Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ The Chosen One ❯ Chapter Twenty-Three ( Chapter 23 )

The Chosen One

Chapter Twenty-Three

A Roxian opened the door leading out of the docking bay. Android 17, hidden under a box, quickly registered the keypad code to the door. As the Roxian went inside, Seventeen threw off the box and gave a thumbs-up. Gohan, Krillin, and Yamcha emerged from their hiding places as Seventeen typed in the keypad code. Once all four of them were inside, the door slammed shut and the lights deactivated.

"What the heck is going on?" Yamcha asked.

"I don't know," Krillin said, "but I'm glad I brought my flashlight." Krillin reached for his flashlight, but Android 17 swatted his hand away.

"Don't use any kind of light," Seventeen said. "There's some sort of security system here. It will detect any kind of visible light. There also seem to be infrared lasers."

"So, what are we going to do?" Gohan asked.

"You can't see it, but my eyes have turned red," Android 17 responded. "That means I've turned on my infrared vision. I'll go ahead and deactivate the security systems on the other side of the room, so you should wait here." A few moments later, the lights turned on and Android 17 was on the other side of the room.

"I've deactivated the security systems," he said. "It's fine to cross now." Gohan, Krillin, and Yamcha did so. Android 17 then turned to the monitor on the wall behind him. "This seems to be a map of the outpost, like the one in the base on Gabria."

"We should have brought either Siber or Vegeta along," Gohan commented.

"You've forgotten that I've already learned the written language of the Roxians," Android 17 said. "I can read it perfectly." He then turned on the monitor and checked the map. One of the rooms began to flash. "That's where the tractor beam mechanism is. Once we knock that out of commission, we'll be free to go."

***

"Sephra! Sephra, where are you?" Bulma shouted.

"Hey, Mom," Trunks said as he entered the bridge. "I heard you yelling, so I came up. What's happening?"

"Sephra disappeared after we got caught in the tractor beam," Bulma said. "I'm trying to find her so we can contact King Michael to arrange her return."

"I see," Trunks answered. "If I see her, I'll let you know."

"Can't you sense her, though?" Bulma asked.

Trunks shook his head. "Her power signature isn't strong enough to pick up, like yours. No offense."

"Well, let me know if you find her," Bulma instructed.

***

"This is it," Android 17 said. He walked up to the tractor beam and deactivated it.

"You know, that was too easy," Gohan said suspiciously.

"What do you mean?" Yamcha asked.

"I mean that both the bases on Quarr and Gabria were better defended," Gohan responded. "This is the first time we had no encounter with anything but a security device. It makes it even stranger, given that this is a military outpost."

"That's because we were toying with you," someone said. A pair of Roxians stepped out of the shadows.

"I am Sergeant Sakhos, and this is Lieutenant Kriskos," the taller Roxian said. "Pleased to be your demise. Now, which of you will die first?"

"Sergeant, request permission to engage the enemy first," Kriskos stated.

"Granted."

Kriskos walked to the center of the room as Gohan, Krillin, Yamcha, and Android 17 assumed fighting stances. Kriskos scanned each fighter for a few seconds. Finally his eyes landed on Yamcha. "Your hair is unkempt," Kriskos said, "and you have made no effort to mask your scars. Scruffiness like that shall not be tolerated." With that, he launched himself at Yamcha.

Yamcha had known he was the target when Kriskos laid his eyes on him and dodged out of the way at the last second. He came up behind with a double axe handle, but Kriskos blocked just in time. Yamcha then threw a right hook at Kriskos's head, which Kriskos dodged. Kriskos threw a one-two punch at Yamcha's chest, but Yamcha disappeared and reappeared behind Kriskos. He caught the Roxian's head between his legs, planted his hands on the ground, and whipped Kriskos over him. Kriskos landed on his feet and hit Yamcha with a punch to the solar plexus. Yamcha flew back into the wall and got to his feet.

"Heh," Kriskos laughed. "You're fast, I'll give you that. But that's your only strength."

"That's because you don't know me very well," Yamcha retorted. "And you won't have the chance to do so." He put his hands together and pulled them back. "Kaaa . . . meee . . . haaa . . . meee . . . HAAA!" The beam lanced forward as Kriskos assumed a defensive stance. The beam hit and exploded; however, Kriskos still stood, without so much as a scratch.

"Like I said, you're all speed," Kriskos sneered. He launched forward and kicked Yamcha in the head, knocking him unconscious. Kriskos stood over him and charged an energy blast. Suddenly, a clicking noise broke the quiet.

"You fire that blast and I'll blow your head off," Android 17 said, holding the .44 magnum level with Kriskos's head.

Kriskos laughed. "A simple projectile won't hurt me!"

"Well then, I'll have do ask you something," Android 17 said. "Do you feel lucky . . . punk?!"

BANG!

Kriskos fell to the ground, dead. He had tried to stop the bullet with his hand, but the iron ripped right through his hand and went into his head.

Sakhos shook his head in disgust. "Iron weapons. I never thought that you, as martial artists, would ever stoop so low. No matter; you will pay!"

Android 17 pointed the gun at Sakhos. "Go ahead. Make my day." He fired a shot directly at Sakhos's head, but the Roxian ducked just in time. Android 17 fired four more bullets in rapid succession, but Sakhos bobbed and weaved to dodge them all. His gun now empty, Android 17 grabbed six more bullets from his pouch, but wasn't able to reload in time, as Sakhos charged forward and hid 17 with a knee to the stomach. Android 17 fell to the spot where Yamcha was. Gohan, however, noticed something odd; Yamcha was no longer there.

Suddenly, Yamcha leaped from the doorway, a pair of spiked knuckles shining in the light. He landed right in front of Sakhos and pulled his fist back.

"WOLF FANG FIST!!" Yamcha's signature move plowed right through Sakhos's chest. Yamcha pulled his fist back and Sakhos's corpse fell to the ground.

"Man, I haven't used that attack in years," Yamcha commented.

"Yamcha, how on earth did you recover so quickly?" Krillin asked. In response, Yamcha walked to the doorway. He came back, pulling Sephra, with a bow and a quiver, into the room by the arm.

"Sephra, what are you doing here?" Gohan demanded. "This place is too dangerous!"

"Yet you need my help," Sephra responded. "Men."

"We're not joking around!" Krillin exclaimed. He then turned to Yamcha. "You still haven't explained." At that moment, Android 17, who was down on one knee and clutching his stomach, spit up blood. Sephra walked over to Android 17 and placed a hand on his back. She closed her eyes and began to concentrate. Waves of energy seemed to flow from her to Android 17. After a moment, Android 17 stood up, perfectly fine.

"Hey! I get it!" Gohan exclaimed. "She has healing powers, just like Dende!"

***

KA-BOOOM!

The Roxian military outpost blew up after the ship left. Aboard the ship, everyone was gathered in the bridge.

"I say she goes home," Piccolo said. "I'm sure you remember that Frieza killed Dende."

"Yeah, but until that point, Dende saved our lives by healing us," Gohan argued.

"I have an idea," Raditz added. "We let her stay. Then, when she sees the ordeals we have to go through, she'll practically be begging us to take her home."

"I like that idea," Android 17 said.

"All right," Bulma said, "now we have to tell King Michael."

***

"Well . . . all right," King Michael agreed. "Just promise me this. While my daughter is with you, you will let her meet no harm."

"Of course," Gohan answered. "I'll protect her even if it means sacrificing myself, Your Majesty." The connection was then cut.

Trunks smiled. "It sounds to me like you like her." Gohan slapped himself in the forehead while Android 17 began laughing.