Part 3, Chapter 7: Showdown! The Fated Saiyan

Y-You!

Say your prayers, Shallot. You'll be killed by the hands of mine!

Tch, you just show up out of nowhere and say that?!

Whatever! Outta my way! I don't have time to deal with you!

Hmph. I wouldn't have imagined that coming from you. You'd always find a way to compete with me.

...?! Me?! Compete with you?!

It no longer matters.

All you need to do is fight me and get killed by my hands!

Tch, don't mess with me!

I have something important I have to do! There's no way I'm tapping out here!

Daaaaaah!

*pant* *pant*

...

Ngh... Why?!

(I'm way stronger than last time!)

(I can turn into a Super Saiyan now! I know my hits are landing!)

(So why?! Why?!)

(Why don't I feel like I can win against him?!)

How pathetic.

What...?

Just what I'd expect from the "blood of the defeated." Your moves are filled with hesitation and fear!

You're bringing that up again?! Quit with the nonsense already!

With no faith in your power, cease to fight and live in the shadows of history. The blood of a coward...

That's the blood which courses through you!

Tch! You sure like flapping your gums!

I'm neither defeated nor a coward!

I'm not running away!

I've made up my mind!

I'm not running away!

I've made up my mind!

"Not running away," huh?

Pft... Ha ha ha! The irony of it all!

...?!

This all coming from the descendant of the very family who did nothing but run after they lost the battle!

Gaaaaah?!

Don't make me laugh, coward!!

Ngrh...!

Still not going anywhere, huh? Have it your way.

Die where you stand!

...!

...I told you! I don't have time to waste with you!

I...I gotta chase after #18! Now...

...get out of my way!

...?!

*pant* *pant* How'd ya like that, you bastard...

Hmph. You're still just a kid throwing a tantrum. Nothing's changed since back then...

...!

...

Ugh...rrgh...!

I will admit it though... You have gotten somewhat stronger...

Frustrated? Then...get stronger...

Ngh?!

How ironic all this is!

The potential in you finally starts to awaken, in an era where everything is already over!

You can still get a lot stronger... You have the potential...

...T-That's! I get it now...!

That voice... That was your...!

...But it doesn't matter...! Your potential won't change anything, now or then! I'll prove it!

After all...

...

...We're Saiyan twins.

DIE!! SHALLOT!!

...Why?!

Tell me why!! GIBLET!!!

Gwaaah?!

...

Why, Giblet?! ...Why are you doing this?!

This...

...is farewell!

Gaaaaah!

I'll farewell the blood of the defeated that runs through my body...

And return things to the straight and narrow! It's a job for me and me alone!

Y-You're wrong...

...?

I am not a loser... WE are not some gutless losers!!

Hmph. So those are going to be your last words, huh? Well then, prove it to me!

Not that you stand a chance!

Ngh!

It's over! I'll turn you into ashes!

...Gib...let!

...!

Grgh...!

...? ...Giblet?

Rgh! Aaaah!

What's going on...?! Giblet! Are you ok?!

Don't touch me! You...are my enemy!

...?!

Ugh... Curses! Why?! Why...!

Gib...let...? W-Wait!

Tch!

Ngrh...

Hmph.

I see. Other than the power up you got, you are predicting my movements based on the data from the "previous Cell"...

Fine, I'll admit it. You are strong!

If you're to that point of analysis, then you must have realized...

As it stands, you will be the first to run out of energy. You have no chance of winning.

Heh heh. It's not like you to make miscalculations, #16.

...

I too have data on the "previous you" in this timeline!

...!

Ungh...

You've taken a hostage...

Yes. But a purely logical machine like you surely wouldn't back out just because of that.

Correct. Bargaining with me by using a hostage is pointless, so why do it?

Heh heh heh. You see...

Because I can use him like this!

?!

Catch that worthless bag of flesh. I'll attack you in the instant you let your guard down!

You may be a logical machine, #16, but you have a softness that you can't let go of! And THAT will be your undoing!

Urk...!

...Are you okay?

Huh? #16?! Why did you save me?!

Cell...got away.

I-I'm so sorry. It's all my fault...

No, it's exactly as Cell says. It's my own weakness that caused this. You're not at fault.

...

Don't worry, Cell is very calculating. With the damage he sustained, he won't head directly toward #18.

Oh, that's right! Where is #18?!

What about Maste, I mean Shallot... And Zahha? Where is everyone?

I don't know about this Zahha, but Shallot went after whoever took #18.

I have been checking his location with my radar, but...

It seems his energy level is faint. Something must have happened.

What?!

We should prioritize rescuing Shallot over pursuing Cell. Can you fly?

Yes!

I will explain the current situation on the way. Let's go!

Ow oooow!

*pant* *pant* Heh heh! Looks like I win again, Shallot!

Tch. You're even faster than before! If only I was that fast...

You've got that crazy strength of yours, don't you? I don't have that... Your strength is where you excel!

At any rate, we're twins. We can just make up for what the other is lacking!

Yeah yeah, I know that! But for the time being, you better worry about the day when I catch up to you!

Ha ha, no doubt about that. You can still get a lot stronger... You have the potential...

Hey, what's with that attitude? If that's true for me, then it's true for you too, right?

Yeah... Of course. That's why we have to support and boost each other's power.

It will eventually come... The day when we show off our power...

For the day to arrive, we must grow stronger... Stronger... Stronger...!

Yeah! I'll start by catching up to you! Just you wait, Giblet!

Urgh...

Master?! Thank goodness you're awake!

Giblet...

Huh? Gib...? What's that?

(Where did he go? No, why did he talk like that?!)

(The blood of the defeated runs through me? What does that even mean?)

(I can't...remember! Why can't I remember something so important?! Dammit!)

...

Master...? Master! Are you okay?!

Oww! ...Cabba?!

Thank goodness! You seemed really out of it, Master. Um... How do you feel?

I've been better...

Y-Yeah, obviously... Who did this to you?

Was it the guy who took #18?!

No, someone got in my way. I wasn't able to make it to #18...

How about you, Cabba? You took a big blow from Cell, right?

Don't worry about me, I'm fine! More importantly, we're here to help you in #18's rescue!

We?

...

Huh, #16?! Weren't you fighting Cell?!

My apologies... He got away from us.

However, he has taken on a lot of damage. It is unlikely that he will be moving as much as he would like.

I see... Alright, we should use this chance to catch up to Zahha!

Will you really be alright with those wounds, Master?!

Hah, I should be the one saying that! But listen, Zahha is following after #18 right now. There's no time to be sitting around!

Wait! Something is coming.

What?! Dr. Gero?!

That's impossible! We destroyed the real Gero, didn't we?! None of them should be able to move!

...Grk...

Grk! Grrrrrk!

We can analyze later. They're coming!

...!

*pant* *pant* ...We did it!

No matter how beat up we get, there's no way we'd lose to these guys!

The real one died, so I'm confused how these spare #20's are able to move...

Sp...are...?

...?!

I am... No, we are Dr. Gero! We are not just spares!

What?!

Something's off...!

I've decided... After I destroy you all...

I will redesign #16 anew, stripping him of any and all free will! He will be the perfect war machine!

I knew it! It's that Ki again! But what the hell does it mean?!

Hm? You know something about this?

Yeah... He's the third one I've met so far. #16, do you know anything about the Ki coming from the geezer?

I am afraid that I have no data on it... But it's strange... Androids shouldn't carry the energy you called Ki.

I refuse to admit defeat! You hear me? "The me of this era" lost?! Pah, that's empirically impossible!

Urk, just how powerful and...sinister can his Ki be?! Can we even win in this state?

Save the worrying for later, Cabba! We're not gonna die here!

Y-Yes, Master!

I'll make everyone in this world realize the power of the "ultimate warrior!"

And that my technology deserves the respect!

Give it up already, geezer! And get ready to be buried, for real this time!

It's over!

Gaaaaagh!

I must... I must show that... my technology deserves...respect!

Show...it?

Who... Who did I want to show it to? Who...did I want revenge on?

The target of your revenge was Goku...

...! That's right, Goku! Go... #16, d-defeat Goku... You were born...to...

I refuse! I now have my own directive!

...! You dare oppose your creator?! What a... defective piece of junk!

...Ngrh!

#16?!

Grk... Grrk...

That geezer! He does nothing but bring troubles until his last breath! Grr...!

Save your energy, Shallot. His last attack has put himself out of commission.

Tch!

Dr. Gero, you came to this era and completely forgot your goal. You were too fixated on creating strong warriors.

I cannot give my sympathies, but what a pitiful end.

So, Dr. Gero came to this era and... became a different person somehow?

There is nothing to be gained now in analyzing that man.

(Became a different person, huh?)

Don't touch me! You...are my enemy!

(Did Giblet also...?)

Ngh!

Hey! #16, are you alright?!

...It appears that my body reached its limit by that last attack.

Leave me here.

What?! No way I'm doing that!

I'll be fine. Just tell me. Do you think you can find #18 with that nose of yours?

...Dammit! It's no good! Too much time has passed. The scent's already gone!

Krh...

Huh? The communicator's going off.

...! It's a transmission from Zahha!

What?! Hey! Zahha! Can you hear me?!

M-Master! It's not a voice transmission! He sent us the coordinates of his location!

Who knows what may be happening, but the fact that he can't talk now means we best hurry.

Cabba! ...Where does the co-or-whatever say he is?!

Huh? Ummmm... That way!

Alright. I'll head there! Cabba, you take care of #16's injuries!

These aren't injuries. This is mechanical damage, which is not something normal first aid can fix. Leave me and head out.

That's not happening! What will #17 and #18 say if we leave you here to die!

...!

Not being able to fix you is a problem, though...

How are we supposed to fix your, uh, mech-animal damage?

To put it in terms you'll understand: you need to find someone smart.

Someone smart?

Oh! In that case, we can take #16 to her, Cabba!

...?

Ah, he's here! Cabba, over here!

Mai! You're here, too!

Zahha suggested it! He said it'd be better if we gathered here!

Anyway, I heard about what happened. You're here to get #16 repaired, right?

Hey! Bring that android over here. I'll do what I can!

Y-Yes, ma'am!

Let's see...your name was Cabba, right? How's Champa doing?

Champa? Umm... I'm sorry, I'm not sure what you're talking about...

I see, you're from a Universe 6 where the competition hasn't occurred yet.

...?

Whatever, don't fret over it. We've got other problems to attend to.

I heard from Bulma that you headed to Dr. Gero's hideout with Shallot.

Tell me why that idiot hasn't returned, and what you learned about the ultimate warrior...

Explain it to me as succinctly as possible.

So Dr. Gero knew something about the ultimate warrior but you weren't able to draw that information from him, huh...

Then after Dr. Gero died, this Cell showed up, successfully absorbed one of the androids, and gained more power.

Yes... #18 was yet to be absorbed so Master went after Zahha to try and save her...

I see, that'll do. You go ahead and rest to your heart's content.

Huh? Rest? I, er, I don't think I could...

Don't worry about the fees for staying here. Bulma's loaded.

No, that's not the problem! I have to go catch up to Master!

I'd advise not. At your current strength, you'll just drag down your precious Master.

...!

The best thing you can do for now is to rest and heal. It'd be a shame if a good Saiyan like you threw his life away!

B-But!

No means no, young man. You're hardly standing with those injuries as it is. Now is the time to rest.

...Yes, sir.

...

(I couldn't save #18. I couldn't help #16 fight Cell. I can't do anything!)

(But if I went with my current strength, I'd just drag those two down... Why am I not stronger?!)

Master, Zahha... Please, be careful!

The Saiyans from over there actually do as they're told. Our Saiyans could learn a thing or two from them.

Lord Beerus, please remember that Cabba is Zahha's ally.

Is it not best to refrain from talking to him like he's under your care?

Tch, I can do what I want. I'm the highest on the ladder right now! I don't see any problem with it.

More importantly, we learned something very interesting besides this ultimate warrior. Does it not interest you, Whis?

Oh, it's very interesting indeed! Who would have thought Shallot would take on a student!

Not that!

I know, I know. Raditz, Turles, and now Dr. Gero...

This marks the third fellow with the suspicious Ki.

Judging from the stories we've heard so far, they've all attained power, but it caused them to forget their original goals.

It's not something that they could have brought about by themselves either...

Which means someone is doing this to the tournament participants.

Whis, you have in your mind the identity of that "someone," don't you?

With that suspicious Ki, Raditz stopped at nothing to sabotage others. Turles sparked battles off...

...and now Dr. Gero had nothing else in his mind but to create the strongest warrior.

All of their objectives were different, but there was one mutual outcome of all this...

So you think whoever planned this wanted to cause more drama within the tournament?

Yeah. And if that's the case, the first one I'd suspect to benefit from this is the "mastermind," am I right?

Heh heh heh, interesting deduction, but as a neutral party, I can't give you the answer, Lord Beerus.

Hmph! You're not very accommodating, are you? And you call yourself an angel...

Ngh!

(My injuries are worse than I thought! Maybe I shouldn't have played the hero.)

Stop grumbling, Shallot! That's the reason why...

The blood of the defeated courses through you!

Dammit! I don't have time to think about that!

I gotta keep moving... I gotta move or I'm going to go crazy!

(I am not a loser...! That goes for you too...)

(...Giblet!)