Trunks flew out of Dr. Gero's secret lab. Fire blasted up from the hole after he left and the mountain range shook.
Trunks landed and began to interrogate me, and I did my best to tell him everything I knew. I am weak enough right now that he could kill me with that blade on his back with just a swing. I was intimidated by the intense Saiyan in front of me. This was clearly future Trunks, with his violet hair and huge figure. He was extremely intimidating when standing in front of me.
"So, what do we do now? Cell is out there wreaking havoc, but runs away anytime we get close!" Krillin said.
"It's pointless to fight him now unless I get stronger. I need to find my father and convince him to train with me," Future Trunks said.
I tried to think of his power level and the video game screen selected him and then my HUD displayed the information.
Trunks
Power level: Lowest threshold, currently unpowered: 1,000
Estimated maximum power 1 million.
Transformations available. Ki user.
Was I able to read his power level due to my sensors? They seemed to be able to read base power levels, which were without transformation multipliers. I don't think he has Super Saiyan 2 yet, but I can't remember the specifics of the Cell Saga right now. I desperately need to sleep.
"You should let me take those blueprints to your mother, I am sure she can find a weakness," Krillin said.
Trunks nodded, handing him the rolls of paper.
Krillin looked at me, "Well, do you want to come with me?"
I shrugged, feeling like I had no place to call home, which was true. A weird part of transitioning into this world perhaps, "Is there a place where I can sleep? I...need to recover before I can fight."
Krillin raised an eyebrow, "You plan to fight?"
I nodded, "I should be many times stronger than base-level Cell. Something about being in the pod and how I got here really damaged me, and my regeneration hasn't started yet...I think I need rest."
Krillin nodded, "Alright, I am sure we can find you some food and a bed. Can you fly?"
I realized that I actually did know how to fly. My instinctual ability to manipulate ki activated as I pulled on my diminished energy pool. The energy easily lifted me like gravity decided to no longer affect me. A beautiful cushion of my own making allowed me to rise into the air gracefully.
While hovering at less than 5% in my ki reserves, I still had no trouble keeping up with Krillin. In fact, I had to slow down a few times just to not fly past him. I remember that speed was a huge aspect of power when it came to ki, so I at least have to be stronger than Krillin.
I feel like having Majin and Arcosion, which was Frieza's race, within me allows me to have obscene potential. Having Saiyan genes means that I could gain power extremely fast and recover from near-death experiences with more strength, due to the Zenkai boost. My body and mind were tired, but I couldn't help but revel in the feelings I had, plotting about power and feeling the air as I literally flew.
Flying was incredible, speaking of which. I felt weightless and free. Like I could go anywhere and do anything. Despite how bad my body felt I couldn't get over how amazing it was to fly.
~o*o~
I couldn't be sure how long we flew for, but after a time we approached an impressively advanced city. The recognizable architecture of the Dragon Ball universe immediately caught my eye. Spheres on towers, bulbous flying cars, and clean white metal met my gaze. It was beautiful how clean and unique the city looked, unlike anything I have ever seen. Krillin and I landed on a campus of buildings and I looked around with wonder.
We walked into a complex that was clearly Capsule Corp and found Bulma, who looked amazing for a new mother. She was working on machinery with her father. Krillin introduced them to me and was about to let them read the blueprints, but I interrupted.
"Sorry, can I have a place to sleep for a time? If I get some rest I can also help decipher the Doctor's stuff."
"Oh, of course, sweety," Bulma said. She called a secretary that led me to a small neighborhood that seemed to be part of the Capsule Corp's campus. Employee housing maybe?
I thanked her and she promised to have food delivered in an hour or so. I was doing all I could to stay awake, trying to ignore every couch as the secretary led me to the room. I just wanted to lay down.
The secretary opened the door and I thanked her as I staggered into the room.
I kicked my heels off, noting that I didn't have any trouble walking in them as long as I had. I pulled the dress off then my leggings and sleeves. I was wearing black underwear that was too...interesting to process right now. I didn't strip completely but decided to get to know myself better. I stared into the mirror for a while. Looking deeply into my sapphire blue eyes, the windows into my soul. I tried to see if it was really me in there.
Or was I sharing this body with another? Did the original 21 and her evil persona both still reside inside me? I hadn't felt anything that would make me feel that way, but would I know what that felt like regardless? Probably not.
I inspected my body, which was perfectly hairless aside from my eyebrows and insanely gorgeous brown hair. My skin was perfect and unblemished. It was artificially perfect to the point that it felt designed to be this beautiful. I had a perfectly symmetrical face, a realistic and perfected version of what I remember from the fan art and stuff back in the day. It was surreal, to say the least.
"I really am here...in this body."
I finished stripping and hopped into a scalding hot shower. It felt amazing, revitalizing almost. But checking my status I noticed that nothing changed but smaller incremental increases to my ki, stamina, and magic levels. All the strange debuffs that inflicted me still existed.
The end of a shower came with the discovery of the softest robe ever. I put it on, the robe going down to mid-thigh and I tested out my loaned bed. It seemed that I couldn't wait for the food to arrive as I felt myself pulling the soft covers over me. I fell into a deep sleep, hoping that this wasn't a dream.