Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Hope ❯ First Encounter ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter 3: First Encounter

"At least the Androids haven't made it this far," Gohan thought as he flew over the countryside. The farmland was still fruitful and the livestock grazed on the lush grasses.

He had been afraid that everything had been completely destroyed during his years of training, but knew there was nothing he could do to stop the Androids until he was certain he had mastered the level of Super Saiyan. His relief was short-lived as he caught sight of a cloud of smoke on the horizon.

"Curse those monsters!" Gohan growled and headed toward the smoke's source as fast as he could.

As he got nearer, Gohan realized where he was headed. It was North City, home of the Capsule Corp., Bulma and Baby Trunks! Was he too late? Had they been able to escape the wrath of the Androids in time? Were they among the crowds of people he saw fleeing to safety?

The smoke was coming from an apartment complex at the edge of the city. The windows were all blasted out and there were hunks of twisted, metal objects protruding from the building's brick side. Gohan flew closer to see what the objects were.

"They're cars!" he exclaimed. "But why? How?"

His questions were answered as a large vehicle came hurtling toward him. He dodged easily and watched as the delivery truck flew into the building, creating yet another hole in the brick wall. The weight of the truck was more than the already destroyed structure could handle. With a loud rumble, the entire building collapsed in a cloud of dust and smoke. Gohan looked down and saw what he knew he would find.

"That's fifteen!" Number 17 said cheerfully. "You owe me an ice cream cone!"

"Whatever," Number 18 answered with a sigh. She was perched on top of a street light, resting her chin in one hand. She looked as bored as her counterpart looked amused.

"Oh come on! There's no need to sulk just because I won," Number 17 said, floating up to her level. "Tell you what, why don't you make the next contest."

"OK," she said with a smirk. She floated from her seat and pointed over his shoulder. "First one to kill the kid wins."

Number 17 turned to see Gohan hovering over the destroyed building. A cruel smile spread across his face.

"Say, isn't that the scrawny little brat that came back for his dead friends? The one you wouldn't let me kill?"

"Sure looks like him," Number 18 answered. "But this time he isn't blubbering like a little baby, so I say he's fair game."

Gohan's mouth dropped open in shock. They had seen him come back to that island years ago. They had seen him cry over his fallen comrades. They could have easily killed him when his guard was down. They spared his life!

Before Gohan could collect his thoughts and defend himself, both Androids flew straight at him. The boy's fist connected with Gohan's chin, while the girl's knee drove into his stomach. Gohan was blown back by the force and crashed through the brick wall of a department store a block away. Luckily, the building had been cleared of customers after the first attack on the apartment complex.

Gohan picked himself up out of the shattered glass display case he had landed on and brushed the scattered jewelry from his uniform. His anger rose as he thought about what the Androids had said. If it was true, they had seen him at his lowest - emotionally broken by the loss of his friends. He would never have cried like he had if he knew anyone was watching. To hear them call him a baby and know they let him live out of pity was just enough fuel to ignite his Super Saiyan energy.

"He's in there all right," Gohan heard Number 17 say. "I just felt his power level. It would be easier if we just blew up the whole building."

"But then we wouldn't know which one of us killed him," Number 18's voice answered. "We wouldn't know who won."

Gohan moved away from the hole he had made in the side of the building and retreated further into the department store. He passed racks of clothing and mannequins, listening for the Androids location. Their voices echoed in the deserted building, making it hard to tell exactly where they were.

"He must have landed in the beauty parlor," the girl said.

"I hate that bleached look," the boy replied.

"At least mine is natural," she chuckled.

Gohan kept backing up, searching the enormous room for the origin of the voices. He bumped into something and spun around just in time to catch a scantily clad female dummy before it crashed to the floor. He blushed when he saw what he was holding and quickly set it back up before escaping the lingerie section.

"Isn't that cute?"

"I think he's made a friend."

Their laughter followed him as he ducked down, trying to hide his own location. He crawled through the children's section into the women's display, hoping the taller dress racks would conceal him better. He squatted down and waited for one of the Androids to make the next move.

"Do you think this scarf matches my eyes?"

Gohan jumped at the soft voice in his ear and spun around to see Number 18 sitting on a mannequin stand. She had a blue, filmy scarf held up just below her eyes. She batted her eyelashes at him and gave him a coy smile through the thin material.

"Didn't anyone tell you it's not polite to stare," Number 17 scolded, flying in for a punch.

Gohan used his increased speed to dodge the hit and spun around to deliver a kick of his own. The boy easily deflected the kick and punched Gohan in the chest, sending him toward the high ceiling. Gohan caught himself just before making contact with a bank of fluorescent lights and flew back at Number 17.

Number 18 ignored the two fighters as she admired herself in the mirror, trying on different hats, scarves, and other accessories. Above her, fists and feet flew, none of them connecting with their intended targets.

"We may have underestimated you," Number 17 admitted with a grin.

"They why are you smiling?" Gohan asked, gaining confidence as he drove the Android steadily backwards.

"Because I think you made the same mistake."

With one hand, Number 17 deflected Gohan's attacks. The other hand drew back, gathering energy. Before Gohan realized what was happening, the Android blasted him back across the room with a beam of energy. Gohan landed on top of a cashier's counter and was just able to raise his crossed arms to block the second blast that sent him crashing down through the floor.

He landed, only to be tossed back up in the air a few feet before bouncing softly to a stop. He nearly laughed out loud as he climbed off the springy mattress. After sleeping on the hard, rocky ground for so long, he was surprised to find such comfort in the middle of a fight. He didn't have much time to enjoy it, though, as another hole was made in the ceiling and Android 18 floated down before him.

"My turn," she said with a smile and launched herself at Gohan.

Gohan had never fought a girl before, and hesitated just long enough for the Android to land a punch to his stomach. On instinct he brought his knee up and hit her in the face. She was thrown back a few yards, but landed softly on her feet. She smiled even wider as she tucked her hair behind one ear.

"Not afraid to hit a girl, huh?"

"You're not a girl," Gohan said. "You're a monster!"

Gohan ran at her, but she took to the air before he could touch her. He sensed her energy attack and spun around just in time to dodge it before firing one of his own. The blast hit her directly in the chest and enveloped her in a cloud of smoke. Gohan smiled, relieved to be rid of at least one of them. But when the smoke cleared, she floated there with her arms crossed over her face, completely unscathed.

"This dog has a little bite in him," Number 17 said as he sailed down from one of the holes in the ceiling. "Maybe you'd better let me handle him."

"No!" Number 18 snapped. "This is my floor! You just don't want to give me a chance to win."

"All right! All right!" he said, throwing his hands in the air. "But you never did say what we were playing for."

"I don't care!" Number 18 glared down at Gohan. "Right now, I'm just playing for his hide!"

Number 18 flew at Gohan, but this time he was ready for her. He blocked and dodged her attacks as she drove him back across the room. Unable to land any kicks or punches himself, he copied Number 17 and used an energy beam to push her away far enough to charge up a stronger blast.

"Masenko!" he yelled as he released the energy from his hands. The blast illuminated the entire floor of the department store and sent mattresses, pillows, and cushions flying everywhere.

Suddenly, Number 18 appeared beside him and kicked him in the stomach beneath his outstretched arms. The force sent him through the wall and he sailed down to the pavement below. Before he could catch his breath enough to stand, Number 17 flew down beside him and kicked him in the side.

The sound of broken ribs echoed in Gohan's ears as he was airborne again. The pain was almost more than he could bear. He was struggling to get air back into his lungs when another blow hit him from behind. Number 18 had flown up above him and smashed her clasped hands down between his shoulders. Blood sprayed from his open mouth as he was driven back down into the sidewalk.

Barely able to remain conscious, Gohan struggled to his feet. The Androids were both casually walking towards him across the street. He knew that he wouldn't be able to continue fighting for long. They were much stronger than even his Super Saiyan form. If he stayed any longer, he would end up in Other World with the rest of Earth's warriors!

"Solar Flare!" he yelled sending a blinding flash of light straight at the Androids.

"What the...?"

"I can't see!"

Gohan moved as fast as his broken ribs allowed and escaped down a side street. He was tempted to fly away, but knew that they would be able to track his energy, even though he couldn't sense theirs. So he suppressed his energy and limped from one hiding spot to another until he saw them fly away from the city.

His hair and eyes faded back to black and he released the breath he had been holding. With his arm clamped across his injured side, Gohan slowly made his way to the closest source of assistance - The Capsule Corp.