Part 7, Chapter 3: Evolving Androids

Phew. He really caught us by surprise.

And to think it was just when we were about to get moving... I can't believe it.

...

And for it to be Vegeta of all people... Why...?

...

Shallot, Trunks... About Vegeta...

I know you guys probably don't want to talk about it, but we need to go over what we know.

Tch, it's fine! I don't mind talking!

I'll tell you what happened, but dammit, Vegeta...

Why did he have to do that?! The Vegeta I know would've never...!

Were you friends with him, Shallot?

Yeah. Well, a Vegeta from a different era, but still...

Vegeta was the one who trained me! He was my master!

No way!

I was surprised as hell when I found out he was your dad.

Can I ask you something? I want to know more about Dad, uh, Vegeta, when he was training you...

Trunks, your dad is still your dad. Don't think about it too hard.

Yeah, but... What he did... Can I really call someone like that my dad anymore?

H-Hey now Trunks, it's all because of that dark Ki, right?!

Y-Yeah, what Bulma said! I mean Vegeta's a haughty, stubborn jerk, but even HE has limits to his madness, right?!

...

You think? He always seemed pretty crazy to me...

This is beyond insane! You trying to kill us?

You're damned right I am! Every time a Saiyan is forced to grapple with his mortality, he comes back stronger!

Fight until you are an inch from death! Only then will you truly grow as a warrior!

Ack! Well, it's not as if I can wholeheartedly argue against you...

(Compared to all this, the Vegeta from our time really has mellowed out. Ahaha...)

Hmm, well the Vegeta I knew was like Trunks described, a super proud warrior, that's for sure.

And none of us can deny that the Vegeta we just fought was the same. He still has his pride.

Huh? His pride?

It was clear when I was fighting him.

He may be under the control of that dark Ki, but he ain't the kinda guy to lose his pride because of it!

And uh...that means what, exactly?

It means there must be a reason why he's like that. That's what you're trying to say, right, Shallot?

Yeah! At least I think so.

I'd like to think so, too...

Hm hm hm...

Unfortunately, we don't have much solid proof to be working from. Nonetheless...

Yeah. Shallot's instinct has never let us down. I think it's safe to put our trust into his conjecture.

Y-Yeah, you're right! I'll trust him too!

Ms. Mai! We've finished loading the hideout cargo! And Mr. Nail's operation has finished without issue!

Ah, thank you!

Everyone, sorry but I think we'll need to cut the chitchat here. We need to get moving!

Yeah, you're right. Let's head to our new hideout!

Um, Bulma, sorry, but I would rather you continue the search for more Saiyans, right now.

Wh-What?!

We finally all found each other again, and now you're saying we gotta split up?!

Listen! This is the best strategy for all of us!

While you search for more Saiyans, we can prepare bedding and food for the new recruits. It'll be more efficient this way.

Sounds smart. If we bring more Saiyans to the new hideout, then the resistance group's firepower will increase, too.

Exactly! And you can't expect everyone you recruit to just fly around following you, can you? We need a base for everyone!

I guess you've got a point... Well, how about I come help at the hideout! I can cook...kinda. And uh...I make a mean bed! Real soft and fluffy-like! Ah hah...

WHAT?! You're tryin' to bail on us?! Whis said us three have gotta stick together for this mission!

Yeah, yeah, I know, but no one told me it would be this dangerous! Do you really wanna throw ME into the battlefield?!

Bulma, you do realize that defying Beerus and Whis is a million times more dangerous than any battle, right? You've seen how powerful those two are!

Y-Yeah, but...! I just don't think!

C'mon let's get rollin'! It's Saiyan-finding time!

Phew, done and dusted.

Right, let's get going! Grab on!

Hey... Can we take a break? I'm feeling pretty exhausted...

You're joking, right? You haven't done anything to make you tired!

Well maybe it's because SOMEONE flies like a damn madman! Jeez...

Ngh... Even I... *urp*...a super elite, must agree with Bu, *urp*...with Bulma on this one...

Aw come on, you two! At this rate we'll never get to the city Mai mentioned!

I'm sorry, Shallot, I'd love to join you too, but...

No sweat, Trunks! You protect Mai and everyone else, got it?

Yeah!

Um... Shallot...?

What's up?

If you see him...

If you see Dad again...

...?

Oh! Heh, say no more!

Leave it to me! I'll keep pummeling him until he sees sense, don't worry!

Come on, Shallot, there were a hundred better ways to say that...

Hahaha! Thank you, Shallot!

I'll send the coordinates of the new hideout to your communicator, Bulma.

Thanks a bunch!

And Shallot, I have some info that may help in your search.

Oh yeah?

We gotta get to that city... The one that's rumored to be home to a strong warrior.

Yeah, and apparently they're staying there to protect the city, right?

A solitary warrior standing in the face of adversity to protect the weak... If that doesn't spell righteous, then I don't know what does!

And if they're a Saiyan, then that's even better!

You two must've rested enough by now! Let's go, let's go!

What?! It hasn't even been five minutes!

Just...a little...longer...! Or, even better... Just stop flying like a maniac!

Whoa, what's that?!

This must be the city Mai mentioned!

...Or what's left of it...

Wait! I thought this city was being protected by a strong warrior!

Tch, where are they?! They better not have gone and got beat...

A-Anyway, Shallot, let's approach with caution.

Seems it hasn't been long since this place was destroyed. I expect the culprit or culprits to be nearby still...!

No way!

Aaaah!

Grr... That didn't take long.

That...was close! Thanks, Shallot.

Heh...

Androids?!

You rust buckets just don't know when to give up!

Shallot...!

Bulma, Jaco, get outta here!

Already on it!

We're counting on you, Shallot!

Eliminate...Shallot!

I'm sick of seeing your mugs!

This time, I'll dismantle you for good!

Hrgh!

Ngh!

You...pile of...

What?! They dodged it!

Heheh!

Huh? When did you get so close, small fry?!

Haaaah!

Gah!

Hey, Shallot! Come in! Are you okay?!

Ngh, what's going on?! I can't keep up with them for some reason!

What's happening? This didn't happen last time he fought them!

They're completely reading his movements!

No way... You think they've analyzed Shallot's fighting style from last time?!

Something's not right! I thought their mission was to eliminate Goku... Since when was Shallot their target?!

Why have they chosen to prepare battle data specifically for fighting against him?!

The attacks on the resistance group's hideout and this city... They haven't got anything to do with Goku at all!

That's true...!

BUZZ! Wrong answer, slick.

Who the...?!

Gatherin' up your battle data, bringin' the hammer down on yer little resistance group and this here city...

It's all integral in our directive to eliminate Goku... ALL Gokus!

Huh?! You ain't making any sense!

Name's #13, pal, your unlucky number...

An android created by Dr. Gero's fancy computer with the sole purpose of killin' that Goku son-of-a-gun.

Spare me the life story, android! Tell me what happened to the warrior who was protecting this city!

Oh hoh, I see. You came to meet the hotshot watchin' over this dump.

Tough luck, kid. They now exist only as a cool sip o' energy that we've just finished slurpin' up, ain't that right, boys?

You can't be serious...!

Now, Shallot, as happenstance would have it, you done gone and bumped into us. I'm afraid we can't let you leave here alive.

Tch, want revenge for the old doc, huh?

Revenge? Naw, son. We ain't out to get revenge for old Dr. G kickin' the bucket.

Wait, so killing Shallot is merely a part of your grand scheme of killing Goku?!

Bingo, bug-eyes. That's what the good doctor's computer calculated from the data acquired since all this dimensional dill-picklin' began.

Even if we waste one Goku from a single history, the other Gokus from different histories ain't gon' disappear.

And that I simply cannot abide, no sir. One death will not suffice our directive.

Therefore our mission is now to completely wipe Goku from all branches of history. Past, present, and future.

You gotta be kidding...!

They want to completely remove Goku from history?! I-Is that even possible?!

Sure 'nough. And to that end, we've orders that should we catch hide or hair of Shallot, we turn him to dust on sight.

What the heck does killing me have to do with anything?!

Nghh, I'm sick of all this robo-crap! All I know is I ain't getting beat by the likes of you junkers! Bring it!

Better hope you got the hands to cash that check yer mouth's writing up, boy. You ain't gettin' outta here alive.

With the power we've attained from this here era, I give you one minute before you're kissin' dirt.

Nroooah!

Haah!

Ngh... Gah!

Says here in our data that yer one o' them fancy Super Saiyans, so what's wrong? No need to hold back on me.

Heh... I don't need to go all out to win against trash like you!

Heh, yer bluffin'. I don't know what you're schemin', but it ain't gonna stop me from redecoratin' yer face, slick.

(Tch, this one really talks big! Guess it's time to get in some more training for that mission from Lord Beerus!)

(...But things aren't looking too good. I'll be cutting it pretty close to get by without transforming...!)

Hnraaaagh!

What?!

Ngh...

Who's there?! Show yerself!

Fancy running into you here. Long time no see, Shallot!

No freakin' way...!

Seems you're not doing so hot. Got rusty since we last met, eh?

I can't believe it... Bardock?!

Bardock? Who's this guy?

(Let's see what's in the ol' data banks... What in the...he's the father of...Goku!)

What the heck are you doing here?!

Heard rumors about some powerful warrior but...don't tell me they were talking about you, kid?

I'd be flattered, but nah, that's the same reason I came here. Apparently these tinheads got him, though.

"Tinheads...?" Ah, them...

...

Tch, so you're telling me that because of these wrecks, I'm just out here wasting my precious time? Keh, I don't like that.

Tell you what, Shallot...

What?

I'll lend you a hand. These chumps wasted my time, so we're gonna waste them! That should make it worth my while, eh?

Heh, that's music to my ears. Been a while since we fought together during the Super Cell Games!

Listen up, sport. Our business here was meant to be strictly Shallot-killin' business.

However, should anyone get wise and interfere tryin' to save his skin, then they must be eliminated as well!

Heh, you make it sound so easy...

You'll be eatin' yer words, Bardock. You can wash 'em down with a few teeth, too. We have all your fightin' data in our databases too, you know.

So what? Tch, your smarmy mugs are really getting on my nerves...

Hope you've got some spare parts lying around, because you're gonna have worse than a few dents after this!

Heh...!

Dammit, they're still readin' my every move...

So this is what they were on about with that fighting data crap... What a pain in the...!

Heh heh... Thanks to the computer of this era, we're upgradin' and growin' in power day by day!

The odds of our victory will not be affected by a meddlin' outlier such as yerself, Bardock.

So that's why they keep getting stronger and stronger each time we meet!

Gimme a break! Why does that gross old Dr. Gero have to keep causing us grief from beyond the grave?

You can't beat the numbers, slick. Our calculations are absolute. And they say you two're gonna die right here.

Your calculations say so?! Hah! How pathetic.

You won't ever be able to beat a Saiyan if you keep relying on crap like that. Allow me to show you why!

Shallot, I think I've worked out how to take them down!

...What?!

What?!

...Ha ha ha! You have, have ya'? Well ain't that a shame. Hear that boys? We're goners! ...Unless, of course, you're bluffin'.

H-Hey, mind filling me in?!

Sorry, Shallot. You just do your thing and go wild, got it? Trust me!

Gah, fine! Whatever you say!

Now the battle really begins! Let's go!

It's on, small fry!

Try me, punk!

Daaaaagh!

Ngh...!

Aw yeah! Bullseye!

Heads up! Get the big one next!

Groooah!

Nnng!

W-What the heck...?!

Ha ha, awesome! I dunno why, but our attacks are actually landing now!

Heh, just goes to show that these guys are nothing more than mechanical puppets!

What is this?! Why're their attacks workin' now?!

(Hold up... Are that Bardock's movements affectin' Shallot's as they fight together?!)

I refuse to believe it! As if a mere flesh n' bones lifeform could surpass a bona fide android's calculations!

Still yapping on about that, eh? Let me tell you... Calculations mean nothing on the battlefield!

It's all instinct!

What?! Yer tellin' me there's no right or reason in the way y'all are fightin'?! Yer just goin' off of what, bold brazen instinct?!

Tch, a robot slave like you will never understand!

Just turn to scrap already!

Tch! Cocky little...!

Ngh!

Hmph, even if they do land, yer pathetic attacks ain't enough to finish me!

Ha! Hey, bolts for brains! THIS one's the finisher!

Huh? Shallot?! What the...?!

Gwaaaah!

How'd ya like that?! Guess you forgot to carry the ME on that one, #13!

That's what you get for thinking a Saiyan's power can be summed up with some stupid calculations!

Tch... So is that how it is...

Heh, I guess "He" wasn't wrong when he said to finish you off quickly!

Huh? Who said that?!

He's just babbling crap, Shallot! Forget it!

Let's smash him up and put an end to his prattle!

...Yeah, let's do it!

#14!

HAAAAAAA!

Ngh!

Typical, using someone bigger than him as a shield...

Shoot... I've experienced the dangers of y'all Saiyan boys firsthand now. This calls for further analysis...

Get yer affairs in order, because next time we meet...I will destroy you.

Grr, using an explosion to get away... What a cheap trick!

Hmph, whatever. They'll be after us again. We can finish the job then.

But man, I never expected to meet you here of all places, Bardock.

Oh yeah? And what's with that smirk?

Heh heh! We may've missed our first target, but this is even better!

Target? What're you on about?

A...righteous Saiyan?

Yeah! I bet you fit the bill, Bardock. Lend us a hand, why don'tcha?

You really are an idiot, Shallot. Saiyans and righteousness don't go together! You won't find one anywhere!

You've been on a wild goose chase since the beginning. Count me out.

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold up! Righteous Saiyans DO exist! What about Cabba?!

Soft doesn't equal righteous, Shallot. He's just a kid without a backbone.

Hmm... I wonder if Bardock is really righteous, you know...?

I know what you mean...

The hell are you two?

O-Oh yeah, we haven't introduced ourselves yet...!

W-Well, er, we're Shallot's babysitters... Ah, I mean allies!

Really? I didn't think you had such weak allies. How do they fare in a fight?

We don't fight! Jeez, why is it all you Saiyans think about is muscles?! You're all such meatheads...

Oh, speaking of allies, did you meet those guys? Uhh... Tora and Fasha, was it?

Yeah, I did. Seems you were running your mouth off about me.

You bet I did! Where are they now?

On a separate mission.

Huh, why? You finally met up with them! I thought you'd wanna stick together... So, what's the mission?

I have two other allies, you know.

Tora, Fasha, and I split up to search for them. That's actually why I came to this city.

Enough chitchat, though. I still have my mission, so we're gonna have to wrap up this little reunion.

No rest for the wicked, huh?

...Then, how 'bout this? Hey, Bulma, tell him where the resistance group's located!

Huh, why? I don't really see the point...

But, sure. Whatever. Here you go!

What's this? An Earthling communicator?

Yeah! I've input the coordinates of the resistance group's hideout! Come whenever you feel like it!

Great idea! I mean, forgetting all this righteous Saiyan business, it doesn't hurt to have more strong warriors on our side!

Earth's in a state, that's for sure, so it's probably best for warriors with high power levels to band together.

What's wrong with you? We team up one time in the Super Cell Games, and now you think we're buddies? I've no desire to throw in with you.

If we're done here, buzz off. I don't wanna waste any more time.

Jeez, Bardock's pretty damn cold, if you ask me.

Like always... Well, I suppose consistency is a good thing...

It's a shame. It doesn't seem like he was interested in joining us...

Don't worry, he'll come around! He acts all aloof, but he won't be able to mind his own damn business.

I say we can chalk this up as a win! Second righteous Saiyan located!

You're counting on that? I'd be willing to bet money that he won't come, to be honest...

Ah...!

Oh...crap!

What?!

I forgot to ask him to spar! It's been so long, he would've made a good partner!

You're thinking of sparring?! Just after that fight with those androids? Wouldn't you rather take a break?!

Nah, I rested up while we were talking with him!

Like I said... Consistency is a good thing...even your inhuman recovery speed...

Ah well, too late now. Another strong warrior will show up soon enough, I'm sure!

Don't jinx us!

It won't make a difference. If there's one thing we can be sure of, it's how many strong warriors are out there, ha ha ha...

HELLOOOO? ANYONE OUT THEEERE?! FIGHT MEEEE!!

Don't goad them out here, you idiot!

...

...What is this power?!

Has it piqued your interest? It is far stronger than any magic Babidi could ever conjure up in your original era!

With this much power, your wish of defeating him will be in your grasp!

...

Don't you want to take this strength back with you to your time?

If you aid me in my plans, then I can return you to your original era along with this power!

I was taken in by Babidi in my original world...

And then in this one, by that man...

Two times I've sold my soul now, and this is all it gets me...?

Why am I still struggling to defeat even that brat, Shallot?!

I... I decided long ago! That I would do whatever it takes to return to my world and finally defeat Kakarot!

Just you wait, Shallot!

I am the prince of Saiyans! I will grow yet stronger still!

When we meet next, I WILL defeat you!!

Nrngh...!

He's way too fast! He's catching up!

Got you!!

C-Crap...!

Oh...? You're far weaker than I thought...

Dammit, underestimate me, why don't you... It's your funeral!

WAIT!

Oh...?

G-Gohan?! What's with your Ki?!

Thank goodness, it is you, Piccolo!

(Is this really Gohan?! I don't believe it! There's something different... His looks... His Ki...)

Leave this to me, Piccolo. Stand back.

W-Wait...!

You don't need to worry about me, Piccolo.

I unlocked my power in my original era in order to defeat Majin Buu.

Even if it happened at a different time, my mission remains the same!

Hmm... Heh heh heh!

You seem...strong. I can sense it. You reek of power!

Hee hee hee! Now I'll eat YOU!

Oh, it won't be that easy.