Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Chinks in Android Armor ❯ Deadly Introductions ( Chapter 1 )

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Ball Z, it belongs to Toei Animation Co. Ltd. and was created by Akira Toriyama. However the Oc's Bakelite, Polly Atomica, Infrared, and Melmac are mine as is the plot of this fan fiction. It means no harm to the awesome anime and manga! I make no money from this!

Deadly Introductions

 

A few days before Krillin vanished, Dr. Polly Atomica had decided to take a flight and see the Z warriors take on two androids. Dr. Atomica had stayed behind, worried and ticked off that Bulma had been stupid enough to take her own son along into danger. Fortunately, she had taken that short person Yajerobe with her. Although Dr. Atomica had met the Z warriors, she kept her mouth shut around them, not wanting to get more involved in the fighting then a mother of a three year old could. She had dropped Curie off at Nanny Root's daycare and checked into work only to argue with Bulma about not going into danger.

 

She and Bulma had argued viciously, and then the blue haired hothead had left. News reached her later via their mutual acquaintance Yamcha that Bulma had been saved by a mysterious lavender haired youth. Gladly she thanked the young man who came home with Bulma and a crying baby, and shook his hand. Then Bulma announced the boy would be staying at Capsule and that he would be treated like a member of the Briefs clan. It always struck Atomica as odd that his name was also Trunks. Then she slowly wondered if it was more than mere coincidence.

 

She had heard the reports that came from Ginger town. She had stupidly gotten in her car and driven there to see herself to satisfy her curiosity. Having been in the Red Ribbon army she wanted to see if the strangers causing havoc were indeed Androids. Now she was cursing her rashness and impulsivity as her car was blasted off the highway. Tumbling repeatedly into an embankment the thing smashed. Only the protective wall of flexible gel like the one plastic she had generated had saved her. Moments later a slender pale hand ripped the door off the smoking car and scooped her up. Then the thing had exploded in a deadly inferno.

 

Whoever carried her free was a pale haired blonde-haired person with white skin and inhumanly bright eyes. She said nothing, clad in Red Ribbon clothes, which prompted Dr. Atomica to hold her tongue until she was safely on the ground. There was no question that the woman was: one of Dr. Gero's cybernetic creations and an advanced model from the looks of it. Somewhere in the middle of a field they landed, far from the main road.

 

"What do you two want?" asked Dr. Polly Atomica quietly. The capsule scientist and close friend of Bulma felt herself dropped on the ground. She rolled over and stared up at the two-dollike figures leaning over her. One of them flipped blonde hair from her face while the other regarded her with his inhuman blue gaze.

 

"Our amusement, what else?" asked the girl.

 

"Your idea of that is trying on every outfit in every store, sister," sneered the boy, his jet-black hair framing his angular face perfectly. "Are you trying to look cute for that bald freak?"

 

While the female wore stylish blue jean skirt with a matching vest, the male sported cowboy style pants, belt, and bandanna. Oddly enough their hairstyles were identical as well as their angular pixie features, suggesting they were cast from the same mold. Twins no doubt. In contrast, the starched lab coat that the scientist wore protected the cream colored but low cut blouse and the floral pattern skirt and pantyhose she wore. This was an example of her summer work wardrobe to conform to Capsule's business dress code. Already she had almost lost one high-heeled pump when they first captured her.

 

"He's not a freak, you reject. You keep spoiling MY fun, so don't even start," Android 18 snorted. "So I've brought you something to shut you up."

 

"Me?" asked Dr. Atomica. She glanced up at the two faces suggesting they were little more than bored young adults barely out of their teenage years. Twenty-five at the most, but eighteen at the very least. Judging from Bulma's descriptions of the evil androids, this was hardly what she expected at all.

 

"You've got a lame sense of humor," responded the boy.

 

"She looks like she won't break," the girl said with cold logic. The plastic name card badge dangling around Dr. Polly Atomica's neck flapped in the wind until she retrieved it and shoved it into her blouse again. If there was any chance of escape, it was her only means of identification.

 

"Hmm a scientist eh? Finding something different like your little martial artist? Just terrific, I'm so turned on," the dark haired boy taunted.

 

"You… what did Dr. Gero name you?” she said, introducing herself as politely she could.

 

“Knew our father did she,” the boy asked. “How unfortunate.”

 

Just why she was bothering with such trivialities, she was not sure. However, instinct dictated that she act as nonchalant as possible if they were youths. Ten years ago, that could have been her. Misspent youth suddenly equated with the potential for destruction of an entire world for the sole purpose of amusement. Her scientific mind was quick to take all the facts and extrapolate to the deadly possibility in its infancy before her.

 

"I'm 17, and that's my bratty sister 18 Doc," Android 17 answered.

 

"Seventeen, and Eighteen, right. And that other one…" the scientist asked, straightening her hair. She had it cut shoulder length with the sides feathered, but some of it was pinned back with two mother-of-pearl barrettes.

 

"Was 16. He's a major league bore," Android 17 added, hooking his thumb through his belt that slung low around his hips. A bullet casing hung on it opposite a holstered pistol. He wore a long duster coat over his green shirt and red bandanna that tied loosely around his neck.

 

"Our 'father' was pretty dull," Android 18 chimed in. At odds with her outfit, the pearl necklace dangling around her neck gave her a strange taste of elegance. In fact, their clothes looked like something assembled from the rack of a trendy clothing store it appeared so new.

 

"While he was still alive," said Android 17. "I didn't care much for the old bastard, but two freaks rubbed him out. Perhaps you know them?"

 

"She does. I've seen her with the younger Dr. Briefs. Remember the files?' Android 18 impatiently said.

 

A loud rush of energy surged nearby. Android 18's blonde hair flapped over her face as she stared upwards at two figures with blazing gold hair. She sneered and looked to her brother. "Well well, he's back for more?"

 

"Why don't we entertain them, sister dear?" Android 17 said sarcastically. He levitated up, hovering next to the floating form of the female android.

 

"Ready for round two, you walking toaster?" came the voice of who Dr. Atomic recognized as Bulma's lover, Vegeta. Terror filled her at the memory of the Prince's hand on her throat that day he returned. What would be worse? Expecting a heartless alien to save an underling or leaving her fate to these inhuman androids?

 

"Who's this?" Android 17 asked, pointing to the shape that blew up right next to Vegeta. Gleaming white armor, one of the suits that Atomica had helped invent encased his youthful chest. Ice blue eyes the same shape as Vegeta's stared from under a fringe of lavender hair. It was cut in the same style as Bulma's father of all people. Though he was a bit taller than Vegeta, something about them seemed familiar. Of course, it was that boy from the future. The child of Vegeta and Bulma as a young man.

 

Compassion gleamed in his eyes; a direct contrast to the animalistic hardness in his father's blazing coals. They were opposites of an extreme; one who fought because he lived to fight, and the other who fought so others could live. She knew Trunks cared if she lived or died, even if his heartless father didn't. The very same bastard who couldn't be troubled to save his own mate and son. Yet Dr. Atomica reasoned on some level it was because she looked at the alien Prince with human values. Vegeta was NOT human. To a Saiyan such ideas of saving nameless people took far lower priority then defeating an enemy. Bulma was stupid to take her own son into such danger and Vegeta may have been punishing her by his indifference. She had shown weakness before an enemy and Vegeta was furious.

 

"Father wait! They've got a hostage!" Trunks shouted. His voice snapped her back to reality.

 

"Who cares?" Vegeta snarled. The spiky haired Prince glowered. Energy surged and he vanished from sight. Blue ki rained down from above, and the two androids scattered. Atomica reached to the molecules of air nearby, forcing their structure to change into a spherical plastic barrier. It barely diverted the missiles, cracks snaking across the curved surface.

 

"Father, don't do this!" shouted the young tenor voice, loud enough for the scientist to hear.

 

That was what cold logic told her from what she had learned of Saiyans from Bulma herself. Bulma only had herself to blame for endangering herself and Trunks. Ironically, her own future son had saved his mother and his baby form. To the Z warriors it showed the contrast between Saiyan and Human. Still parts of her mind related to why Vegeta had done what he had. Just why Dr. Atomica should even think to defend an alien prince was beyond her. Still she guessed the answer; because she herself was capable of such destruction.

 

"Pay attention to yourself, freak," Android 17's voice taunted. This was followed by the sound of ki crackling before it was released. Subsequently the young tenor voice howled in pain. Back and forth, the echoes of grunts and shouts traded with more flashes of ki from overhead. Another blast landed close to her, and she squeezed her eyes shut, crouching down. One more blast shattered her sphere, causing her to roll away and yelp with pain.

 

Blinking she stared at a pair of boots landing just in front of her. She followed them up to see the slender backside and rear of the male android called Android 17 spanning his arms wide. More ki blasts exploded against him, and he seemed to be absorbing them into his hands and wrists. Dr. Atomica used the diversion to scuttle away as quickly as she could.

 

Android 17 threw his hand up and hurled a red sphere skywards towards a blazing streak. Another scream indicated it had hit one of the two targets clad in gleaming white armor. Then Android 17 cackled, dodging and weaving the next blasts. All around the ground tore up, and Atomica fended off what blasts she could with the small shield of plastic held on her wrist. Inches from another explosion, she felt someone grab her around the waist and hold her tightly.

 

"Where do you think you're going, Doc," asked the voice of 17. Locked to his waist he held her around the belly, so her arms and legs dangled.

 

"Damn it!" Vegeta's son shouted as he materialized before them. It was she who had designed the coating that made these androids impervious to ki attacks. All in the name of strength. She hated weakness, for she was always teased as a youth because of her brains and lack of physical prowess. When she joined the Red Ribbon Science corps she sought what other scientists did; the chance for revenge on those who had called them crackpots. She liked nothing better than to join the winning side, and show her strength in her inventions. As time moved on and she had a child, she realized that the Red Ribbon army was not out to care for the scientists it bankrolled. Commander Red only cared about his own needs, and would sacrifice every soldier to achieve that dubious goal.

 

"What are you waiting for, destroy him, Trunks!" shouted Vegeta.

 

"I don't think you'd want to hit her, would you? That's your weakness, caring for other life forms, I take it? Your partner's not so squeamish, but you appear to be," 17 taunted.

 

"Oh shit," Dr. Atomica panted. "Not the old hostage deal!"

 

"I thought so. How droll!" 17 snickered. Gritting his teeth the youth in armor identical to Vegeta levitated backwards.

 

"Take it easy, 18. Don't do anything hasty. If I AM a hostage I'm no use to you dead, right?" Dr. Atomica murmured, as she grabbed onto 17's wrist tightly.

 

She knew if he dropped her there would be little chance she could survive. Rather than play hero, she figured it was best to just shut up and see what 17 would do. Obviously, he saved her because she was a tool to escape. Then Trunks whirled his head to hear a cry of pain. Android 18's fist had flashed out and punched Vegeta so hard that he spun out of control, crashing to the ground.

 

"No time for lectures Doc. Shut up and watch the fun," 17 advised her.

 

"Father!" shouted the boy, called Trunks. Raising her hands Android 18 hurled a barrage of blue sphere towards him, glee on her face. Dr. Gero had made his toys well.

 

It was because of Red's treacherous nature that Dr. Gero had made contingency plans with her supervisor Dr. Minos. Together they worked on top-secret projects to insure their future if Commander Red turned on them. Once you were weak and distaff, the Red Ribbon army threw you away or killed you. She fought hard to please Dr. Minos with her plastics. While Gero pioneered the cybernetic software, Dr. Minos constructed the new materials that comprised the cyborg's parts, and those of the androids. Unfortunately, Dr. Minos was killed when his lab blew up and Dr. Gero had disappeared. Arrested with a group of other scientists, she was granted asylum.

 

"It's just a game isn't it," Dr. Atomica murmured. "All this power and you're bored."

 

"You've got it, Doc," said 17. "Are you going to try and tell us not to play it?"

 

"No. You'd do it anyway, wouldn't you? Seeing what gifts Dr. Gero gave you. It's only natural you'd be curious," she said soberly.

 

"Exactly, Doc," 17 said, lips close to her ear. "And you have a good view of the action. Unless you want to try to escape. But I wouldn't recommend it."

 

"What's the point? I don't want to be dropped," said she.

 

"Wise choice. I wish that sister of mine would hurry the hell up and let me know what she plans on doing. This is lame."

 

"You started to fight the other one. What's stopping you?"

 

"He won't attack me as long as I've got you, looks like. I wonder if he'd catch you if I dropped you anyway," said 17.

 

"Why would you do that? It's obvious that guy would try to save me. What's the fun in that?" Dr. Atomica blurted out.

 

"I guess you've got a better idea?" 17 snorted, unimpressed.

 

"Let me go, and you can fight him all you want," said she.

 

"As if. You're important to someone, so you're the prize. As long as I have you then they'll bust their asses to hold their powers back so they don't hurt you. And since you're smart enough not to try and escape, I'm going to hold onto you," 17 said.

 

"You want some fun, right? Watching your sister fight isn't as fun as something else," said Dr. Atomica, breathing deeply.

 

"Depends," said 17. He rocketed away, still holding tightly to the scientist. He landed near the sphere of plastic, glancing down in mild interest. That woman's strange plastic caught his eye, and he had to admit it was unusual. Something tugged at his memory from the dark past. Carefully he prodded the pieces with his toe.

 

"You made this didn't you?" 17 asked her.

 

"What if I did? What interest is it to you two? You're far more powerful than anyone on this planet?" asked she.

 

"I'm not stupid. This stuff's the same thing that's coating me and 18, isn't it?" 17 said as he examined the plastic with his cold blue eyes. Releasing her, he pushed her back and then grabbed her by the wrist.

 

“Then you must know that you and I are more closely connected then you might imagine, 17,” Dr. Atomica said quietly.

 

“You some sort of scientist who knew my `father'?” he frowned.

 

“No way. However, I was a pawn of the Red Ribbon army as you USED to be. But like you I chose my own fate,” Dr. Atomica said proudly.

 

“Huh. Figures. I'm going to have to chat with my sister about how she can tap into the data banks when I can't,” 17 grumbled. Nearby Android 18 appeared, her arms held before her. Between her slender fingers, she knitted threads of crimson energy into another large sphere.

 

"This is just like last time," Android 18 said.

 

"Stay away! This is MY fight, boy!" Vegeta snarled as he pushed Trunks away from helping him up.

 

"Shall I shut him up, or do you want to wipe that smirk off his face again, Sis?" asked her brother.

 

"He's asking to have the crap beat out of him, Brother. I can handle this," said Android 18, pushing her hair behind one ear. "No need for both of us to spoil the fun."

 

"I'm getting bored. I'm going to blow this pop stand," 17 said.

 

"Take your 'hostage' with you. I don't want to scrape her remains off the pavement," Android 18 said. "After all the trouble I went to get you a plaything."

 

"Are you waiting for your little martial arts boyfriend to come rescue his buddies?" 17 asked. Now his head was turned, Dr. Atomica twisted her wrist to the side, almost wrenching from his grasp.

 

"Shut the hell up, I got you a recreational toy!" Android 18 shouted, a bit of pink spreading over her cheeks.

 

17's hand flashed out again, grabbing Dr. Atomica's arm roughly. He snapped, "Where do you think you're going?"

 

"You're breaking my arm," Dr. Atomica wheezed, trying not to cry out as she bit her tongue.

 

"Let her go, she's no use to you!" Trunks shouted at 17.

 

"Pay attention, short shit," Android 18 taunted, rocketing up from where she stood. More energy splattered against the spiky haired duo.

 

"Oh shut up, you weakling," 17 said dryly. He let go of Dr. Atomica and stepped in front of her. She bolted away as fast as she could. With relief, Trunks appeared before 17, his hands flashing back and forth. 17 noticed the woman was escaping, but figured he would have more fun pummeling the newcomer instead.

 

She ran as fast as she could, dodging more stray blasts. It seemed all hell had broken loose around her, and for the first time she wished she could fly. Great canyons opened up from the fireballs Vegeta tossed in vain, and the blasts that Trunks hurled towards 17. Yelping, Dr. Atomica dropped into a roll at the cracks snaking nearby. She reached out to the air around her, willing the oxygen and the dust into a cocoon of slender threads that trapped air. Soon her figure was cocooned in a light arogel capable of cushioning her from any impact. Rocks flew up and the white bundle bounced across the now quaking earth.

 

From here and there she was spun and battered, only the fibers absorbing the shock of any impact. Her stomach protested at the twirling of her equilibrium. All she could do was wait for the collisions to cease and the sensation of rolling to abate. After what seemed like forever, it did. Concentration wavered, and the plastic she had formed shielded all light except the passage of shadows. Silence predominated save the whirling whistle of wind that slightly pushed the stopped sphere. Somehow, it had lodged against something that stopped it from rolling ahead. She formed a small spike from fibers of nearby plastic to slice through the arogel and kick. Like a butterfly, she ripped her way out with the small shard of plastic and looked up at the clear blue sky. Great piles of earth had been thrown up and she realized the ledge of earth jutting up at a forty-five degree angle had stopped her.

 

"Thank the gods," she murmured. Quickly she grabbed the fibers of the arogel and concentrated once more. If she could somehow form them into a protective coating to cover her, scraped and battered body maybe she could walk away.

 

Where was she? Glancing around her saw an unrecognizable landscape. She was out in the middle of nowhere with no cell phone, and only her wallet stuck in a pocket of the torn lab coat she held around her. With a burst of strength, she held the tears and tried to will the threads back together. Only a small fizzle of power happened, and the effect shot over the lab coat, transmuting it to a thick Gore-Tex fabric capable of resisting most punctures. She formed a long spike of plastic she carried in one hand, and a small curved shield that she held on her left wrist if something else should attack.

 

"I've got to rest. Curie's probably worried sick. Shit, this is great," she murmured.

 

She continued to walk, trying to keep in the shade of the small ridge of new cracked earth. It formed a long canyon on either side. Overhead the sun burned down on her dark hair. She pulled up her lab coat to shield her dark hair from the rays. Miles from any civilization she knew she would have to find some sort of shelter. For a moment she was glad it was her ex husband's weekend with the child. Although she and Dr. Izen Berg had been separated the last three years, he was attentive to their infant daughter. As she did, he worked for Capsule, but as a physicist helping Dr. Briefs build the line of capsule spaceships and satellites. He was currently married to a young lab assistant that now served as his stay at home wife. Dr. Atomica reasonably trusted the pretty girl Fructose even if she was a bit wifty.

 

Something told her she wasn't alone. Overhead a shape passed over the sun. She spun around and ducked behind the shadow of a wall out of sight. Again, the shape blocked the sun, and she heard the tap of something landing. Footsteps crunched against the sand and earth, towards her. Dr. Atomica struggled to stay as still as she could. Whoever or whatever it was might be tracking her down.

 

Dr. Atomica pressed her body to the wall and crept away in the opposite direction. She held her shield before her face, struggling to make no noise. Desperately she looked back and forth, her improvised weapon held before her. Out of the corner of one eye, she saw the movement, and thrust her weapon towards it. There came a grunt, and then she twisted her body to hold up the shield as a fist came crashing down and shattered it.

 

"So, there you are, Doc," said the voice once more. Her heart pounded in terror and she was spun around, the grip tight on her wrist.

 

"S… 17," she stammered, staring at the cold blue eyes under the fall of straight black hair. The dollike features seemed almost effeminate, but his smirk was anything but soft.

 

"That's my name, don't wear it out. So, is this the fun you promised me, Doc?" 17 asked his smirk widening.

 

"Oh hell," she cursed. Her knees gave out, and she barely tottered on her feet.

 

"What's your problem?" 17 asked, stepping closer toward her.

 

"I'm… starving, and I can hardly walk," she murmured, struggling to steady herself. "If you REALLY want to know? No thanks to you and your sister."

 

"All that plastic you made must drain you a lot. Too bad you're not like us, upgraded," 17 observed. She fell against him, and his arms reached up to stop her. Strange that such a cold being showed some sign of her welfare. Alternatively, was it simply a reflex because she was a hostage?

 

"You might not have to eat, but I do. And if you don't want me to pass out, I've got to have food and water," she said quietly.

 

"I guess you're expecting ME to do something about that," 17 asked.

 

"A dead hostage makes no sense. Unless you know where the nearest city is," she said. "But then again you'd probably end up killing me for the fun of it?"

 

"You in such a hurry to die?" 17 sneered.

 

"No. You asked a question and I'm answering it," she answered.

 

17 caught her body as she passed out. She still could see and hear as he slung her over his shoulder and they gently rose into the air. "It's your lucky day, Doc. Killing you isn't in my programming. So I guess we'll have to make sure you get fed then. And I know just the place."

***