Chinks in the Armor

Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Ball Z, it belongs to Toei Animation Co. Ltd. and was created by Akira Toriyama. However the Oc's Bakelite, Polly Atomica, Infrared and Melmac are mine as is the plot of this fan fiction. It means no harm to the awesome anime and manga! I make no money from this!

Title Sweet 17

Rating: PG 13 for language. Rating may go up. This story takes place after Chinks in the Armor. While that story isn't finished, this would be the sequel.

**
Two years passed in the blink of an eye. For Bulma's best friend it had been filled with helping the VP of Capsule get used to being a single mother. The months that Bulma and she spent alone preparing for the eventual return of the androids had rushed far faster by then she could have imagined. The words of a mysterious lavender haired youth had served as a blueprint for what was to come. Her parents had wondered why their little girl had suddenly moved away to a small vacation home in the mountains with her new best friend, but they thought little of why. Unable to hide her pregnancy any more Bulma had taken her friend into trust. Four months later after Bulma had gone into labor Dr. Atomica had helped bring her to the emergency room, still carrying her own toddler Curie in her arms, followed by a sleepy eyed nanny Bulma had hired for just such an occasion. She had yelled at the staff to sign her `sister' in and soon Bulma was screaming her pain in a birthing suite, her friend at her side, and a nervous three year old left in the care of Bulma's nanny. Miss Ginger Root was paid enough not to question her employers, and diligently cared for Dr. Atomica's two year old while both women disappeared into the hospital maternity ward.

There under the coaching of her female friend, Bulma had given birth to a lavender haired infant. Deep blue eyes fixed into everyone's faces, and then the youth had screamed its outrage to the cold delivery room. Dr. Polly Atomica had been the one to dab sweat from her friend's face as Miss X had asked to hold her child. Then the doctors had been informed who she really was and Bulma swore them to the utmost secrecy. Papers were signed, and since there was no father to sign the birth certificate, it said Trunks Briefs.

Only then did she call her parents and tell them she had given birth to a baby boy. Ostensibly her father was furious for hiding it from him, but at the urging of his wife, he calmed down. Soon both Briefs joined their daughter in a hospital room and met their grandchild. All anger melted away when Dr. Briefs held his grandson and realized Bulma had given them the biggest gift of all: a grandson and heir to Capsule. He knew better then to ask who the father was, judging from his daughter's stubbornness he would only know when she chose to tell him. While Dr. Briefs suspected it was Yamcha, Mrs. Briefs had her bets on the one called Vegeta who had left months ago to train in space.

Yamcha had arrived at about the same time, hearing Bulma was in the hospital. Then he saw the baby boy in her mother's arms and sighed. Despite Bulma's trepidations he gave her a brave smile and leaned over to kiss her forehead. “Congratulations, babe,” he whispered. `You're a mommy.”

Silently he hid his anger, for the sake of his former and first love. The fact that her closest female friend Dr. Atomica stared at him so intently kept him behaving. That woman could be a battleaxe just like Bulma when provoked. So he had paid his respects and promised to visit her when she came home. In the months that followed, Bulma devoted all energies to her son. Trunks was a healthy and fussy baby, and quite smart. She was relieved that he had no visible tail to complicate matters. Furthermore he seemed perfectly human except for that light of burning intelligence in his eyes. Always at her side, Trunks filled a need she knew she never had till now. Dr. Atomica was often with her, both of them swapping baby stories as little Curie got to know her new howling playmate. She was three years older, but already had asked about Trunks and if she could hold him.

When Vegeta finally arrived back, he had not even stopped by to see her. Bulma greeted the news of his arrival with almost mute surprise. Days later she decided to take a flight and see the Z warriors take on two androids. Dr. Atomica had stayed behind, worried and ticked off that Bulma had been stupid enough to take her own son along into danger. Fortunately she had taken that short guy Yajerobe with her. Although Dr. Atomica had met the Z warriors, she kept her mouth shut around them, not wanting to get more involved in the fighting then a mother of a three year old could. She had dropped Curie off at Nanny Root's daycare and checked into work only to argue with Bulma about not going into danger.

She and Bulma had argued viciously, and then the blue haired hothead had left. News reached her later via their mutual acquaintance Yamcha that Bulma had been saved by a mysterious lavender haired youth. Gladly she thanked the young man who came home with Bulma and a crying baby, and shook his hand. Then Bulma announced the boy would be staying at Capsule and that he would be treated like a member of the Briefs clan. It always struck Atomica as odd that his name was also Trunks. Then she slowly wondered if it was more then mere coincidence.

A week later, strange reports came from Gingertown. She had stupidly gotten in her car and driven there to see for herself to satisfy her curiosity. Having been in the Red Ribbon army she wanted to see if the strangers causing havoc were indeed Androids. Now she was cursing her rashness and impulsivity as her car was blasted off the highway. Tumbling over and over into an embankment the thing smashed. Only the protective wall of flexible gel like plastic she'd generated had saved her. Moments later a slender pale hand ripped the door off the smoking car and scooped her up. Then the thing had exploded in a deadly inferno.

Whoever carried her free was a pale haired blonde with white skin and inhumanly bright eyes. She said nothing, clad in Red Ribbon clothes which prompted Dr. Atomica to hold her tongue till she was safely on the ground. There was no question that the woman was: one of Dr. Gero's cybernetic creations and an advanced model from the looks of it. Somewhere in the middle of a field they landed, far from the main road.

"What do you two want?" asked Dr. Polly Atomica quietly. The capsule scientist and close friend of Bulma felt herself dropped on the ground. She rolled over and stared up at the two dollike figures leaning over her. One of them flipped blonde hair from her face while the other regarded her with his inhuman blue gaze.

"Our amusement, what else?" asked the girl.

"Your idea of that is trying on every outfit in every store, sister," sneered the boy, his jet black hair framing his angular face perfectly. "Are you trying to look cute for that bald freak?"

While the female wore stylish blue jean skirt with a matching vest, the male sported cowboy style pants, belt and bandanna. Oddly enough their hairstyles were identical as well as their angular pixie features, suggesting they were cast from the same mold. Twins no doubt. In contrast the starched lab coat that the scientist wore protected the cream colored but low cut blouse and the floral pattern skirt and pantyhose she wore. This was an example of her summer work wardrobe to conform to Capsule's business dress code. Already she had almost lost one high heeled pump when they first captured her.

"He's not a freak, you reject. You keep spoiling MY fun, so don't even start," 18 snorted. "So I've brought you something to shut you up."

"Me?" asked Dr. Atomica. She glanced up at the two faces suggesting they were little more than bored young adults barely out of their teenage years. Twenty five at the most, but eighteen at the very least. Judging from Bulma's descriptions of the evil androids, this was hardly what she expected at all.

"You've got a lame sense of humor," responded the boy.

"She looks like she won't break," the girl said with cold logic. The plastic name card badge dangling around Dr. Polly Atomica's neck flapped in the wind till she retrieved it and shoved it into her blouse again. If there was any chance of escape it was her only means of identification.

"Hmm a scientist eh? Finding something different like your little martial artist? Just terrific, I'm so turned on," the dark haired boy taunted.

"What are your names…? I mean what do I call you? I'm Dr. Polly Atomica," she said, introducing herself as politely she could. Just why she was bothering with such trivialities she was not sure. However instinct dictated that she act as nonchalant as possible if they were youths. Ten years ago that could have been her. Misspent youth suddenly equated with the potential for destruction of an entire world for the sole purpose of amusement. Her scientific mind was quick to take all the facts and extrapolate to the deadly possibility in its infancy before her.

"I'm 17, and that's my bratty sister 18, Doc," 17 answered.

"Seventeen, and Eighteen, right. And that other one…" the scientist asked, straightening her hair. She had it cut shoulder length with the sides feathered, but some of it was pinned back with two mother-of-pearl barrettes.

"Was 16. He's a major league bore," 17 added, hooking his thumb through his belt that slung low around his hips. A bullet casing hung on it opposite a holstered pistol. He wore a long duster coat over his green shirt and red bandanna that tied loosely around his neck.

"Our 'father' was pretty dull," 18 chimed in. At odds with her outfit, the pearl necklace dangling around her neck gave her a strange taste of elegance. In fact their clothes looked like something assembled from the rack of a trendy clothing store it appeared so new.

"While he was still alive," said 17. "I didn't care much for the old bastard, but two freaks rubbed him out. Perhaps you know them?"

"She does. I've seen her with the younger Dr. Briefs. Remember the files?' 18 impatiently said.

A loud rush of energy surged nearby. 18's blonde hair flapped over her face as she stared upwards at two figures with blazing gold hair. She sneered and looked to her brother. "Well well, he's back for more?"

"Why don't we entertain them, sister dear?" 17 said sarcastically. He levitated up, hovering next to the floating form of the female android.

"Ready for round two, you walking toaster?" came the voice of Bulma's lover, Vegeta.

"Who's this?" 17 asked, pointing to the shape that blew up right next to Vegeta.

"Father wait! They've got a hostage!" Trunks shouted.

"Who cares!" Vegeta snarled. The spiky haired Prince glowered. Energy surged and he vanished from sight. Blue ki rained down from above, and the two androids scattered. Atomica reached to the molecules of air nearby, forcing their structure to change into a spherical plastic barrier. It barely diverted the missiles, cracks snaking across the curved surface.

"Father, don't do this!" shouted the young tenor voice, loud enough for the scientist to hear.

"Pay attention to yourself, freak," 17's voice taunted. This was followed by the sound of ki crackling and then being released. Subsequently the young tenor voice howled in pain. Back and forth the echoes of grunts and shouts were traded with more flashes of ki from overhead. Another blast landed close to her, and she squeezed her eyes shut, crouching down. One more blast shattered her sphere, causing her to roll away and yelp with pain.

Blinking she stared at a pair of boots landing just in front of her. She followed them up to see the slender backside and rear of the male android called 17 spanning his arms wide. More ki blasts exploded against him, and he seemed to be absorbing them into his hands and wrists. Dr. Atomica used the diversion to scuttle away as quickly as she could.

17 threw his hand up and hurled a red sphere skywards towards a blazing streak. Another scream indicated it had hit one of the two targets clad in gleaming white armor. Then 17 cackled, dodging and weaving the next blasts. All around the ground tore up, and Atomica fended off what blasts she could with the small shield of plastic held on her wrist. Inches from another explosion she felt someone grab her around the waist and hold her tightly.

"Where do you think you're going, Doc," asked the voice of 17. Locked to his waist he held her around the belly, so her arms and legs dangled.

"Damn it!" Vegeta's companion shouted as he materialized before them.

"What are you waiting for, destroy him, Trunks!" shouted Vegeta.

"I don't think you'd want to hit her, would you? That's your weakness, caring for other life forms, I take it? Your partner's not so squeamish, but you appear to be," 17 taunted.

"Oh shit," Dr. Atomica panted. "Not the old hostage deal!"

"I thought so. LAME!" 17 snickered. Gritting his teeth the youth in armor identical to Vegeta levitated backwards.

"Take it easy, 17 don't do anything hasty. If I AM a hostage I'm no use to you dead, right?" Dr. Atomica murmured, as she grabbed onto 17's wrist tightly.

She knew if he dropped her there would be little chance she could survive. Rather then play hero, she figured it was best to just shut up and see what 17 would do. Obviously he saved her because she was a tool to escape. Then Trunks whirled his head to hear a cry of pain. 18's fist had flashed out and punched Vegeta so hard that he spun out of control, crashing to the ground.

"No time for lectures Doc. Shut up and watch the fun," 17 advised her.

"Father!" shouted the boy, called Trunks. Raising her hands 18 hurled a barrage of blue sphere towards him, glee on her face.

"It's just a game isn't it," Dr. Atomica murmured. "All this power and you're bored."

"You've got it, Doc," said 17. "Are you going to try and tell us not to play it?"

"No. You'd do it anyway, wouldn't you? Seeing what gifts Dr. Gero gave you. It's only natural you'd be curious," she said soberly.

"Exactamundo, Doc," 17 said, lips close to her ear. "And you have a good view of the action. Unless you want to try and escape. But I wouldn't recommend it."

"What's the point? I don't want to be dropped," said she.

"Wise choice. I wish that sister of mine would hurry the hell up and let me know what the hell she plans on doing. This is lame."

"You started to fight the other one. What's stopping you?"

"He won't attack me as long as I've got you, looks like. I wonder if he'd catch you if I dropped you anyway," said 17.

"Why would you do that? It's obvious that guy would try to save me. What's the fun in that?" Dr. Atomica blurted out.

"I guess you've got a better idea?" 17 snorted, unimpressed.

"Let me go, and you can fight him all you want," said she.

"As if. You're important to someone, so you're the prize. As long as I have you then they'll bust their asses to hold their powers back so they don't hurt you. And since you're smart enough not to try and escape, I'm going to hold onto you," 17 said.

"You want some fun, right? Watching your sister fight isn't as fun as something else," said Dr. Atomica, breathing deeply.

"Depends," said 17. He rocketed away, still holding tightly to the scientist. He landed near the sphere of plastic, glancing down in mild interest. That woman's strange plastic caught his eye, and he had to admit it was unusual. Something tugged at his memory from the dark past. Carefully he prodded the pieces with his toe.

"You made this didn't you?" 17 asked her.

"What if I did? What interest is it to you two? You're far more powerful then anyone on this planet?" asked she.

"I'm not stupid. This stuff's the same thing that's coating me and 18, isn't it?" 17 said as he examined the plastic with his cold blue eyes. Releasing her he pushed her back and then grabbed her by the wrist.

“Then you must know that you and I are more closely connected then you might imagine, 17,” Dr. Atomica said quietly.

“You some sorta scientist who knew my `father'?” he frowned.

“No way. But I was a pawn of the Red Ribbon army like you USED to be. But like you I chose my own fate,” Dr. Atomica said proudly.

“Huh. Figures. I'm going to have to chat with my sister about how she can tap into the data banks when I can't,” 17 grumbled. Nearby 18 appeared, her arms held before her. Between her slender fingers she knitted threads of crimson energy into another large sphere.

"This is just like last time," 18 said.

"Stay away! This is MY fight, boy!" Vegeta snarled as he pushed Trunks away from helping him up.

"Shall I shut him up, or do you want to wipe that smirk off his face again, Sis?" asked 17.

"He's asking to have the crap beat out of him, Brother. I can handle this," said 18, pushing her hair behind one ear. "No need for both of us to spoil the fun."

"I'm getting bored. I'm going to blow this lame pop stand," 17 said.

"Take your 'hostage' with you. I don't want to scrape her remains off the pavement," 18 said. "After all the trouble I went to get you a plaything."

"Are you waiting for your little martial arts boyfriend to come rescue his buddies?" 17 asked. At the moment his head was turned, Dr. Atomica twisted her wrist to the side, almost wrenching from his grasp.

"Shut the hell up, I got you a recreational toy!" 18 shouted, a bit of pink spreading over her cheeks.

17's hand flashed out again, grabbing Dr. Atomica's arm roughly. He snapped, "Where do you think you're going?"

"You're breaking my arm," Dr. Atomica wheezed, trying not to cry out as she bit her tongue.

"Let her go, she's no use to you!" Trunks shouted at 17.

"Pay attention, short shit," 18 taunted, rocketing up from where she stood. More energy splattered against the spiky haired duo.

"Oh shut up, you weakling," 17 said dryly. He let go of Dr. Atomica and stepped in front of her. She bolted away as fast as she could. With relief Trunks appeared before 17, his hands flashing back and forth. 17 noticed the woman was escaping, but figured he would have more fun pummeling the newcomer instead.

She ran as fast as she could, dodging more stray blasts. It seemed all hell had broken loose around her, and for the first time she wished she could fly. Great canyons opened up from the fireballs Vegeta tossed in vain, and the blasts that Trunks hurled towards 17. Yelping, Dr. Atomica dropped into a roll at the cracks snaking nearby. She reached out to the air around her, willing the oxygen and the dust into a cocoon of slender threads that trapped air. Soon her figure was cocooned in a light arogel capable of cushioning her from any impact. Rocks flew up and the white bundle bounced across the now quaking earth.

From here and there she was spun and battered, only the fibers absorbing the shock of any impact. Her stomach protested at the twirling of her equilibrium. All she could do was wait for the collisions to cease and the sensation of rolling to abate. After what seemed like forever it did. Concentration wavered, and the plastic she had formed shielded all light except the passage of shadows. Silence predominated save the whirling whistle of wind that slightly pushed the stopped sphere. Somehow it had lodged against something that stopped it from rolling ahead. She formed a small spike from fibers of nearby plastic to slice through the arogel and kick. Like a butterfly she ripped her way out with the small shard of plastic and looked up at the clear blue sky. Great piles of earth had been thrown up and she realized the ledge of earth jutting up at a forty five degree angle had stopped her.

"Thank Kami," she murmured. Quickly she grabbed the fibers of the arogel and concentrated once more. If she could somehow form them into a protective coating to cover her scraped and battered body maybe she could walk away.

Where was she? Glancing around she saw an unrecognizable landscape. She was out in the middle of nowhere with no cell phone, and only her wallet stuck in a pocket of the torn labcoat she held around her. With a burst of strength she held the tears and tried to will the threads back together. Only a small fizzle of power happened, and the effect shot over the labcoat, transmuting it to a thick Gore-Tex fabric capable of resisting most punctures. She formed a long spike of plastic she carried in one hand, and a small curved shield that she held on her left wrist if something else should attack.

"I've got to rest. Curie's probably worried sick. Shit, this is great," she murmured.

She continued to walk, trying to keep in the shade of the small ridge of new cracked earth. It formed a long canyon on either side. Overhead the sun burned down on her dark hair. She pulled up her labcoat to shield her dark hair from the rays. Miles from any civilization she knew she would have to find some sort of shelter. For a moment she was glad it was her ex husband's weekend with the child. Although she and Dr. Izen Berg had been separated the last three years, he was attentive to their infant daughter. As she did, he worked for Capsule, but as a physicist helping Dr. Briefs build the line of capsule spaceships and satellites. He was currently married to a young lab assistant that now served as his stay at home wife. Dr. Atomica reasonably trusted the pretty girl Fructose even if she was a bit wifty.

Something told her she wasn't alone. Overhead a shape passed over the sun. She spun around and ducked behind the shadow of a wall out of sight. Again the shape blocked the sun, and she heard the tap of something landing. Footsteps crunched against the sand and earth, towards her. Dr. Atomica struggled to stay as still as she could. Whoever or what ever it was might be tracking her down.

Dr. Atomica pressed her body to the wall and crept away in the opposite direction. She held her shield before her face, struggling to make no noise. Desperately she looked back and forth, her improvised weapon held before her. Out of the corner of one eye she saw the movement, and thrust her weapon towards it. There came a grunt, and then she twisted her body to hold up the shield as a fist came crashing down and shattered it.

"So, there you are, Doc," said the voice once more. Her heart pounded in terror and she was spun around, the grip tight on her wrist.

"S… 17," she stammered, staring at the cold blue eyes under the fall of straight black hair. The dollike features seemed almost effeminate, but his smirk was anything but soft.

"That's my name, don't wear it out. So, is this the fun you promised me, Doc?" 17 asked, his smirk widening.

"Oh hell," she cursed. Her knees gave out, and she barely tottered on her feet.

"What's your problem?" 17 asked, stepping closer toward her.

"I'm… starving, and I can't hardly walk," she murmured, struggling to steady herself. "If you REALLY want to know? No thanks to you and your sister."

"All that plastic you made must drain you a lot. Too bad you're not like us, upgraded," 17 observed. She fell against him, and his arms reached up to stop her. Strange that such a cold being showed some sign of her welfare. Or was it simply a reflex because she was a hostage.

"You might not have to eat, but I do. And if you don't want me to pass out, I've got to have food and water," she said quietly.

"I guess you're expecting ME to do something about that," 17 asked.

"A dead hostage makes no sense. Unless you know where the nearest city is," she said. "But then again you'd probably end up killing me for the fun of it?"

"You in such a hurry to die?" 17 sneered.

"No. You asked a question and I'm answering it," she answered.

17 caught her body as she passed out. She still could see and hear as he slung her over his shoulder and they gently rose into the air. "It's your lucky day, Doc. Killing you isn't in my programming. So I guess we'll have to make sure you get fed then. And I know just the place."