Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Chinks in Android Armor ❯ Released ( Chapter 4 )

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! This is the next chapter in a character piece dealing with Android 17 and with 18.

 

Thursday, May 24, 2007

 

Under Android Skin

****

 

How could I allow some ruthless inhuman creature touch me? Still, Polly knew that if she hadn't relented there was a good chance she would not see the sun burning midway in the morning sky. Somehow, 17 had become intrigued with her on the level of a child with a toy. Part of her knew that she had to get away and the other part wondered if he would allow her to leave.

 

Krillin had convinced Android 18 to let them go. 17 had protested, but seeing his sister was going to be obnoxious as he agreed. Therefore, Krillin had carefully picked her up and blasted away at top speed to Kame house before either artificial human changed their mind. Still alive and thankful for it, Polly was not sure what to tell Bulma. She felt she had betrayed her friend's confidence. Nevertheless, she knew she had an unlikely ally in Krillin.

 

Now under the rays of a hot, tropical sun beaming through palm trees, the two friends sat in the shade of a beach umbrella. They both were still struck in utter shock that they were finally free. Krillin wrapped his hand around a frosty can of his favorite Capsule corps grape soda.

 

"Why?" she whispered.

 

"I don't know. I couldn't stop thinking about that kiss," he whispered. Today he wore his usual turtle hermit uniform neatly stitched and repaired. Somehow, he felt closer to reality when he wore it lately. His entire world had been turned upside down by the time he spent with Android 18. Both of them shivered with the heat of the cold fire they had played with and the inferno threatened to flare out of control.

 

"Nor could I," she whispered.

 

"I'd do anything for her," Krillin admitted, sipping his can of grape soda. Next to him, the scientist still wore the baggy jeans and button up shirt with studded belt that 17 had given her. He had awakened something in her that wouldn't be denied. Youth, and much of it.

 

"He's a ruthless bastard. But he spared me," she said quietly.

 

"I know, weird huh? I didn't think he was capable of it," Krillin admitted.

 

"So now what? You're still enemies and yet here we are. They let us go."

 

"I don't know," Krillin shrugged, watching her gulp down a bit of coke, the same brand he saw 17 drink. She watched her little girl playing in the beach under the eye of Master Roshi, trusting the old martial arts master who seemed so comfortable around children.

 

"You want children?" she asked.

 

"I want a girl and a family," Krillin admitted.

 

"In some way you hope Android 18 would be that girl, don't you?"

 

"Um… how did you guess?" Krillin blushed.

 

"I can see that in your eyes when you look at her. I wish it was possible," she said.

 

"But 18 was… human. Maybe we can convince her to change," said Krillin.

 

"I wish you the best," said Polly.

 

"What about you and 17," said he.

 

"I don't know," she whispered. That day they had made a silent pact to stand together united by their respective interests in the twins.

 

Krillin glanced back and forth, anxious to change the subject. Leaning closer to her he whispered, "Something else has been seen lurking around. Incredibly creepy. Piccolo told me."

 

"Another android?"

 

"We're not sure WHAT it is. Something came back in Trunks time machine. Something NASTY," he shuddered.

 

"What sort of something?"

 

"Piccolo saw it. Some kind of insectiod monster. You'd better be careful and stay at Capsule where it's safe," Krillin warned.

 

"How long have you known this?"

 

"I didn't want to tell you more bad news, but this thing has been sneaking around; like it's looking for something. I guess now that I've told you, I'd better fly you back to West City," Krillin said. He crushed his can and took hers.

 

"I could take a car. You might draw undue attention flying with me. And I don't want to leave my ride here,” she said.

 

"I'll drive you back. Just to protect you," Krillin offered. She nodded and got up to follow him.

 

***

As she lay there that night, Dr. Atomica tried to read a book to fall asleep. She knew as she looked up from the boring journals that her daughter already drifted into a deep slumber in her room down the hall. Tales of the battles would come to her ears and she would worry. The android known as 16 had come to be a close friend as well when he came to capsule. Why didn't she fall for him? She cursed. Still she did not fear the night because someone was watching her carefully from afar. Nevertheless, he was far from a guardian angel.

 

A small creak broke the silence. She snapped her head around. Instinctively she worried about her daughter down the hall. Pulling the gun from under her pillow, she shot up when she heard the click of the latch. A figure stood blocking the moon. "Stop right there creep!"

 

"I'm assuming you mean me, Doc?" said a smooth young voice. A duster coat fell to the floor revealing the slender shape.

 

"Sev… 17," she whispered, seeing the blue eyes regarding her from under his hair. Standing in the middle of her bedroom, the android strode smugly forwards. Although she aimed the weapon at him, he smirked and grasped her hand that held it. Gently he caressed her fingers.

 

"Be careful or you'll hurt someone with that popgun, lady," 17 whispered. She cursed the influence he had over her and felt him climb up on her bed. With his hand on her breast, he pressed her carefully down.

 

"Why are you here?"

 

"I admire a lady who uses a gun," he purred. His fingers danced over her breasts and he straddled her hips, pinning her hands on either side of her head.

 

"You… you're in danger," she whispered.

 

"The only one in danger is you. In danger of a long slow ride," he whispered. Lips covered hers and 17 brushed her mouth with his tongue. Granted permission he seared her with a passion-filled kiss no human man could duplicate.

 

"They could find you," she sniffled.

 

"Do I look like I care?" he smirked.

 

Small footsteps sounded and she tensed as a little voice whimpered and stood in the doorway. 17 leaned up and looked at the small invader holding her teddy and rubbing at her eye. "Mommy I can't sleep."

 

"Curie, go back to bed," gasped Polly, looking at the smug 17. He climbed off her and sat on the edge of the bed, looking at their visitor.

 

"Well well, company."

 

"It's my daughter! Nothing else," she whispered.

 

"Please, I wouldn't hurt a kid," snorted 17.

 

"Who's that strange man here, mommy? I'm scared!" Curie whimpered. Polly leapt up and rushed over to her daughter's side, hugging her child.

 

"Honey, this is… a friend of mommy's. He was just leaving," Polly said weakly.

 

17 held his knee before his face and watched intently, saying nothing. Slowly he rose and strode over, his pistols tapping against his hips. Stealthily, he kept his distance and then gave a charming smile. "It's late, kid. Your mommy needs rest."

 

"Who are you?" Curie asked. "You look like one of my dollies. But you're a guy."

 

"I'm a very special doll," 17 said, moving forward and crouching on one knee.

 

"17, what are you doing?" Polly asked. He held a finger to his lips and stared at the little girl blinking at him.

 

"Really, or are you fibbing mister?"

 

"Even big girls like your mommy play with dolls, kid." 17 laughed lightly. "I'm her plaything, her own dolly. You wouldn't stop your mommy from playing with dollies would you?"

 

"Mommy you have a doll? But he looks so big and he moves and talks!" said Curie

 

"Yes… yes he's a doll," said Polly with relief. "For grownups."

 

"Do you wind up or do you have batteries?" asked Curie. 17 snickered and clicked his tongue.

 

"So many questions! If you must know I use a battery, and it never expires. Not for a million years," he whispered, leaning close to the pixie-like face.

 

"Wow," she whispered.

 

"And I'm fully functional," said he with a wink at an embarrassed Polly.

 

"17 stop this game!" she growled.

 

"Wow, you can eat and go to the bathroom and cry and all kinds of stuff. Or since you're a boy doll you can shoot things and make funny lights," said Curie.

 

"You got it, kiddo." 17 smirked, raising his palm. A red light generated on his fingernail gleaming like sparklers in the young girl's eyes. Blown away, Polly still hugged her daughter tightly. 17 made no move toward her or the girl, rather keeping his distance.

 

"Sweetie, why don't I get you some water and put you to bed," interrupted Polly.

 

"What's your name mister? Mommy called you 17," Curie said. "That's not a name!"

 

"It's what he's called, sweetie. Now come with me," she said, and cast him a look between relief and apology. 17 turned and strode over to sit on the end of her bed. Relieved she took her daughter's hand and walked her down the hall. A half hour later, she returned and saw him still sitting there in the darkness.

 

"Surprised I'm still here, Doc?" he laughed.

 

"Yes."

 

"She's quite a pretty little thing. Shame if something happened to her," he sneered.

 

"You touch my daughter and I'll…"

 

"Whoa, time out, Doc. I told you I wouldn't hurt your daughter so stop getting those ideas. She's just a kid, a brat; nothing more. I don't kill kids. No fun in it. Besides, you're the one I came here for," whispered he.

 

"You know now why I can't come with you," she sighed.

 

"I'm an outlaw, lady," 17 said quietly. "Always will be. You can't fix me like 16, I program myself."

 

"Why did you tell her you were a…"

 

"Because I am. I'm an artificial human, a grown man's action figure. However, I kill. And I destroy," 17 answered matter of fact.

 

"And you do other things," she admitted with a blush.

 

"My sister had some stupid lame idea that she and I should change. However, I had to have a chat with her. I like being powerful you know," he started.

 

"I don't want you to change, 17. I just want you to… to stop killing so indiscriminately for fun," she said.

 

"You should know better, Doc."

 

"No. I mean it's a waste. Just randomly shooting people… how can you say that's fun?" she asked.

 

"You have a point. Besides, there's another reason I came, Doc. There's another one of us that 'father' made. And it's not going to be safe anywhere," 17 said.

 

"You're warning me?" she asked.

 

"Go figure. Call it a glitch. However, you'd be safer if you and your kid came with me. Tonight," suggested 17.

 

"I can't just leave," protested she.

 

"Idiot, you think Cell's going to leave you alone? Come with me and you'll live. Stay here and you might die," 17 cautioned.

 

"I can't," she whispered hoarsely.

 

"Your choice," said he. "But you know that place we visited? I want you to know you can hide out there if things get… unpleasant."

 

"17," she pleaded softly.

 

"It's not safe for you here, Doc. I know that thing's looking for something. And I'm sure it's anything to do with whatever experiments 'father' cooked up. If you stay here you'll be killed. Do you want to die?"

 

"17 please understand,” she begged.

 

"I get it," he said quietly.

 

"You can't keep me like I'm a doll either," she said quietly.

 

"I guess not, but I can try. Sooner or later I'll have you. Till now I've taken whatever I've wanted, but with you I have to take what I can get," 17 said.

 

"Alright. I'll go with you. But you promise me that you'll take care of yourself," she said. 17 smiled. Striding forwards, he reached for her slowly and the night passed wildly without any more interruptions.