Capítulo 96: Retreat
It was day third of Raditz vs the android trio, and crazily, it was the androids who were beginning to show signs of fatigue.
As for Raditz, he had been brutally injured multiple times in this fight, but his buffed regeneration and constantly adapting ki kept him going.
In fact, If he wanted to he could have finished the trio off in half an hour by constantly pushing his Ikari, legendary Super Saiyan's ability to adapt was no joke.
But Raditz wasn't short-sighted enough to go for a quick ki boost and lose balance, especially when not in immediate danger, the androids will lose sooner or later, no need to waste his hard earned ki control for the trio.
"Tch, this monster."
18 growled, her arm was currently bent in the wrong way, and her entire body was hurting, but she wasn't alone, 17 had his one of his legs broken and could barely fly, as for 16, he fared much better but also had a cracked skull.
"Monster? I prefer to go by Legendary Super Saiyan."
"You lot really make nice training dummies, I have grown in strength, adapted to it and grown again, all because of your Infinite energy."
"Where else would I find such good training dummies, most of them quit within a few punches."
Hearing the balant mockery the android's were not even in the mood to talk back, they were very scared right now.
According to 16, if this guy wasn't trying to gain control over his ever growing strength and actually let it grow all the time, they would long have been dead.
This scared the hell out of the trio, they had tried desperately to kill him before he adapts but it has been for naught.
"...We should retreat, we can't beat him."
17 said in a low voice, no matter how humiliating it felt to him, he wasn't going to put his sister in danger.
Same thoughts were on 18's mind, she also felt retreat and a sneak attack on Raditz was the best option.
Although they didn't have the luxury the understand this now but slowly, through the sheer terror they were experiencing, their natural instincts were beginning to overpower their code overcorrection.
They were after all once human, lapis and lazuli, it isn't easy to remove core instincts of self preservation from a human, triggering of which was starting to disconnect them from the shackles of Gero's code.
'They are actually thinking of retreating? It seems they are beginning to regain senses.'
'Saldy this will only work for 17 and 18, 16 is fully mechanical, he will just have to will himself out of it using loopholes, like he did in the orginal.'
Raditz always had his attention on the android's thoughts all this time, and throughout the three day period, he had seen their thoughts go from simple brutal killing to more a rational approach.
If they were beginning to overpower their killing code, Raditz didn't mind giving them one chance, but if they go on a killing spree after regaining their senses, they will swiftly meet their end.
Infact the only reason Raditz even wanted to give them a chance was because he knew they weren't bad by default, the orginal timeline had shown that very clearly, if they overpower Gero's brainwashing, they will return to being lapis and lazuli once more.
"Although I am a bit upset that you think I can't hear your whispers, but I can consider letting you retreat, I have one condition though."
Color drained from the android's faces, even their whispers were overheard, is this guy a Namekian or what!
Although it was very humiliating, 17 once again compromised.
"What do you want..?"
Giving a plain smile Raditz gestured towards 16.
"Him, I am very interested in how he was made, heard he was built upon the image of Gero's son, but he is completely mechanical."
"This is some amazing technology, no matter how crazy Gero is, you gotta praise his intelligence, no?"
18 and 17 clenched their teeth with that sentence, they hated Gero with passion so they disliked the good words spoken about him.
Which again had Raditz narrow his eyes, they were definitely overcoming their brainwashing, it was obvious now, it shouldn't be long now that they will go back to being their original selves.
As long as the threat of Raditz exists in their minds, their real death was a possibility, and this alone will keep their instincts active, sooner of later becoming normal once more.
"No! We can't give you 16-"
"Take him."
17 interrupted 18's words and ignored the angry face of 18, although he disliked the guy and didn't want to do this either, be wasn't willing to compromise his sister's safety for 16.
One was family and one was a partner he didn't particularly like, so this might not feel good to 18 and she might not agree, 17 decided to save themselves first.
"That was quick, I figured you lot have more spunk left in you that I gotta beat out, sad you folded too soon."
"You can go then, and before I forget, understand this, you aren't going to kill indiscriminately again, you should realise this isn't your idea, it is Gero's brainwashing that made you this way."
"I don't need to tell you what will happen if I catch another set of Ki evaporating from Earth, so keep yourselves in check or I'll do it for you."
Raditz's threat only had a silent snort from 17, 18 herself only felt angry that they were ditching 16, she didn't like the feeling of backstabbing her partners.
So trying one last time, 18 questioned 16.
"Why don't you say something for yourself 16? You know we can't force you if you want to run!"
16 slowly smiled with his back turned towards 18, then spoke softly.
"Thank you, but this is the best course of action, it's either complete annihilation or only my end, the choice is only logical."
Even 17 felt bad after hearing 16's selfless words, but didn't say anything to stop him, he still can't put his sister in danger.
"Saiyan King, I'll come with you, please let them go."
Nodding his head magnanimous, Raditz gestured at 17 and 18 to leave.
"Sure, go, get yourself patched and find something to do which isn't as psychotic."
Snorting softly once more, 17 turned around with 18 and said before leaving.
"You don't need to repeat yourself, we aren't Gero's slaves."
Both siblings had built up a newfound hatred for Gero since the moment Raditz praised him, or maybe it's better to say they awakened the previously suppressed hatred.
Whatever it was, at least 17 was definitely prideful enough to not go on a rampage again, especially because that would be following Gero's orders, and he was more than enough to stop 18 if she wanted to do so.
"With that taken care of, now about you 16."
Flying towards the powered down Raditz, 16 asked plainly.
"What do you want me to do?"
Smiling at the stoic 16, Raditz gave a proposed.
"How would you like me to revert you back to normal? No Gero messing around with your thoughts?"
"17 and 18 can do it naturally, but you have to find loopholes to do this."
Bulma even in the orginal had worked on 16 and even removed the explosive from inside of him, without 16 even realising it.
Now Bulma had extensively worked on the androids, reprogramming 16 was easy for Raditz, especially with future Bulma around to help him.
With this, even if the siblings don't learn their lesson, future Bulma will have a strong man like 16 around to protect her.
He was more powerful than 17 and 18 combined, and was fully mechanical on top of being a good guy, after a reprogramming he would be one of the strongest z fighter around.
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