Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction / Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction / Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction / Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction / Fan Fiction / Crossover Fan Fiction ❯ Ginga GIRI GIRI! The Universe is in Danger! ❯ Darkness Rising ( Chapter 16 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Disclaimer: I do not own any anime at all... OR DO I?!
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Ginga GIRI GIRI! The Universe is in Danger!
By SSJ Heero
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-= Recap =-

DDT: I still can't believe you made another chapter about me!

SSJ: For the last time, THIS CHAPTER AIN'T ABOUT YOU, DAMN IT!

DDT: Of course, I should be modest, for I am quickly stealing SSJ's fans!

(SSJ grabbed DDT and put him into a hard headlock. In the meantime, the others faced the
camera.)

Amiko: Okay, last time, we met that guy. After we get beat up by Jallopsimon.

TM: We get caught in Rantmon's missile silo and barely escape before required
self-destruction could take us.

Cindy: And we had a car chase scene set to "Driver's High". Yeah, that's about it, I think.

(And by now, DDT was still struggling to get free of SSJ's stranglehold. The others
sweatdropped.)

---- Chapter 16: Darkness Rising ----

Snow fell upon the land. From the sky came thousands of crystalline flecks of snow, falling
upon a regular shopping mall. The group needed much rest and relaxation considering how
much plot they just absorbed within the last few chapters. Yeah, after disposing of an evil
dictator, fending off a demon dog, fighting Rantmon's assistant, and surviving SSJ's
terrible driving skills, they needed much rest.

Well, the date was December 24th, Christmas Eve, and the five had no intention of buying
any presents for each other. They had bigger problems in mind, after all. Indeed, this
chapter won't end with some sappy lesson about family and friends or the true meaning of
Christmas. SSJ hates those kinds of stories.

So, the five stood upon an escalator inside the shopping mall, heading up to the top floor.
The mall was built about a circular shape; the courtyard stood in the middle of it where
tables filled the bottom floor. From the center, the six-story shopping mall wrapped
around, with the empty air extending all the way to the top where a dome prevented snow
from falling into the place. The group could only wonder why anyone bothered building a
mall like that.

The place was jam-packed full of people. People rushed in and out of stores, bags tucked
under their arms. The army of last-minute shoppers nearly threw the group into a vehement
rage at the obnoxiousness of them all.

SSJ sighed as they broke free from the crowds and stepped towards a restaurant, "This is
what I hate about Christmas nowadays."

"What?" Amiko asked as she turned to SSJ. "The idiotic last-minute holiday shoppers?"

"That, and the fact that Christmas has become nothing but a shopfest. All anyone cares
about are the gifts."

Cindy looked at SSJ with narrow eyes. She just said to him, "YOU'RE NO DIFFERENT!"

"Of course not. Except I don't shop." Everyone sighed at that.

TM just said to the rest while pulling his hand slyly from a man's pockets, "Hey, there's a
restaurant." He revealed the rather thick wallet he pulled out.

***

Later, they had found their seats and read through the menus of the restaurant; it served
everything, apparently, from sushi to fast food to junk food. They were amazed at the
selection, reading through when a thin waiter came forth. He had a French accent, which was
strange considering there was no France in that world.

He just asked, "May I take your order?"

SSJ put down his menu and answered, "Fried chow mein with chicken."

TM ordered, "A hamburger with fries or something."

Amiko just said, "Sushi for me."

Cindy said quickly, "Candy. Lots and lots of it." Everyone stopped and turned towards
Cindy. It was around noon and all she would eat was candy? She certainly was strange. Cindy
just sweatdropped at the looks of the four and the waiter. "What?!"

Everyone then turned away as DDT spoke, "I'd like ground horse flesh, dried insect mucus,
moldy and decaying flesh, and ten year expired bread." The others stared at DDT for his
rather strange taste in food.

The waiter paused. He then asked, "You mean Taco Bell?"

"Yeah, sure," said the DDT, licking his lips and rubbing his hands together in excitement.
The others struggled to keep from vomiting. The waiter looked at all the things he jotted
down and nodded at them all.

"Okay then," said the waiter. "Your orders will arrive shortly." He then stepped away,
leaving the five sitting there to talk. But, they hardly conversed when the waiter set the
first plate of chow mein before SSJ. Everyone paused as he handed over the meals just five
seconds after they ordered.

"That was fast," said DDT as he looked upon his plate of Taco Bell. That's what they call
service, they guessed. They just took out their utensils and began eating their meals.

***

Elsewhere, there was a large warehouse lit only with the faintest blue light. All around
the barely illuminated room were screws and bolts and wrenches. All over the tables sat
paper blue prints and plans for some project or other. One of the blue prints had a
humanoid figure sketched out.

Complex machinery filled the room; wires ran all over the place and were concentrated
around a single large structure. It was shaped like a cylinder, computer screens covering
the outside. That wasn't the strangest thing about it, yet. Atop the cylinder, a
supercomputer of massive proportions, a glass dome protected the sensitive membranes of a
gigantic brain. Yes, the supercomputer was attached to a giant brain.

The screens did not sit idly during this crucial time. They all had one line of white text
printed upon them, "SYSTEM START: Resuscitating..." Smoke came from the supercomputer.
Words ran across the screens, "Complete. TARGET SET: ..."

Dots ran through the screen as the computers searched through the town. It did so for a
long time, searching, pondering, and finally confirming the location of their targets.
"Location confirmed... Launching missiles."

The site began rumbling. Light and snow fell upon the warehouse as the ceiling opened. The
ground in the warehouse did open as well, revealing three missiles hidden underground.
Smoke came from the site as the three missiles started up and sped out of the building,
twisting and aiming at its target.

Loud sounds of screeching metal filled the warehouse as the ceiling closed. Three sides of
the supercomputer slid open, sheets of metal folding upon hinges to reveal three chambers
within the supercomputer's side. Three humanoid figures were there, one in each chamber.
They opened their eyes. The screens now read, "MISSION SET: ...Outlaws."

***

It was some time later that the three figures made their way through the shopping mall,
shoving people this way and that. As their yells of anger filled the area, they knew not of
the reality of the three. All they saw was that one of them wore a large trench coat, a
shorter one wore a hooded red cloak as he followed the gray one, and yet another one was
dressed in normal looking jacket and denim jeans.

They exchanged glances, and the gray and red ones nodded at the third. They split their
ways, the third heading for the elevator as the other two made it to the courtyard. They
looked up at their destination: the top floor. They stepped forward, and as they did, the
space around them seemed to wrinkle.

Electric sparks came from them. Bright blue flashes came forth from the shorter one as he
shoved the gray one up towards the top with his electric field. With that, he kicked off
the ground and leapt up after him.

Screams filled the area, along with the sound of sparks and ground cracking. SSJ wasn't
deaf; he heard the sounds and turned towards the window, muttering, "Huh?"

Everyone looked at SSJ. They then followed his gaze, looking out the window. When the two
guys came to their window and latched onto it, they couldn't help but be a little
surprised. They all fell out of their chairs and yelled in unison, "WHAT IN THE HELL?!"

They all rose to their feet as the two figures pulled back their hands and punched their
way through the glass, sending little shards flying everywhere as they landed on the floor
before the five. DDT yelled as he looked at the two threatening figures, "What the Hell is
this?" He turned to the others as if they had a clue.

TM answered him without returning the look, "This is news to me..." The figures looked up
at the group. Their eyes were glowing... Underneath the white and dull gray eyes, light
seemed to come forth. TM muttered, "These guys... They aren't human."

Cindy coughed. Her gaze fell to the floor as she sighed, "Are we all gonna die... again?"

Amiko swore, "Damn it." She pulled out her bishie balls, preparing for battle.

Everything became silent, save for the faint breathing of the group and the gasps from far
below. Cindy turned to SSJ, who was silent and looking up at the ceiling. She asked,
"Aren't you going to say anything, author person?"

SSJ looked away from the ceiling and swore, "Shit. Missiles are coming this way." He
clenched his teeth as the others were taken aback.

"Huh?!" Cindy muttered. She turned to the ceiling and listened as well. She heard it. The
faint rumble and roar of a jet engine, only without the sound of air passing over wings. It
definitely was the sound of missiles. She said with surprise, "Oh, damn it!"

"You're kidding," TM muttered as he looked back at SSJ.

SSJ just shook his head and turned to the two figures, waiting patiently for them. He said,
"Those things'll kill a lot of people if they hit." He just swore and glared at the
figures, not knowing a plan of action.

Amiko then got an idea. She asked, "Are the plot hole things working again?"

SSJ glanced at Amiko. He then snapped his fingers, and immediately a hole of blackness
opened before him. "It seems so," he answered. He turned to the rest and said, "I'll take
care of the missiles. You all take these guys." He then stepped forward and disappeared
through the plot hole.

DDT just subtly coughed and mocked SSJ, "Wuss." Suddenly, another plot hole opened just
before DDT, and a fist came out and slammed into his cheek. DDT reeled in pain as SSJ's
hand disappeared back into the hole. DDT rubbed his cheek and muttered, "I hate him."

The gray one then spoke, "Enough games, Outlaws. We're here for you all." He grinned as the
two righted themselves to face the five.

They were silent for a bit. "Outlaws...?" Cindy muttered. She then turned to SSJ, Amiko,
and TM. "What are you?! Criminals?!" she demanded.

Amiko just pointed to TM. "He may be, but I'm not." TM nodded.

The shorter guy just interrupted, "Shut up." Everyone became quiet and looked at him as he
continued, "We were sent here to kill you. And we shall."

TM just scoffed the notion. It was impossible. They were the author's friends! He just drew
his sword and muttered, "I don't think you shall be able to kill us."

"Oh, really..." The short one just grinned. Suddenly, there came a furious sound of
clicking; the guy's arm suddenly opened, revealing a tangle of wire and metal. It was a
machine! An android! Out from the thing's arm came five different rocket launchers, all
aimed at the group. "How about now?" And everyone's mouths just dropped to the ground in
surprise.

***

A plot hole appeared just upon the roof of the circular shopping mall. There was much space
around him as he looked up at the sky from his vantage point. It wasn't hard to find three
streaks of smoke in the sky, three giant missiles at the end of each.

SSJ thought of all the stress he and his friends went through recently. He sighed, "First
Rantmon, then a Jallopsimon, then missiles. What's next?" As he looked up at the missiles,
he suddenly heard a dull clunk behind him. He quickly rolled ahead and twisted around to
see behind him.

One of the three humanoid figures where there. SSJ noticed the guy's hair, spiked up with
some bangs falling to his face in two large clumps. It wasn't a practical, realistic
hairstyle at all. SSJ just sighed, "Great. More bothers. What the Hell are you guys,
anyway?"

The guy just laughed. SSJ stared at the guy, wondering what the Hell was the guy's problem.
Finally, he leered at SSJ with his gray eyes. He muttered, "I guess it doesn't matter for a
dead kid to know the truth. Along with the two that you have seen, we are part of a group
of three androids. I am the Third, and I will be the one to kill you, SSJ Heero."

SSJ was suddenly stunned. He was sure, even if he was the author, that he wasn't popular or
well known. He demanded, "How do you know my name?!"

"The supercomputer knows all," answered the Third with a grin.

SSJ paused. He looked at the guy with one eyebrow lowered, the other one up in a confused
look. "Supercomputer?"

"That won't matter. It all will be over in a few seconds."

"Is that so..." SSJ looked up at the missiles. He glanced back at the Third and muttered,
"Well, the missiles won't kill me, or anyone else." SSJ snapped his fingers, and black
holes of nothing appeared before each missile. He grinned at the android, expecting a look
of surprise.

But SSJ saw a look of confidence, instead. The Third just grinned and muttered, "No
problem." And before SSJ could say anything more, he met a hard fist to his left cheek. He
was caught off guard and lost control of his plot holes. They closed on the missiles before
hardly half of each past through.

Three gigantic explosions tore through the center of the city, taking out a good portion of
the city's skyline. Smoke and dust filled the air as people's screams and the screeching of
cars filled the air. SSJ flew back from the pain in his cheek as he swore, "SHIT! WHAT IN
THE HELL?!"

He grabbed his cheek and looked at the Third. He saw the android punch straight forward,
despite being a good distance away. Suddenly, a hole appeared just before SSJ. He was
caught by surprise as a fist slammed right between his eyes. He flew back in pain and
rolled along the hard roof of the mall.

"DAMN!" SSJ swore, trying to get to his feet. Even if they were just two hits, they came
from two extremely strong fists. SSJ realized why; the Third was an android. He was made of
metal. He looked at the Third, hand still emerging from a hole in the sky where colors of
blue and white came forth. He muttered, "Plot holes?!"

The Third elbowed to his left, and SSJ then felt a pain in his right side. SSJ fell to his
knees in pain, coughing up blood and spit. He lay on the roof, twitching as he heard the
android speak, "Not plot holes. I can shift between dimensions."

SSJ twitched after that. That was an insane power... He didn't know if he could handle it,
even if he was the author. He just coughed out a swear, "S...hit..." He struggled to get to
his feet.

He felt more pain throughout his body. He flew back, coughing in pain. The Third just
smiled. "Death comes to those who oppose us," he proudly declared.

***

The mall rumbled and shook like a volcano about to erupt. The sound of the explosion
cracked the class from their sheer power. Amiko heard the sound and muttered, "Those
missiles exploded..."

TM looked around. They were just fine. The missiles did not hit. "I hope no one was
killed," he said.

The red android spoke, now identified by the Second from the tattoo on his neck. "Heh,"
said he. "No one will die...except you."

"Tch!" TM uttered as he dashed forward at the two androids. He drew his sword and raised it
up high as he yelled, "Take this!" He then leapt into the air, aiming a slash down at the
Second. He used all the power he could to slash his sword straight through the Second.

But the Second, unluckily, dodged the attack and suddenly was behind TM. Before TM could
respond, the Second struck his back. As TM was taken by surprise, the Second made his way
before TM and kneed him in the gut. With one more hit, TM flew back from a punch to the
face, landing in front of everyone.

Amiko muttered as she imagined the pain, "Ouch."

DDT then pointed the obvious, "Well, I guess they are serious." He raised his palms towards
the two then, preparing his attack at the two unprepared androids. "Fireball!" he yelled.
The Ifrit gloves glowed red as several spheres of fire raced from them, speeding towards
the androids. The two were quickly surrounded by fireballs, and as DDT snapped his fingers,
they exploded into balls of giant flames.

He grinned as smoke filled the area. They couldn't have survived that! But then, as the
smoke slowly cleared, he saw their shadowed forms, still standing in the same pose as they
had when he began the attack. He swore.

The gray one, the First, then spoke, "Element attacks don't harm us in anyway. Try this!"
The First suddenly flew forward at the unprepared DDT. He littered the boy with punches.
Blood dripped from the boy's nose. He coughed in pain as the First sent one palm straight
at DDT, launching him back to the others.

Cindy optimistically muttered, "We're all gonna die."

Amiko stepped back, towards the windows of the restaurant, showing the bright sky. She
didn't know what to do. She couldn't attack, but regardless, her bishounen came forth in a
flash of red light. As the two androids stood there with no emotion, Amiko's bishounen
yelled at once, "You two ain't harming Amiko-sama!" Amiko's eyes turned to hearts at that.

The Second just looked at the group that suddenly appeared. He just muttered, "Feh." He
then aimed his five rocket launchers at the large group of opponents. He then sent rockets
flying straight at the group. The bishounen quickly dodged and aimed their various attacks
on the Second.

During then, the First leapt forward and landed before Cindy, planning to take her on alone
as the Second finished Amiko. Cindy dashed away to avoid the First's fist. She rolled along
the ground and skidded to a stop, whistling and yelling, "Mokona!" And Mokona appeared upon
Cindy's head, looking at the android ready to attack again. "Can you hurt them?!" Cindy
asked.

Mokona saluted to her with one of his pudgy hands and declared, "Puu!" ("Yes!") Mokona then
leapt off of Cindy's head and dashed straight at the First. He dashed full speed at the
metal android, leaping up and crashing into the thing headfirst... Only it would've been
useful if the First was actually hurt or fell over.

He was still on his feet when he muttered, "How insulting." He just grabbed Mokona by the
ears then, and in one swift motion tossed the mascot straight at Cindy. Cindy caught Mokona
and looked at the First, who had taken the time to have his right arm change into one large
blade.

Cindy was silent, looking at the sharp blade. She eventually screamed, "ACK!" She fell to
her knees and again quite optimistically pointed, "I'M GONNA DIE!" With that, the First
dashed at Cindy, raising his arm up ready to slice her in two.

It was just then that the ceiling ripped apart and SSJ flew down, crashing just before the
First. The First smiled as the Third was seen through the ceiling. He looked at the
weakened, groaning SSJ and said, "Heh. Weakling."

The Third dropped from the ceiling and landed on his feet by the other androids. He sneered
at SSJ and muttered, "Over confident fool."

Cindy once again reasserted, "Yes, we're all gonna die."

The Second looked back at the other two androids and then back at the group of bishounen
aiming attack after attack at him. He was too small a target for the speed at which he
moved, and he dodged everything from bullets to swords to psychic blasts from Kamui. He
mocked them, "Heh. Is this the best you all can do?!"

The Second just dodged more attacks. Cloud and Squall dashed up, yelling as they slashed
down on the guy. The Second dodged and soon enough stood upon the blunt sides of the
blades. Before the two could counter, they flew back into a group of bishounen. As the
others surrounded him and attempted to strike, he just sent one blast from his rocket
launchers straight at the floor. The floor collapsed and sent the rest of Amiko's bishounen
straight to lala land.

"DAMN IT!" Amiko swore as she dashed to her bishounen. Her bishounen flashed red and
disappeared within her bishie balls then as she looked at the Second, standing proudly
before her. He smiled and aimed his weapons at Amiko again. She froze. He fired.

A trail of smoke raced at Amiko, and an explosion hit the ground before her. As everyone
lay there helplessly looking at Amiko, she was shoved back and out of the window behind
her. She tumbled out of sight. The screen split into shots of the four others; everyone
screamed at once, "Amiko!"

It was then, as they stared out the window in helplessness, that they saw black wings enter
their view. They saw the wings come up, revealing Devimon there holding an unconscious
Amiko by the hand. He declared, "Master, I have arrived."

And DDT smiled with relief before a piece of the ceiling fell upon him and knocked him out
cold. Devimon looked at his master, then at the other four. He looked back at the three
androids, well armed and clearly a major threat. He thought about his options. And then he
made his choice, "Looks like I'll have to do it..."

***

Time passed. In a certain room, Amiko slept with a blanket pulled to her neck, dozing
quietly as time passed. She breathed silently as SSJ sat in a chair by her, staring at a
bright television. She heard the noise and slowly opened her eyes. SSJ turned to her as she
slowly sat up and looked about the room. She groggily asked, "Huh...? I'm... alive...?"

Amiko sat up in her bed and looked around the room. She saw DDT and TM playing poker in the
opposite corner of the room as Cindy played with Mokona. Devimon leaned in the corner near
DDT, rounding out the whole gang safe and sound. She heard SSJ comment, "So, you're finally
awake."

She turned to SSJ and asked, "How did I get here?"

DDT didn't look up from his game as he spoke, "Well, Devimon is quite a resourceful guy.
Using the smoke bombs SSJ had back in chapter ten, we left their sights and escaped to
safety. It's a genius, just like me!" Out of nowhere, a plot hole appeared over the guy's
head, and SSJ's hand came down and slammed it good. DDT reeled from that and rubbed his
head as he glared at SSJ. "I hate you, you know."

"Well, same to you," replied SSJ.

TM sweatdropped at the two children. He then sighed, looking about the boring room as he
placed down a four of a kind, "You know, I'd rather not stay in this room all day. Let's
explore around this city or something."

Cindy nodded and got to her feet. Mokona followed and landed upon her head as she added,
"Yeah, I'm tired of this crummy place."

The TV then shut off. Everyone turned to SSJ as he shoved the chair back and got to his
feet. "I'll be waiting outside then," he said as he took up his sword and walked out the
door. The door shut then, leaving the four in the room, silent.

"Hasty, isn't he?" Cindy asked as she turned to Amiko. Amiko nodded, throwing the covers
off of her.

***

The door of a certain motel opened to reveal SSJ, arms crossed and sighing. He stepped to
the side of a pillar by the door and leaned upon it, waiting for his friends. He stood
there, thinking about yesterday's happenings. He felt a pang of disappointment at being
defeated by one single android.

It was then that he heard footsteps. He looked down the empty sidewalk and saw two people
dashing straight at him. Well, one was dashing at him; a girl was following that one. The
girl yelled, "Hey! That's my bag! Someone help me!"

SSJ saw the event and sighed, "I guess I should..." So SSJ stuck out his foot, which the
thief failed to notice until he snagged onto it in his dash. The thief fell, painfully
landing on the ground and scraping down it. The thief was then about to glare at SSJ and
curse him out, had not the point of SSJ's sword come a few centimeters from the guy's face.
"Please, let my morning be a little quieter and give her the bag."

During this time, the girl ran up to SSJ, panting with relief. She looked up at him and
said, "Thanks..." She paused as she continued panting. "Whoever you... are...?" She then
looked down to see SSJ's blade pointed at the thief's head, and froze with fear.

The thief swore and crawled away. He finally yelled, "Okay!" He then tossed the bag at SSJ,
who caught it in his free hand. "Have it! JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!" With that, SSJ pulled back
his sword and the thief dashed away.

SSJ began to sheathe his sword and muttered, "Idiot."

"Whew," the girl sighed with relief as SSJ handed over the bag. "Thank you... uh...?"

"My name is SSJ, though you don't need it."

The door to the motel opened again. TM and company walked out, ready to go with bags and
supplies. They saw the empty streets, and with it, felt a sense of nervousness. TM deduced,
"The androids must've scared everyone."

"Well, thanks for everything! Bye!" they suddenly heard a girl say. They saw SSJ there,
sheathing his sword before a girl. They saw her bow and dash away with her bag slung over
her shoulder.

"Hey, who was the girl?" Cindy asked as the group went up to SSJ.

SSJ shrugged in reply. "Thief stole her bag. You can guess the rest."

"You're a player, aren't ya?" TM said with a chuckle. He expected SSJ to be in the least
bit embarrassed but was disappointed to see him apathetic.

SSJ sighed, "Whatever."

***

It took a day full of nothing for the city life to return again. People returned to the
streets as the sun set behind the skyline, sending the sky into a blaze. The group came
into the city markets, and at that time happened upon a small shop of weapons.

They exchanged glances, and with little argument opened the door and looked inside. There
were weapons of all arrays, staves, knives, axes, bombs, boomerangs... But no swords for
SSJ and TM, who profusely swore at their luck. Cindy, however, came to a rather strange
glass display case.

Inside it was a set of guns. Not ordinary guns, mind you, but there was something familiar
about them... Cindy recognized them and yelled, "TM! Get over here, now!" TM turned to
Cindy's direction and exchanged glances with SSJ. He then stepped to the display case and
looked inside.

"Holy," he said while taken aback. "They're Vash's guns!"

"Yes!" Cindy said with excitement. "Buy it, now!"

"I don't want to," TM replied as he stepped away, sighing. He needed the money, after all,
for more important things. Yes, even if it were Vash's guns, he wouldn't spend the
ridiculous price of several million a piece.

That is, until he felt Cindy's arm around his neck. "That wasn't a request, okay?" Cindy
said rather politely. And he obliged.

They left the store with Cindy armed to the teeth with twelve guns, sitting on holsters
around her belt and straps that wrapped around her shoulders. It was then that a shadow
fell upon the area. They looked up in the sky to see the Second, high in the sky. He threw
down something in a blur, and SSJ caught from the air. It was a note.

SSJ read it, "Do not even think of escaping. We want to meet you all, but on your own
terms. Three days is the time limit, and if you do not show up, we'll destroy the town and
hunt you down." Everyone paused. They swore at that, and SSJ looked at the note. It
included a map. "Their lair is located in the center of the town," he explained.

DDT rubbed his chin at that, taking off his shades and wiping it on his cloak. Of course,
considering the condition of his cloak, it did little to make the shades cleaner. Still, he
put it back on and muttered, "Damn it, they mean business."

"Should we do something?" Cindy asked.

Amiko was silent. They couldn't endanger the people, especially when psychotic androids
were after them. She rationalized a solution, "We should train or something before we
fight."

DDT nodded, "Agreed."

They all grew silent, anxious over their prospects. At TM's urging, they stepped towards
their motel. They were lost in thought, especially SSJ, as they sauntered back through the
doors and into their room. They sat upon whatever they could, wondering about those
androids. 'Those bastards,' SSJ thought in his mind.

***

Twilight came. As everyone slept peacefully, there was the sound of shuffling. SSJ arose
from his position on the carpeted floor and looked up at the full moon. His eyes narrowed
into a glare. As the pale light flooded into the room, he got to his feet and picked up his
sword. He placed it on his left side and breathed deeply.

He turned to everyone else, sleeping peacefully as they were sprawled along their beds.
"They're so casual," he muttered. He spotted Cindy's guns, placed in the holsters strapped
onto a rail. He took a belt of two holstered guns and placed wrapped it around his pants.

He stepped to the door and shoved open the door to the comparatively bright lights of the
hallway. And he made his way out of the motel- down through the steps and out into the cool
night breeze. He made his way to the town center.

***

Time passed as the moon sunk a bit, down towards the skyline. As shadows lengthened, the
very same girl from the previous scene came into view. She stepped through the streets,
holding a bag tightly close to her bosom. It was almost Christmas, after all, and the
previous mayhem prevented her from buying her present earlier. As she made her way, she
passed by an alleyway, where a rustling and a tipping of trash cans filled the silent
night. She froze.

She heard a cough. "Hey," someone called. The voice seemed weak. And the girl stepped back
and looked down the alley with curiosity. She saw the silhouette of a male form standing
there, leaning on a wall. "Can... you... assist me... tonight...?"

The girl stepped back in disgust. She yelled back in anger, "GOD DAMN IT! I'M NOT A
PROSTITUTE, YOU PERVERT!" She turned away to leave, but then felt a hand wrap around her
arm. She wheeled around in fear, and took a good look at the person gripping her.

It was SSJ, bloodied up quite a bit. He held onto his side, blood rushing through his
fingers. He was breathing heavily, already weak from an assault upon him. She was filled
with surprise when his knees suddenly gave way and his whole weight pressed upon her.
"Ack!" she said in surprise. She then moved his unconscious body so she supported his arm.
"It's you! Sorry!" She then made her way, clutching the bag and supporting SSJ.

***

Sunlight streamed through the window into the room of the Outlaws. They all snored and
breathed heavily in their sleep, little care in the world despite threats from three
androids.

It was then that Amiko awoke to find the others on the verge of awakening. She just
silently stretched and stepped off the bed. She made her way to the bathroom, and soon
enough emerged from it clean and fresh to find the others, barely awake and staring at the
ceiling or walls or whatever. She stepped through the floor to the window. Upon opening it
just a crack, she realized something. She didn't trip over SSJ.

She turned around and saw SSJ's covers in disarray, yet SSJ wasn't there. She turned to the
others and asked, "Hey, where's SSJ?"

Everyone suddenly was filled with surprise. They sat up in their beds and looked down at
SSJ's blanket by Amiko's feet. They suddenly were filled with dread.

***

SSJ awoke, seeing the bright sunlight streaming through the window. It almost looked like
the moon he saw earlier, but he was put a little at ease. He heard breathing beside him,
then. He turned his head to see the other side of his bed. He saw the girl, sleeping within
a chair beside his bed. He smiled and attempted to move and pull into a sitting position,
but then he suddenly felt a pain and grunted, "Gah." He twitched. His gut really hurt and
he felt bad all over.

The girl then slowly opened her eyes, prompted awake by SSJ's grunts. She just uttered as
she stretched, "Wah..." And then she looked down at SSJ, struggling to move. "Ah! You
shouldn't move!" she advised as she tried to calm him.

Never the less, SSJ willed himself to sit up in his bed, resting his back upon the wall
behind his bed. He looked about the room. There was a neat and tidy desk, a closet full of
neatly hung clothes, kimono and shrine maiden attire hanging from the wall, and an
unsettling feeling that he was sleeping in the girl's bed.

He looked at her and asked, "Is this your room?" When she nodded, he looked down on
himself, seeing the bandages surrounding his torso. He frowned, thinking of the torment he
put himself through. He just sighed and leaned upon the wall, thinking about the bleak
prospects of trying his act again.

"I'm a little trained in medicine," the girl explained. "I was able to patch up your
wounds."

SSJ just smiled as he looked up at the ceiling. "Thanks," he replied. "And you are..."

"The name is Momo!" she answered with a smile.

"Okay then, Momo." SSJ was about to get out and stand, but then when he picked up his
covers, he noticed a rather peculiar thing underneath. He immediately stopped his movement
and spotted his clothes on another chair, stained with blood and torn in many places. He
dropped the covers over him and turned to Momo. "Did you see..." She nodded, blushing and
sinking her head. SSJ just sighed.

He just turned to look at his clothes. "I don't have any other clothes..."

"That's okay, though!" she said, trying to not blush. "My father is a tailor. Describe any
clothing you want and he'll make it!"

"Okay then," said Momo as she shoved her chair back. She got up from her chair and stepped
to the door. She just then remembered something and turned back to SSJ, waiting patiently
for her to leave. She said, "Oh, my father left some temporary clothes for you, right on my
table." She pointed at a neatly folded pile of clothes. And then she left, closing the door
with a slight tint of redness. SSJ looked out the window. That was the first girl, and only
girl that will ever see him naked, he admitted to himself with pessimism.

***

"DAMN IT! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU, BASTARD?!" Amiko yelled in the middle of the street.
Everyone around turned to her, aggravation vein present and pumping blood. They looked at
her with sweatdrops, not knowing what to say. Soon enough, they feared for their lives
after she smashed up a wall with her bare fists, and they all fled the area.

"Calm down!" Cindy said in an attempt to restrain Amiko's violent attempt to destroy a
mighty tree with a herring. The streets were empty then, and Amiko was still fuming over
SSJ. He had disappeared without a trace, and the group's attempts to find him had been met
with failure.

So they stood in the middle of a sidewalk by a cracked and torn wall of concrete, sighing
over SSJ's disappearance. It was then that another shadow descended upon them. They looked
up, this time seeing the First waving at them from atop the building roof. TM caught
another paper note, then, and they all looked up to see the First gone.

TM opened the note and read the text, "We have killed your friend. If you wish to try at us
again, we'll be happy to kill the rest of you, as well. The deadline is shortened to
midnight." They all were suddenly filled with dread.

"*KILLED* SSJ?!" Cindy asked, eyes wide and shaky with surprise.

TM crumpled the note in his hand. "Impossible!" he yelled.

"He's the author!" DDT pointed out as he looked up at where the First had been.

Amiko just gritted her teeth. "It's a lie," she rationalized from sheer facts. "Anyway, we
have to train for this. If they really did kill SSJ, this story would've been over."

"BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO DO ANYTHING!" TM yelled, grabbing his hair at imagining if SSJ had
died.

Amiko nodded. "Now, let's go!" she commanded. "Let's seriously get to training and beating
them." And they left the area, seeking a good abandoned location.

***

SSJ entered Momo's kitchen dressed a happi coat[1], shorts, and a good deal of bandages.
'He's moving about on his own,' Momo thought thankfully as she made eggs for her guest. She
smiled and finished the scrambled eggs as toast popped up from the toaster. In another pan,
she saw sausage and bacon ready for consumption, so she placed it all on a plate and set it
at the table as SSJ sat down.

SSJ looked down at the breakfast, and he wondered about when was the last time he had such
a meal for breakfast. As he took up his fork to begin digging into his meal, he heard Momo
ask, "What kind of coffee do you want?" She was at the coffee machine, filling it with some
beans.

"Bleh," SSJ rudely muttered at the table. "I don't like coffee."

"Okay then," Momo muttered as she made one mug of coffee. She then went to the small square
table and sat opposite SSJ. She then looked over the boy, already in good enough health to
stuff his face and not feel pain. "How did you get so bloody, anyway?" she asked with
curiosity.

"You don't wanna know," SSJ replied with his mouth stuffed with bacon and sausage.

Momo frowned. She then pressed closer and asked, "Come on! Tell! If not, I'll start
charging you for the food."

"Fine then, Momo-chan..." SSJ then swallowed the rest of his food and spotted the sink. He
got up and went to wash the dish. He was about to wash it himself when Momo stopped him and
did the cleaning herself. As she did so, he explained, "Well, I was wandering through the
city..."

Momo nodded without looking back from the sink. "And then...?"

SSJ paused and rubbed his chin. He needed a plausible explanation. He then remembered his
first episode with gang members in chapter three. He then said, "Some time later, a bunch
of freaking murderers came out of the blue and slashed at me with knives."

"That doesn't seem to be able to cause much blood loss," said Momo as she placed the dishes
away and turned back to him.

SSJ began to sweat. He just added, "Repeatedly."

Momo paused, looking at SSJ with scrutiny. She saw him sweat and freeze and just ignored
it. "I guess that sorta explains it..."


And then, another voice echoed through the room, "Momo-chan!"

Momo turned to the source and replied, "Yes, Papa!"

"Call your friend! I need to measure his proportions!"

SSJ then turned to step to the source. Momo spoke from the kitchen, "Good thing you saved
me yesterday, or else Papa would've charged some good money for the clothes you drew."

SSJ shrugged. "Whatever."

***

The rest of the group made their way through the streets, searching for the androids'
place. They were dripping with sweat from their intense training; TM sliced down trees,
Cindy practiced with her guns, Amiko's bishies got a good workout, and DDT just practiced
burning things.

"Okay, we've trained for how long?" Amiko asked as they made their way through the streets.
She was determined to see the end of this group of androids.

"Ten hours," Cindy answered as she read it off her small watch. She then pulled a gun out
of her holster and quickly shot a can randomly lying in an alleyway. She grinned. "My aim
is perfect!" she commented.

TM drew his sword then and sliced through a random dumpster. It fell to pieces before them
and disgusting liquid and rotting trash spilled out, much to DDT's delight. "I can cut
through the strongest metals," he commented.

"I made some toast," DDT commented. "Anyone want any?" Apparently, that was the extent of
his training. Everyone facefaulted.

Amiko turned to DDT and yelled, "WE'RE GONNA FIGHT ANDROIDS THAT NEARLY KILLED US, AND
YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT TOAST?!"

"We can't fight on an empty stomach."

TM just replied, "We ate at a seven star buffet a before we trained. If we ate anymore,
we'd be too slow to fight!" DDT just kept silent then and muttered to himself. They then
found the building- an innocent warehouse in the middle of an industrial area. Such a
perfect place for hiding, right next to all the action.

They saw the large shutter before them. TM and DDT reached under and placed their fingers
between the bottom and the floor. And they lifted up, shoving up the warehouse shutter and
looking inside to see absolutely nothing.

Well, except for the three androids sitting there at the other end of the room, waiting
patiently for them. Light beams reached into the room from the door as the group stepped
forward, silhouetted in the light.

Suddenly, the shutters closed. Light from outside ceased. They were only visible in the dim
lights of the warehouse, a dark tint of yellow. The Second looked up at them all with a
smile. "So, you all finally arrived," he muttered.

TM didn't need their sneers. He demanded, "What have you all done with SSJ?!"

"You mean your friend?" asked the Third. The Third nodded at the First, who pulled out
something from his large trench coat. He threw it at the group, who dodged it as it
embedded into the shutter. It was a sword. SSJ's sword.

Amiko froze. She then swore, "Damn it!" SSJ had been there, and lost his sword. Great.

DDT just glared at the three androids. "Then... LET'S GO!" he yelled as he dashed forward
at the androids.

"Yes!" Cindy yelled as she threw down a bag of supplies onto the floor. She then drew two
of her revolvers and ran after DDT. TM drew his sword and did the same as Amiko waited
behind.

The androids prepared for battle. The First's arm converted into a sword again, the Second
had his rocket launchers again, and the Third opened a hole just before him and sent a
punch flying at DDT. Before the DDT could react, he saw a hole open before him and a fist
struck him right in the face.

DDT grunted and stopped in his dash. He knew not of the Third's abilities, but was fast
enough to grab his arm before it disappeared through the hole. The Third froze in his own
place as DDT tugged hard upon the guy's arm. Before the Third knew what was happening, he
flew through his own hole and his gut met DDT's elbow. He grunted in pain as he was thrown
through his dimensional hole.

Amiko then called, "Everyone again!" Again, all her bishounen suddenly appeared in the
space around her. She glared at the androids and pointed at them. "Go!" she commanded. Her
bishounen nodded and drew their weapons. They dashed at the androids, prepared to
exterminate them.

TM was sprinting before the bishounen, straight at the First. "This shall be easy!" he
declared as he leapt into the air. The First quickly moved to dodge the slash, then dashed
up and over Amiko's bishounen. And then he was struck by TM's kick, and he flew back and
landed upon his feet. This wouldn't be so easy, after all.

He saw the Second then, as some of Amiko's bishounen broke off and headed for the Second.
He had to worry about his own problems, then, as he dodged more blows from the bishounen
and TM.

"I can fight!" Cindy declared as she began shooting at the Second. The Second moved through
and around the bullets, using electrical fields to deflect a select few. More projectiles
flew at it. He saw Amiko's bishounen, launching attack after attack at him.

He swore as he deflected more bullets with his electric field, and then aimed his rocket
arm at Cindy and the group. "Mokona!" Cindy yelled in retaliation.

Suddenly, in a surprise maneuver, Mokona dropped down from the ceiling and grew to a rather
large size. He raised his hands and slammed it down upon the android. The android shook
with the impact, until he finally grabbed Mokona and held it by the leg. The mascot hung
upside-down as the Second returned the rocket launchers to his hand, and then was about to
beat the snot out of Mokona.

And then a bullet from Cindy struck that hand in his lapse in concentration. He swore with
profuse anger.

The Third was having a bit better luck. The Third traded blows with DDT, handing him fists
in certain points and the DDT counter attacking by dodging and using the holes to reach
him. The Third became angered and just said, "You shall die, DDT!" He opened another hole,
and a punch raced towards DDT.

"Not quite!" yelled DDT. DDT leapt back as the fist came through, and quickly sent a wave
of flames through the hole. Intense flames struck the Third as DDT leapt a back and was
farther from the Third than he had been. "Hah!" he laughed as the flames burned upon the
third.

But the Third wouldn't lose to just that. He broke free from the flames and dashed at DDT.
DDT suddenly saw its reality. Its skin was melting off- it was just canvas covering the
metal and wires and ugly grays. The Third cared little but to send a punch through a hole.

"Crap!" DDT swore as he dodged the blow and attempted to retaliate. He sprinted at the
Third and aimed punch and kick at the android. The android dodged this and that and moved
out of range for all of DDT's attacks.

The Third proudly declared as he laid another fist upon DDT's gut, "You can not win! We can
anticipate all your attacks! The supercomputer knows all!"

With that, the tides were turning. TM and the First blocked each others' blows. TM warded
off a slash to his shoulder as the First kept encroaching and dodging TM's attacks. He
aimed the tip of his arm-sword at TM's heart, and TM only barely dodged by striking up on
the arm, causing its trajectory to move up and barely miss his skin.

"Damn it! Why won't you lose?!" TM said as he struggled.

The First proudly yelled, "I am programmed to win! I shall never lose!"

"Damn it!" TM swore again as he leapt back away from the First's blade. He had to pull a
technique. He held his sword tight and yelled, "CRIMSON BLADE!" With that, TM dashed
through the First, appearing on the other side in a cool pose. X's appeared all over the
First.

And after all that, the First was completely unaffected, save for its canvas finally
tearing and revealing its gray reality. "Was that all?" asked the humanoid machine.

And with that, TM swore again as it sent a fury of slashes at TM.

It was at that point in the fight that DDT dashed around to behind the distracted android,
concentrating on Kamui and Ranma. The Third cursed as he felt DDT get one terrific punch
upon his neck. Sparks flew from the blow. The Third knew it and muttered, "Heh. You have
managed to hurt me..."

The Third then yelled into the air, making everyone stop. The wall behind him split apart
and disappear as sheets of metal retreated into the ground, revealing the gigantic
supercomputer. The giant pink brain was visible as the androids tore off what was left of
their canvas skin. Wires came from the supercomputer and inserted into various parts of the
robots' arms and legs. Cindy grabbed her mouth and muttered, "I think I'm gonna be sick..."

Amiko looked up at it in wonder. "That is..."

"...The supercomputer they run on?!" DDT finished. It was truly massive, a testament to the
dedication one had to his cause. The three androids then leapt back as metal plates on
three sides of the super computer rushed open. The three flew into their chambers as the
plates shut, and immediately several hatchers opened throughout the computer.

Out flew small machines, hovering weapons armed with guns and blades, but also were
explosive. Amiko looked at the army of droids. And she swore, "SHIT." Curse their luck!

***

SSJ stood upon the roof of Momo's house, overlooking the streets. He was clad in his new
clothes- a new red cloak; a thick, blue tanktop; and black pants that bagged and were
tucked into his high, black, combat boots. He felt a curtain of uncertainty fall upon him
as he looked over the darkening skies. He didn't turn about when some of the shingles on
Momo's roof opened and Momo stuck her head out.

Momo saw SSJ step towards the edge of the roof. "Hey! Where are you going?!" she yelled as
she leapt onto the roof.

"My friends are in trouble," SSJ answered without looking back. He suddenly felt really
bad, leaving her just after meeting her and all.

"What do you mean?!" she asked. Who was he? Injured through large gashes typical of a
sword-length weapon, not a knife. She pieced the pieces together. The pokeballs he had,
which he never allowed her to see. The confusion over current affairs in Terra...

SSJ was silent as he stepped further to the edge of the roof. Finally, Momo realized it. He
was an Outlaw. She shivered and grew silent. She then mustered the strength to ask, "You
lied to me, didn't you?!"

"Yeah," SSJ replied without looking back. Momo didn't see his face's slight sadness. She
didn't see him with narrow, depressed eyes.

She just yelled, "You fought against those things?!" SSJ nodded. She became angry and
scared, edging away from SSJ. He seemed cold then, and Momo screamed, "Then go! As long as
you are here, we are all in danger, right? We aren't safe with you around! Go! I don't want
you around me or my Papa!"

That struck SSJ's nerve. He turned back to Momo. She saw his cold, vacant expression. She
didn't know who he was. She didn't know he reverted just a little to his old self. SSJ just
turned back and muttered, "I'm already ahead of you." And he leapt off the roof and landed
upon the street. Momo was silent as she heard from the street, "Thank you for your
hospitality, Momo-san." And SSJ dashed towards the city.

Momo stood on the roof, looking at him disappear from sight. She sighed, "Baka."

SSJ dashed through the streets, questioning why he was in the world. To help it? To help a
world that feared him and his friends, whose government was actively pursuing them? To
fight Rantmon and prove something? Why had he been sent to a world that hated him so? What
was wrong with the real world?

He dashed on, feeling a pang in his heart. 'Damn it,' he thought. 'She was really cute,
too.' How shallow of him, he knew.

***

Things were looking bad. Amiko ran about the room, barely dodging bullets and blades and
explosions from kamikaze crashes the droids loved making. "Damn it!" she swore. The
situation just gets even worse. Her bishounen had been knocked out and returned to their
bishie balls, and she wondered what it took to destroy that supercomputer. "We have to win!"

"DAMN!" TM yelled. He slashed this way and that at a fair number of droids, falling to
pieces harmlessly on the floor. But a great many more overpowered him as he struggled
blocking. He was shoved back and nearing a corner. "There's too many!"

"Ifrit!" DDT yelled. The ground suddenly tore open, and from flames that took out a few,
Ifrit came forth. DDT didn't need to say anything for Ifrit to smash his way through more
droids, DDT helping with punches, kicks, and flames. But more kept coming. One step forward
led to two steps back. The sheer numbers of droids eventually overpowered Ifrit, sending
him back into the ring of fire from which he game.

Cindy yelled, "Ack!" She shot bullets. They hit a few. And more just kept coming. She
dashed along the wall as explosions raged behind her, droids doing kamikaze stunts. "GET
AWAY!" she screamed as she dodged more flames.

Slowly, the droids took the upper hand. Their movements throughout the room forced the four
together. TM was knocked senseless by the droid's, bleeding from several cuts. DDT was
suffering major fatigue and needed rest. Amiko was feeling her legs going numb from sheer
overuse. Cindy ran out of bullets in her ten guns. "Anyone gotta plan?!" Amiko asked. When
she saw DDT himself praying to God, she just sighed, "Damn."

Everything seemed hopeless. The droids flew in circles around the four. They could not
escape. The end was near.

Suddenly, the droids sparked. The four froze as the droids froze in mid-air, sparking and
smoking, and finally falling to the ground with rough clangs. "What?!" the three androids
called from the supercomputer.

Thunder suddenly struck. Which was funny, since they were indoors and all. Everyone turned
to see clouds form just over the supercomputer. The four turned white, recognizing it
again. A silhouette formed in the clouds, and they knew who it was. They saw Rantmon land
upon the glass covering the giant brain. "Yo," Rantmon said with a wave.

DDT grit his teeth. "What do you want?!" he demanded.

Rantmon just smiled. "Oh, come on, now. This is just a little test I prepared." Everyone
was taken aback by that. Even the androids, which were forced out of their chambers from
sparks that ran through the supercomputer. Rantmon explained, "These things have no will.
They believe whatever data is given to them, and as such accepted a mission I put into the
supercomputer. Before you ask, why? This is just a measuring stick. I want to see your
strength. Go ahead and worry, for if you can't handle these guys, you can't beat me."

Suddenly, explosions tore throughout the glass, shattering it and destroying the brain
under it. The Second had launched a volley of rockets at Rantmon. It was slapped by the
Third, who looked up at the supercomputer. The brain died, melting into a red goo. He
swore, "Shit! The supercomputer... It's over."

Rantmon smiled as he stood upon the ceiling. His sword appeared in his hand. "Might as well
clean it up," he said as he dropped down. He slashed through the supercomputer, and when it
exploded, that was that. The androids dashed in anger at Rantmon. Rantmon took the
initiative, and on his own accord took his sword and decapitated himself. The androids
stopped as Rantmon split into smoke and disappeared.

Everything stopped for just a little bit. The androids realized it. They had been used.
They turned back to the four and glared at them. They needed to validate their existence,
then. But could it be done without their extra perception and the eyes of the
supercomputer? DDT just muttered, "Okay now... Now that we don't have to worry about them
being able to anticipate out attacks..."

Round two of the battle thus began. As the battles wore on, three on four, the three
androids still proved powerful. DDT was launched back by the Third's punches, even if he
managed to sneak in punches and kicks upon the slower android. TM managed to slowly wear
down the First, blocking the guy's blows.

The First struck, kicking TM into a wall past DDT. DDT dragged the Third away as the First
dashed at TM, reaching out its sword-arm to impale TM. TM just barely moved free just in
time to dodge the blade, and then with one kick, he sent the First back. "That's it!" he
yelled with anger. "No more of this fun!"

The First skidded back. He then looked at TM, bloody and fatigued, and laughed, "Second! No
more fun, he says! Let's kill him!"

The Second suddenly appeared beside the First. "Indeed!" he said.

It was at this crucial moment something needed to happen. A plot device, a plan, a new
character, whatever. TM raised his sword high, concentrating on his training. He needed
power. The power to take out those two. He needed it. He suddenly heard a voice in his
head, "Then, I grant you it."

His eyes opened, a red glow suddenly enveloped him. The androids stopped, as well as the
rest of the Outlaws. TM strangely glowed red- what was that?! "What?! His... Aura!" the
Third said with surprise.

TM just concentrated. His red aura into his sword, which now glowed red and bright. And
finally, he thought of an attack, a way to release his aura. He yelled a name he suddenly
made up, "ZERO SLASH!" And TM slashed down his sword in the direction of the two androids.

To everyone's surprise, the red aura from TM's sword ran through the air as a thin wave- an
extension of the slash. It tore straight through the two androids. The First swore,
"Shit..." A visible cut appeared down from its shoulder to its hip.

As a similar cut appeared on the Second, he struggled to say, "We... lost..." And the two
burst into fiery explosions, filling the room with light and air and adding to TM's ego. He
took down two androids on his own. He felt proud.

TM then turned to the Third, as confident as ever. "Now for you!" he yelled with
determination.

Well, the Third, though surprised, would have none of it. He leapt into the air and landed
just behind Amiko. He quickly grabbed Amiko by the neck held her close to him. Amiko
complained, "Why is it always me?!"

He held Amiko tight. "Do that technique again, and you'll have to kill your friend here,"
he said as TM was about to prepare the Zero Slash again. He assessed the situation. If he
held her to the shutter, he could escape and regroup.

TM swore, "Damn it..." The Third edged towards the door, holding Amiko tight, as TM and the
rest stood, frozen.

"Nice knowing you all," he said. Then suddenly, he was taken aback to hear the shutters fly
open. As the Third turned his head, he saw SSJ, suspended in the air, flying right at him.
"What the-?!"

"SSJ?!" Amiko screamed over the Third's surprised yells.

SSJ gave the Third a good kick to the chin, then. It sent him flying into the air as SSJ
landed and grabbed his sword. The Third, still reeling from the surprise, opened his eyes
and saw SSJ in midair, holding his sword back and ready to attack. "Wait!" the Third begged
as he fell headfirst at the ground. "Please... Forgive me! My comrades may have been evil,
but I'm not! I'm-"

Too late. SSJ thrusted his blade forward and it tore into the metal case that would have
been the thing's skull. It suddenly quieted as the two landed upon the ground. "Dead is
what you are," SSJ announced with a smirk. With that, he pulled his sword from the object's
head, leaving a mess of oil and wires.

SSJ turned from the android to see the other three, reeling in pain and fatigue. DDT
muttered, "Well, good to see you're not dead."

"Of course not," said SSJ. "I can never die."

"What's with the clothes?" TM asked, panting after exerting so much energy. He noticed
SSJ's red cloak, blue tanktop, white bandages, black pants, and boots that rounded it off.

"My clothes were a little stained after last night," SSJ explained.

Amiko sent SSJ an incredulous look. "A little?"

SSJ chuckled, "Hehe..." Everyone's tensions were just a little relieved, then. And it was
then that rushing clanks of footsteps sounded throughout the warehouse. SSJ barely wheeled
around to see the Third up and running again, despite the giant wound in its forehead.
"DAMN!" SSJ yelled as the others ran away. The android pulled its arm back and sent it
forward in anger.

SSJ tried to block with his sword. The Third punched the sword, and he struck the side of
the blade. Cracks ran through the sword from the impact, and it finally shattered into a
million pieces. He then gave SSJ a strong blow to the right cheek, sending him flying out
of the building. The Third leapt after SSJ.

"NOT AGAIN!" DDT yelled as he prepared a flame. Not fast enough. The Third already reached
SSJ. But SSJ blocked the blow. The Third looked down at SSJ, who had blocked his attack
using his hand. It froze.

SSJ muttered, "Well, I won."

The Third's voice began to crack, since SSJ's attack did strike its head. "What..."

SSJ pulled forth Cindy's revolvers from his belt. The android looked down in surprise.
"Humans: One, Androids: Zero," muttered SSJ as he pulled the triggers.

Bullets ripped from the Third's back. He was thrown back from the batter of bullets,
landing on his back and showing the many holes in his front. "This can't be," it muttered
in its unemotional voice. It was failing. Its electricity was giving out. "How could I...
Lose...?"

Everyone was silent. SSJ just walked up to the pitiful android, struggling to get up. He
put a barrel to the guy's face. He just wished the android, "Merry Christmas..." And
explosions of revolvers were heard throughout the area. The sound of thunder echoed
throughout the city.

---- To Be Continued ----

--- Preview ---

SSJ: Wasn't that just plain EXCITING?!

TM: I DID SOMETHING! YES!

DDT: Wow. I never thought SSJ could be a decent writer.

Amiko: Why was I the pawn?!

Cindy: What happened to Mokona?

DDT: What happened to Devimon?!

SSJ: Well, you can all answer the questions yourself! Because next time is nothing but a
WACKY filler!

TM: This bodes.

SSJ: The impossible happens...

Cindy: You've gotta read it to believe it!

DDT: Next chapter: "Mafia Mayhem"

----------

Author’s Note:

[1] Happi Coat: A coat worn by traditional shopkeepers in Japan. The fact that Momo’s
father has it implies that he runs his own shop in the city somewhere.