Gohan x Piccolo Apples

Chapter 10: Restore to factory settings

The pristine white walls of the huge laboratory, sterile amongst papers and metal scraps, bits and bobs of every and no possible description, stood offendingly naked around the bustling blue haired woman whose actions were both focused and eager. Screwdrivers, scalpels and a scary array of tools scattered about her worktop as she tinkered with the odd contraption, enjoying the challenge, and her tongue stuck out cutely in her concentration. The item so complex she was having the toughest time grasping its mechanics, the maker clearly having been a genius in their own right, the piece was truly magnificent for all its trouble.Deciding to do a more general form of research than looking at the scraps of its body, Bulma, having found a core of circuits, began attaching fine cables and clamps to the metallic plates she connected the tattered spider to a large computer with the intent to scan and search the item. The screen vast and bright, reds, yellows and blues lighting the equally coloured keys and buttons. Her computer one of great complexity, full of data and high tech softwares, her most detailed and ready piece of equipment. The screen flashed white as it recognised the presence of new data, the scanner immediately searching out its codes and build.Bulma waited for the computer to show some indication of searching, the moment the white screen sported writing or new windows she would be able to search through files and such herself but scanner remained white for several long moments, the scientist crossing her arms with a steady pout as she watched, pretty eyes switching from screen to robot multiple times. Then, so quickly she flinched, Bulma saw the large screen shut down, plunging into a darkness as though shot. Snapping her head up she immediately began typing, tapping at the keys in hope of re-establishing their connection, wondering if it had simply overheated Bulma's pout turned into a gasp when the screen suddenly crackled and beeped with flashing lights, nothing making any sense and the item going crazy, Bulma didn't know what to do.Then the screen fell into blackness once more, but didn't take long to flash a warning shade of red, the lights cascading over the worktops and shiny brickerbrack of the place, and illuminating the stunned form of the dutiful researcher, when in large white capital letters read "RESTORE TO FACORY SETTINGS" and as Bulma watched a cold dread overcame her, that 'thing' was going to restore her computer, she'd lose all her data! In a hurried panic she tore the connecting cables from the spider and moved to type erratically in a feeble attempt to stop the deletion of files but all to no avail and she felt like crying. The red screen fading to reveal the now clear desktop, and Bulma simply watched in a numb awe as she would click and open base sections to find everything empty and baron. Sitting in one of the many rooms of Capsule Corp, an equally white area but one of blue furniture and a resting atmosphere, Android 17 sat on one of the many couches drinking bottled water with gusto. His dishevelled appearance somewhat better than it had been, having showered and dressed in light blue jeans and a grey long sleeved top, he had also received immediate repairs though he had no recollection being unconscious at the time, having brushed his hair through as best as possible the dark locks were still slightly frayed and disturbed, his skin still pale and covered in cuts and scrapes. The cyborg felt as though his body had been put through a mincer, his muscles screaming at him in every movement and dark bruises had appeared over his limbs, torso and mainly his chest, his throat incredibly sore as though coated with sand paper and skin feeling tight and charred.His sister sat opposite him, the blonde woman waiting with a strong patience whilst holding a happy baby on her lap, relieved that her brother had returned to normal, he was sore and beaten but he was making his way back to himself. Though she was calm, she was still eager to find out what had gotten into her brother, and every now and then found a little anger creeping through her soul, "what the hell happened back there?" she spoke softly though with an assertiveness.Android 17 mulled over his works, breathing the only noise in the room for several moments, "I'm not sure" he spoke, voice scratchy and he immediately coughed and took several large gulps of water, an itchy harsh feeling over his throat and quickly wiped his wet lips afterwards. "All I remember is training in the desert" his voice unrelentingly raspy; and he repeated his glugging until comfortable enough to speak again, "then everything else is a blur...""You must remember something" Android 18 urged, frustrated at being so in the dark.Taking in a long breath, a slight pout over his lips as he thought and continued "...it's as though what happened today is a distant memory" trying to find the words to describe what he could it's more like I was watching a movie when really tired, not taking in everything and the next day you remember bits and pieces."Android 18 listened understandingly, Marron gurgling and squealing happily as tiny hands tugged on her mother's clothes playfully making the woman smile for a moment, before turning serious again, "what about when we fought?" Exhaling sharply, Android 17 drank more water, the swishing inside the bottle did little against the baby's gibberish, his eyes travelling to the infant curiously, chubby little thing, but she seemed happy; and so did his sister."I felt more awake then," he explained "like I was underwater trying to get to the surface or like I was behind glass and trying to break through, I'm not sure how to describe it really; I just remember pain; a kind of urgency" his voice crackling towards the end and he immediately brought the water to his lips again, damning his throat for its weakness.Sighing and shifting the bundle in her arms to s sitting position on her knee the blonde voiced "it was just so weird, you were obsessed with fighting the z senshi, it was like you weren't yourself at all...""Well taking on the z senshi was our original programming" he said more to generalise the idea and meant nothing by it, simply thinking that the goal itself wasn't so strange."Yeah" Android 18 replied, looking her brother in the eye "but we've changed right?" knowing she had, her family having grown and knowing she would do anything to defend them, she hoped her brother would join in the camaraderie also though with the man so arrogant she knew it would not be the most simple transition.Said brother paused, casually running a hand through his unsightly hair, "admittedly I would never have done what happened today...frankly the entire thing sounds completely stupid."The blonde nodded with a smile, agreeing thoroughly, "yeah, seeking out to take on several z senshi, all of whom to your knowledge are stronger than you, because some robot spider you don't even know told you to, that sounds like a winning idea" she chimed sarcastically.Rolling his eyes at his sister's words, eyes occasionally ghosting over the lively little fidget in her arms and he wondered how she managed to keep such a hold on her so easily, then he was the one to voice a question on the day's events "how did you get me back to normal?" he asked, his last foggy memory being facing 18 and a hot feeling of rebellion bringing him to a blindness."Your energy went crazy after I made you fight me, you looked as though you were a toaster someone dropped in the bath..." she said as though a fact, Marron then placed 18's thumb against her small lips and her mother looked down fondly with a quick smile, which 17 found to be a very strange phenomenon as she had repeated that quick change of expression several times, "that weird spider contraption was obviously the cause once we saw it, and..." 18 paused thinking of exactly what happened next while Marron tried to gum her thumb to death, that smile returning "...Piccolo, since he could regenerate figured he was the best to try and get up close to you and that thing, and he was right" she finished.He nodded in response thinking on her words and the mentioned warrior. Piccolo was an odd one, he had enjoyed their fights in the past, and the Namek's resilience and ability to outwit his opponents was really quite astonishing. He only had so much information on the man, a little on the details of his past, his title of Demon King and so on, which was quite impressive as now, not only wasn't he 'bad,' but seemed to be considered one of the most honourable z senshi there was. Also, Piccolo wasn't the type to expect a thank you, it just wasn't in him, and there would be some dignity as both were respectfully distant warriors."...Speaking of which I hope he's okay," Android 18 continued, speaking her own thoughts aloud "I can sense his ki so I know he's alive but he didn't have enough energy to regenerate after saving you and that takes a lot," and 17's eyes seemed to be working out a mathematical equation on how to feel, not that it could be done but it was his preferred method, and he nodded slightly and figured a quick 'thanks' next time he saw the Namek wouldn't hurt. Piccolo wasn't the type to be distasteful anyway; a thank you would probably roll right off of him. When the dark haired man looked to his sister's face again he saw a soft expression and heard her talk "just stick around okay,I know you're not exactly cosy here but we need to figure out what the hell is going on" her voice steady and not to be argued with "beside's there could be more of those spider things out there so it's best people stick together."Android 17 was unable to contain the snarl over his lips at the thought, a bubbing of anger as he thought of that robot's influence again, "when we do find out this whole thing I'll teach whoever had the nerve to mess with me to..." when he was interrupted by Marron's excited noises and gugles, his eyes shifting to her distracted and 18 smirked."Yeah yeah tough guy, we get it 'big threatening speech' and manly growls..." she mocked kindly, very suiting as a sister to her brother, it was surprisingly warm but the man didn't expect thing he would hear from her "you want to hold her, she is your niece after all?"Blinking, face blank he said "no" simply."What...you scared?" she grinned.A scowl laced into his expression "of course not" came to automatic reply."Prove it" 18 spoke and held out Marron towards her brother, her round belly making her appear soft and cuddly, her tiny arms reaching outward waiting for her uncle to take hold of her, always happy to meet new people the baby was very curious. Blonde hair and wide joyful eyes only adding to her innocence. With a small huff the cyborg looked at the child like some strange foreign object but eventually, to not show weakness, he brought her little body into his embrace.Sitting the girl on his lap, arms and hands holding her comfortably and securely, 17 looked at his niece, her sweet face making his chest flutter in a way he disliked, and her stunning smile making his lips twitch against his will, strange feelings threading about his soul when, somewhat to his relief, Marron grabbed a lock of his hair in her surprising grip. A small "ow" escaping before he could stop himself."Way to be a tough guy" his sster smirked, loving the display in front of her."Shut it" he replied gently and watched as both of his girlssmiled.Bulma added an old hard drive to the base of the screen, uploading software and some files she had backed up back into her computer's memory, but she was thoroughly depressed: so many files, research, plans and information was lost. Releasing a tired sigh she let her body slump on her spinning chair, her head resting back over the top of the seat, as she casually cast a glance to the screen to see a "Programme Loading" pop-up, a little bar with a percentage reading in blue slowly moving along the bar and a small 'bing' sounded, making the bluenette sit up properly looking at the screen with interest. Another box having come up on screen above the loading page reading "File already exists. Would you like to replace it?" her mind slightly boggled as she believed everything ahd been wiped clean, then just as she was about to press 'cancel' the screen began busying itself, files ad loading screens flooding and beeps sounding erratically and Bulma stepped back warily.Several minutes passing of this frenzied display until everything seemed to settle and the screen appeared back to normal, slowly Bulma edged back to the large keyboard and nimble fingered pressed onto buttons in search of files, seeing the familiar setting of the computer she knew before, files she had believed to be lost forever were back and realising her lips were parted in a slight awe she closed them and turned to the remains of the spider that lay unmoving on a white worktop, a sly smile curling into her features."Well...aren't you interesting?"Videl lay on her bed, the lights out, dark shadows engulfing the room and the teen unable to sleep. Expensive quilts and pillows puffed out around her pretty frame, black hair out of its usual clasps and spread about her head like beautiful ribbons, She had just had the most shattering talk with her father, the man having finally told her the truth, he wasn't the one who beat Cell; the boy with golden hair had done it, whom Videl now understood to be Gohan. The news was going crazy over the day's events, her friend's identity exposed to the e world as well as her father's inadequacy.Gohan could fly? And he was so strong too, no wonder Gohan was so skittish, having to keep secrets like that. P.E. must have been Hell holding back so much, the subject most likely mind numbingly boring for the teen; poor guy. She wasn't mad at him, not at all, in fact, she was slightly jealous of his power, though didn't envy his position at all, especially since he had stayed quiet for so long to her. She would have to visit Gohan and reassure him properly that she had no hard feelings, she had a million curiosities but that was more that understandable. She decided that she would visit him soon, needing to speak with him or even exchange a smile or two, plus she had his school bag, eyes glanced to the item on her bedside table, remembering how in the chaos of the city she had journeyed back towards the school using her voice to tell anyone still around to evacuate and flee, when she had bumped into Erasa whom held it unsure of what to do with it.Giving out a quiet sigh the girl turned, burying half her face into the plush support, and she allowed her mind to wander a little bit: the z senshi sure seemed like...colourful...bunch. There seemed to be many different warriors in their little gang, having watched playbacks on the day's news coverage and the footage from the Cell games she then smiled at the odd thought that popped into her head. Maybe one of them was Gohan's crush? He had said his crush was on a friend he'd had since he was little, so it made sense, right?Videl brought a slim hand to her eyes and rubbed them, lack of sleep and the sting of dryness irritating her; she had cried earlier. So much had happened so quickly, her life was build on the certainty of her father's heroism and success, her closest friend was the Golden Warrior, she was unsure of his safety due to the abrupt cut off of news footage and a whirlwind of other things all clashing into her psyche relentlessly. But the crying had really gotten to her, she hadn't done that in a long time, she remembered it clearly as she was only little, and the day was very significant in her memory. The weather had been mismatching to the occasion, a nice sunny day had warmed the world as souls rained and stormed inside heavily beating hearts. The last time Videl Satan had cried had been her mother's funeral. Bulma's tongue flicked slightly, her focus sharp as she tinkered the mechanics of the spider, she had already found a sort of filtering mechanism, and to her best guess it acted similarly to Goku's spirit bomb, collecting energy from the world around and focusing it, which would explain why the z senshi had such a hard time fighting the android earlier, the item only becoming more and more fascinating. The main programme centre was now attached to several smaller scanners and computers all testing its affects similarly to how her original computer had done, though this time results were being calculated, control experiments next to exploratory ventures. Her research coming in leaps and bounds and her intrigue with it, beeps and the like sounding as several scanners reacted in different ways but the bluenette ignored it all as she continued herfine work with the screw driver.Exploring the spider's body, she took apart bolts and circuit boards of great complexity and with a fire in her stead. But just as she removed a small vanity cover, suddenly her ears were invaded by a high pitched siren, it screeched and screamed about the bare walls and her eardrums, scraping within her brain and making the woman's blood pulse, her breath hitching and, keeping calm, forced herself to think calmly despite her strong grimace. Finding the source of the noise she set to work on the contraption with a flare of her own genius disarmed it, the noise disappearing so quickly Bulma's ears needed to catch up, hints and memory of the noise still echoing about her senses. 'What the Hell was that?' she wondered.Letting out a sight and closing her eyes for a moment, she collected her wits, the feeling of the siren thoroughly unpleasant but not anything she couldn't handle, from what she'd been told about the fight earlier Piccolo had heard a high frequency noise, no wonder the man burst his eardrums, she had found it difficult enough to breath under that screech never mind with Namekian hearing and needing to be ready for battle.But getting back to work she disconnected the section that seemed to have emitted the noise to study in greater detail later, when she noticed just beneath a scrap of metal lay a slgithly charred, but most recognisable symbol and Bulma found herself smirking. Just what she was looking for. The Red Ribbon Army logo."Gotcha" she whispered triumphantly, grinning and eager to continue her research.A/N: Next chapter is titled "I Love You"