Goten Chapter 7

Goten Chapter 7

Goten looked between his mother and the door. "Mom, I'll go after him. Someone has to keep him safe."

"No, Goten! You're too young!" Chi-Chi pleaded.

"I'm strong enough, and Gohan needs me," Goten insisted.

Chi-Chi's eyes filled with tears. "I can't lose both of you!"

Goten hugged her tightly. "We'll come back, I promise."

Breaking away, he ran after Gohan. "Gohan, wait up!"

Chi-Chi stood in the doorway, watching her sons disappear into the night sky. "Please, be safe," she whispered.

Goten flew as fast as he could, but Gohan was already a golden streak in the distance, having transformed into a Super Saiyan to increase his speed. The gap between them widened.

He closed his eyes briefly, focusing on sensing Gohan's ki. heading toward Parsley City. Opening his eyes, Goten increased his speed and thought, "You better not get yourself killed, Gohan."

…

The afternoon sun cast a warm, golden hue over Parsley City, painting long shadows across the empty streets. Shops stood with their doors open and lights on, but they were devoid of customers and staff alike. The usual hustle and bustle had vanished as shoppers abandoned the area in fear, leaving behind a silent, almost ghostly marketplace. Yet, amid the eerie stillness, one boutique remained occupied.

Inside, a petite blonde woman wandered leisurely between the racks of elegant clothing. Her eyes caught a striking red dress, and she paused to admire it. Gently taking it off the hanger, she walked over to a full-length mirror. Holding the dress against her body, she tilted her head, imagining how it would look when worn.

From behind a nearby rack of clothes, a portly, middle-aged man peeked out nervously. His hands trembled as he clutched a piece of fabric, and his voice wavered when he finally spoke. "You... you like it, yes?"

Without turning, the woman continued to examine herself in the mirror. "Yes," she replied softly.

The man, the store manager, swallowed hard. "Well, it's yours—free of charge," he offered hastily.

She gave a slight nod and moved on, selecting several more dresses—a deep blue one, a sleek gray number, and others in various colors and styles. Each time she held up a dress, the manager mustered the courage to speak.

"That one is absolutely stunning on you, madam. Yes, yes, yes!" he exclaimed. "Oh, but if it's not quite to your liking, perhaps this one? Of course, whatever you prefer. Please, take them all! They suit your figure perfectly."

His compliments flowed incessantly, a mixture of genuine admiration and a desperate attempt to keep her appeased. He watched her every move, trying his hardest not to betray the fear that knotted his stomach.

Android 18 carefully placed all the neatly folded dresses into a tidy pile, cradling them in her arms. "You just saved your life," she said to the store owner, her tone even but unmistakably serious. "Thank you. I may be an android, but I'm still a woman." She offered a slight nod as she walked past him toward the door.

Stepping out of the high-end boutique, a satisfied smile played on her lips. Behind her, the store owner peeked cautiously from behind a wall, his face glistening with sweat as he dabbed nervously at his forehead. "Is there anything else I can assist you with, ma'am?" he called out, his voice quivering ever so slightly.

Android 18 glanced back, her icy blue eyes meeting his anxious gaze. "No, I think that'll be all," she replied coolly. Turning away, she walked toward a sleek convertible parked at the curb, its engine quietly humming in anticipation.

As she approached the car, her twin brother, Android 17, leaned casually against the side. His arms were crossed over his chest, and a playful smirk danced on his lips. "Find anything you liked?" he asked.

"Well, I found some really cute stuff," she said, gently placing the dresses in the back seat. "And that man said I had a fabulous figure."

"Did he now?" Android 17 raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in his eyes. Pushing himself off the car, he glanced back at the boutique. "Interesting."

Before she could react, he extended his finger toward the store, a small orb of KI forming at his fingertip. "17, what are you—" 18 began, alarm flashing across her face.

But it was too late. The KI blast shot past her, striking the boutique. The building erupted in a fiery explosion, glass and debris raining down onto the street. Flames licked the sky as a plume of smoke billowed upward.

"No! I spared him!" she exclaimed, turning to face the smoldering ruins. "You know, 17, that makes me look like I was lying. That's not fair."

He shrugged nonchalantly, his grin widening. "Sorry, that was rude," he said, though his tone lacked any genuine apology.

"Was that really necessary?" 18 scolded, irritation clear in her voice. "I hadn't even finished shopping there."

He stretched his arms above his head, unfazed. "Relax, sis. There are plenty of other cities with plenty of other shops. Besides, I was getting bored."

She sighed, shaking her head in exasperation. "Now we'll have to find another store."

He opened the driver's side door and slid into the seat. "Well then, let's get moving," he said, revving the engine slightly. "Maybe the next place will be more entertaining."

She cast one last glance at the destroyed boutique before climbing into the passenger seat. "You really need to work on your patience," she muttered, fastening her seatbelt.

Just as Android 17 and 18 were about to drive off, a faint whistling sound pierced the air. Their senses sharpened instantly, but before they could react, a rocket-propelled grenade streaked toward their car. The explosive slammed into the vehicle, engulfing it in a fiery eruption. The blast sent a shockwave ripping through the surroundings, shattering windows and setting off car alarms in a cacophony of chaos.

From the shadowed entrance of a nearby alleyway, a squad of soldiers observed the scene through binoculars. Dressed in tactical gear with helmets concealing their features, they watched as black smoke billowed skyward from the wreckage.

"Direct hit!" one of them exclaimed, lowering his binoculars with a triumphant grin. "Did we get them?"

Another soldier clapped him on the back, his eyes gleaming with adrenaline-fueled excitement. "Had to have. Nothing could survive that."

As the smoke began to clear, they exchanged confident smiles, some even beginning to cheer. "We did it!" they shouted, elation evident in their voices. The car was completely destroyed a mangled heap of metal and flames.

But their celebration was premature. Behind them, Android 17 and 18 hovered effortlessly a few feet off the pavement. Android 17 had his arms casually crossed over his chest, a subtle smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. 18 looked decidedly less amused, her expression a mix of annoyance and cold detachment.

"Well, well," 17 began, his voice dripping with mock surprise. "Looks like we've got some party crashers."

The soldiers spun around at the sound of his voice, eyes widening in disbelief. One of them raised a trembling finger, stammering, "H-how... how is this possible?"

18 glanced down at the singed edges of her jacket, a scowl deepening on her face. "This was new," she muttered, brushing off bits of ash and debris. "You're going to pay for that."

A wave of panic washed over the soldiers. The captain, attempting to mask his fear with authority, barked out orders. "Open fire!" he shouted, raising his assault rifle.

The squad unleashed a hailstorm of bullets, the air filled with the deafening roar of gunfire. The rounds zipped toward the androids but bounced off harmlessly, clattering to the ground like rain. Not a single shot found purchase. 17 yawned exaggeratedly, inspecting his fingernails with feigned boredom.

"This is getting annoying," he said flatly, his eyes flicking back to the soldiers.

18's icy gaze locked onto the squad. "I've had enough of this," she declared, her tone cold.

Without further warning Android 17 extended his arm and began charging a ki blast aimed directly at the soldiers. "Let's wrap this up," he said,

"Wait!" one of the soldiers shouted desperately, his voice cracking with fear. But his plea was in vain. The ki blast shot towards them, illuminating the area with a blinding light as it exploded. The force of the explosion was immense, shaking the very foundations of nearby buildings. The alleyway was obliterated in an instant, debris, and dust propelled outward by the sheer power of the blast.

Thick smoke and dust filled the air, creating a heavy gray haze over the devastated street. When it finally began to settle, there was nothing left of the soldiers—only a smoldering crater where they had stood moments before.

Android 17 casually dusted off his hands, turning back to his sister with a satisfied smirk. "All done. Ready to go?"

Android 18 huffed in annoyance, crossing her arms over her chest. "Now I have to find another outfit," she grumbled, glancing down at her singed clothes. "This day just keeps getting better."

As they descended back to street level, a faint sound caught 18's attention—a series of ragged coughs followed by unsteady footsteps. She tilted her head slightly, her sharp senses honing in on the source. Emerging from a side alley was a young woman, staggering into view.

The woman's clothes were torn and bloodied, her dark hair matted with sweat and grime. A trickle of blood ran down the side of her face, but despite her injuries, her eyes burned with fierce defiance. She clutched a pistol in her trembling hands, raising it as she drew closer.

"Another one?" 17 remarked, raising an eyebrow in mild surprise.

The woman leveled the pistol directly at 18, her hands shaking yet her gaze unwavering. Without hesitation, she squeezed the trigger. The bullet zipped through the air, striking 18 on the cheek and leaving only a tiny mark before ricocheting away.

Android 18 touched her face, her fingers brushing over the slight blemish. Her expression darkened, eyes narrowing into a cold glare. "You people just don't learn, do you?" she said icily.

Undeterred, the woman fired again and again, emptying the entire clip. Each bullet found its mark but clattered uselessly to the ground after hitting the androids, leaving them entirely unharmed.

"Persistent, isn't she?" 17 commented, a hint of amusement in his voice.

In the blink of an eye, 18 vanished from where she stood, reappearing directly in front of the woman. The sudden movement caused the woman to gasp, stumbling back a step. 18 snatched the gun from her grasp with lightning speed, effortlessly crushing it into a twisted hunk of metal with one hand.

The woman's eyes widened in shock, fear flickering across her face for the first time. She took a shaky step backward, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

"Why do you even bother?" 18 asked coldly, her voice barely above a whisper yet cutting through the air like a blade. "You saw what happened to the others."

The woman clenched her fists, her knuckles white. "You... you monsters need to be stopped," she spat out, her voice wavering but filled with conviction.

17 approached them leisurely, his hands tucked into his pockets. "Monsters?" he echoed, feigning offense. "That's a bit harsh, don't you think?"

She glared at him, her eyes darting between the two androids. "You destroy everything in your path. Innocent people are dying because of you."

18's gaze remained impassive. "We do what we want," she stated matter-of-factly. "Your lives are of no concern to us."

He glanced at 18. "What do you want to do with her?"

Android 18 gripped the girl's arm, twisting it mercilessly, and drew a sharp, pained scream from her captive. The cry echoed through the desolate street.

Leaning in closer, 18 examined the girl's face. Up close, the teenager's features were striking despite the grime and blood smudged across her skin. She couldn't have been more than sixteen or seventeen. Dark hair clung to her forehead in damp strands, and her eyes—though wide with fear—burned with a fierce mix of anger and defiance.

"What's your name?" 18 asked, her voice cold but oddly curious.

The girl met her gaze unflinchingly, her jaw set tight. "Videl," she spat out, each syllable laced with contempt.

"Well, Videl," 18 replied, a hint of a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth, "you should have stayed hidden." Without warning, she wrapped her fingers around Videl's throat, lifting her off the ground.

Panic surged through Videl as she felt the air constrict in her lungs. Desperate, she summoned every ounce of strength she had left. With her free hand, she swung at 18's face, aiming for any vulnerable spot she could reach. But 18 caught her fist mid-swing, her grip like a vice.

"Feisty," 18 remarked, almost amused. She began to squeeze, and a sickening crack resonated as bones fractured under the pressure. Videl's scream tore through the air, raw and filled with agony.

Suspended above the ground, Videl's vision blurred. Spots danced before her eyes as she struggled against the inevitable. 18 watched her impassively, a cruel smile playing on her lips. "You humans never learn," she taunted, tilting her head as if considering her next move.

Mustering the last of her defiance, Videl glared down at 18. With a swift motion, she spat directly into the android's face. For a moment, time seemed to stand still.

18's eyes widened in surprise. Slowly, she wiped the spittle from her cheek, her expression darkening. "You'll regret that," she whispered, her tone dripping with menace.

An orb of KI began to form in 18's free hand, casting an eerie light on both their faces. The hum of power grew louder. "Any last words?" she asked mockingly.

Videl closed her eyes, a single tear escaping down her cheek. Her thoughts raced memories, regrets, and a faint hope that maybe, just maybe, this wouldn't be the end.

Suddenly, before 18 or 17 could react, 18 was punched in the face the fist connecting squarely with her jaw. sending her hurtling into the side of a nearby building.

Videl felt herself falling but was caught gently before hitting the ground. She opened her eyes to see a young man with spiky golden hair, an aura of golden light surrounding him, and a serious expression on his face.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly, not looking at Videl but at Android 17.

She nodded numbly, staring at him wide-eyed. "Who... who are you?"