Android 20

by Agent Malkere

Disclaimer: Definitely not mine.

18 watched with muted satisfaction as Gero's blood pooled across the floor. The old man may have managed to turn himself into a cyborg, but he was still no match for them. 17 gave Gero's body one last kick and then wandered over to check out the containment pod that definitely hadn't been there last time the twins had been awake. "20" was written across the front of the pod. 18 joined her brother and peered through the pod's window with mild curiosity. The face of the being on the other side of the glass looked small but masculine.

"What do you think?" 18 leaned back and crossed her arms. "Another 'failure' like us?"

"No doubt." 17 depressed the pod's activation button. "Let's pop him open and find out."

"Why bother?"

17 shrugged.

"Could be fun."

18 rolled her eyes and went to poke at some of the blueprints for Android 20 that were still lying on Gero's desk. She flipped through them idly. Android 20 was a biomechanically enhanced cyborg like them. Gero had made some notes about starting with an already powerful human body but one that had a less forceful personality. 18 snorted. That comment was obviously referring to her and 17. 20 had enhanced speed, precision, and dexterity, and an unlimited power source that was capped slightly lower than 18's. Apparently Gero had decided not to give 20 18's battle analysis programming or extreme learning curve, and he didn't seem to be quite as durable as 17 and 18 either. Probably part of Gero's plan to make 20 easier to control. Looked like 20 had the potential to be entertaining after all.

18 dropped the blueprints and turned back to the opening pod. 20 was smaller than she was expecting him to be – well under five feet – but he definitely had the build of a martial artist. Maybe Gero had stolen one of the contestants from the Tenkaichi Budokai. 20's dark hair was short and unusually unkempt for one of Gero's creations. The same golden hoop earrings hung from his ears as 17 and 18's, and he had been dressed in a dark blue gi with the Red Ribbon logo emblazoned across the heart and back.

20 blinked up at 17 and 18, his eyebrows knitting together in confusion. 18 wondered how long it had been since he had last been awake.

"So," 17 leaned down to peer more closely at 20's face, "why did Gero's decide that you were a failure?"

"I couldn't be convinced to kill people," 20 stated. He looked back and forth between the two of them. "Where is Dr. Gero?"

"Over there," 17 jerked a thumb over his shoulder, "busy being dead."

20's eyes darkened.

"Good."

18 lifted her eyebrows sardonically,

"I thought you didn't want to kill people."

"Gero wasn't a person."

18 shrugged. True enough.

"I'm 17, and this is my sister, 18." Apparently 17 had decided that 20 was interesting enough for introductions.

"I'm Android 20."

"I don't suppose a pacifist like yourself would be interested in a game of Kill Son Goku? I hate to follow the old man's programming, but machines like us need a purpose."

The oddest expression flickered across 20's face. Later, the best way 18 could think of to describe it was half-forgotten pain – almost grief.

"I don't know about killing," 20 finally decided, "but I definitely wouldn't mind hitting him a few times."

"Why not kill him?" asked 18, raising an eyebrow.

"If you kill him, then that's it – you can't do it again later. And it's exactly what that bastard programmed us to do. Why start following Gero's orders now? Besides, I think Son Goku would be… fun to fight." 20 frowned to himself, and there was that odd look again.

"Huh." 17 looked considering. "Valid point. Definitely something to think about while we search."

"Search?" asked 18, already unimpressed with this plan.

"Well, yeah. I don't know where he lives – do you?"

"Of course no-"

"Goku lives on Mt. Paozu."

17 and 18 both stopped mid-argument and turned to look at 20. For a moment his voice had sounded brighter, more alive.

"How do you know that?" asked 18. "Did Gero tell you?" She certainly hadn't noticed any additional databanks on 20's blueprints.

"I… don't know." 20's expression was baffled.

"Well, it's as good a place to start as any," 17 announced, brushing aside the strange moment. "Let's go pay Son Goku a visit."

A/N: My brain decided the last night that writing this was much more important than sleeping. Still deciding whether I'm going to continue this story or leave it as a oneshot.