Android 17's Ascension (DBZ/Overlord) [No Ainz/Nazarick]

[Stimpak Medic]

Prologue: Dusselmont

We will pay a visit to the broad and regal Re-Estize Kingdom today, and wander through that country of meadows and mountains, whose steep and rocky sides are overgrown with lush grass and healthy forest trees. Let us climb to the dazzling snow-fields at their summits, and descend again to the green, lush, flowery meadows beneath, through which rivers and brooks rush along as if they could not quickly enough drain into the ever-open arms of the sea. Brilliantly shines the sun over those deep valleys, as well as upon the snow that lies atop the mountain peaks, occasionally falling down from the sharp crags to the yawning cliffs below.

Salmon and trout dance in the clear, cool waters and leap upriver with their crystalline scales blazing in the sunlight. If one were to observe their upriver habits in where they would settle down and begin their complex mating rituals, many would find mates and begin their downstream retreat only for fishermen to catch them on their downstream return, filling the bellies and hearts of the men, women, and children who made their homes in the mountain villages that dotted the base and steeps of the mountains.

During the early months of the year, the snowy accumulations high above the meadows and rivers thaw and fall in rumbling avalanches, or are piled up in shining, beautiful glaciers. Two of these glaciers lie in the broad, rocky cliffs, between the eastern and the western mountain ranges that protect the Re-Estize Kingdom from the harshest of northern winter winds, near the little town of Dussel, where trails and hiking paths cross the mountains in an intricate and well-worn series of dirt trodden roads. They are wonderful to behold, and therefore in the summertime strangers come here from all parts of the Kingdom to see them and walk the trails through the mountains.

They cross snow-covered mountains and travel through the deep valleys, or ascend for hours, higher and still higher, whilst the valleys appear to sink lower and lower as they proceed, and become small as if seen from a dragon's eye. Over the lofty summits of these mountains, the clouds often hang like a white veil, while beneath in the valley, where many brown wooden houses are scattered about, the bright rays of the sun shine upon the fields and meadows, making them appear akin to lands carved entirely out of shining emeralds.

The waters of the streams and rivers foam and dash along in the valleys beneath, fed from mountainous springs and lakes that trickle and murmur as they fall down the rocky mountain's side, looking like glittering crystal lines upon the earth.

On both sides of the mountains stand these little wooden houses, and, within, there are many children and many mouths to feed. Each house has its own little vegetable and root garden, along with goat pens and the occasional pasture. These children rush out in swarms, surrounding any approaching travelers, whether on foot or in carriages. They are all clever at making a bargain. They offer for sale the sweetest little toy-houses, models of the mountain cottages in Dussel. Whether it be in rain or sunshine, these crowds of children are always to be seen ready to show their wares to a passing traveler.

About this time of year, that is to say, as the last reluctant whispers of springtime in the winds that blow give way to early summer, there might be seen occasionally, standing at a short distance from the other children, a tiny little boy, who was also anxious to sell his curious wares. He had an earnest countenance and held the box containing his carved toys tightly with both hands as if unwilling to part with it. His earnest look, and being also a very little boy, made him noticed by the strangers, so that he often sold the most, without knowing why.

An hour's walk farther up the mountain from Dussel lived his grandfather Dalon, who cut and carved the pretty little toy-houses. In the old man's room stood a large, intricate chestnut crate, full of all sorts of carved things—nut-crackers, knives and forks, small jewelry boxes with beautifully carved foliage, and several solid silver coins in a cloth pouch given by his father's father decades before his birth. They were somewhat of an heirloom that he wished to one day pass on to the earnest boy.

The crate contained everything that could delight the eyes of a child. But the boy, who was named Gareth, looked with still greater pleasure and longing at some old swords which hung upon the rafters, under the ceiling of the room. His grandfather promised him that he should have them someday, but that he must first grow big and strong, and learn how to use them.

The goats were placed in his care, and a good goat-keeper should also be a good climber, and such Gareth was. He sometimes, indeed, climbed higher than the goats, for he was fond of seeking nests at the top of high trees.

He was bold and daring, but was seldom seen to smile, except when he stood by the roaring cataracts fed by the nearby rivers, or heard the descending roll of an avalanche in the distance. He never played with the other children and was not seen with them, unless his grandfather sent him down to sell his little wooden houses. Gareth did not much like trade; he loved to climb the mountains, or to sit by his grandfather and listen to his tales of olden times, or of the people in Re-Estize, the place of his grandfather's birth.

His grandfather had taken him in after his father had died in the ever-ongoing war with monsters, and his mother had gone mentally infirm after that happened and had run away, never to be seen again. It was a sore subject for both of them, and neither of them liked to speak on such matters. Over the boy's young childhood, the two moved from the city to the faraway mountainside where not much of anything seemed to happen. Even the monsters left these mountainsides alone, as there wasn't anything there to hunt or fight outside of the occasional bear, Lynx, or pack of winter wolves.

Today was a particularly sunny day, and summer was just beginning to rear its hot and bright head as Gareth found himself climbing up the rocks on a cliff he had traversed many times before with very little hesitation.

The stones were firm and dug quite deep into the mountainside, allowing him quite a large degree of freedom in where he decided to make his grip and holds. Also, since he was a light and springy boy, he had very little issue using the less supportive holds as he climbed up the cliff face.

As he climbed across the gray rock, his blonde hair that was short and looked almost white due to its brightness under the sun shifted under his small brown cloth woodsman's cap that had been sewn by the local seamstress for his eighth birthday. His bright blue eyes were accentuated by his slightly tanned skin that was usually pale as a ghost when he wasn't out and about exploring some hidden cliff or rock face.

He quickly made his way up the large cliff that was almost one hundred feet tall with practiced and deliberate movements, and came across a large field of rough tufts of grass sprinkled with boulders and reddish brown clay deposits.

It wasn't an odd sight; in fact, there were hundreds, if not thousands, of these little alcoves and ravines like this in the mountains. No. What was interesting and also quite frightening for the young boy was the man lying there upon a red clay deposit that had begun to stain his raven black hair with a reddish-brown clay tinge.

The young boy, bold as he was, was not stupid. An unknown man lying atop a cliff high in the mountains was a queer sight, and very much went against all proper sensibilities, even for a young mountain boy like himself, whose grasp of sensibilities and propriety was at the bare minimum for a human his age.

He approached the lying man and stopped a few feet away from the incapacitated fellow, warily taking in his surroundings.

"Mister, He called out to the man. His young light voice was fresh and free from the gravely roughness of age that his grandfather carried in his chilled years.

The lying man gave no response or sign that he heard the boy at all whatsoever.

"Mister," the boy called out again, this time much louder. If this man were a traveler or adventurer who had gotten lost or hurt, he could be in great danger atop the cliffs, as when night came, even in the summer, cold winds from the mountaintops could chill any man, woman, or child to the bone.

Yet again, the man gave no response or sign that he was even coherent at all.

The only thing the boy could make out about the man was the slow rising and falling of his chest under his strange, colorful garbs.

The man, looking to be in his late teens to early twenties, and if the young boy were to guess with his limited scope of knowledge and experience, was quietly breathing with short inhales and exhales. His black shirt was cuffed at his bicep, and from how he was lying face up, he could make out his light, unblemished face. His black shirt had two strange symbols on the chest in vivid red. The man had an orange bandanna similar to those the woodcutters wore when they went out to chop timber. On his legs were a pair of blue pants of some unknown material that the boy had never seen before, and on the man's hands were several bruises on his knuckles.

The man didn't wear climbing boots as those in the mountains would, but instead had blue shoes of a cloth-like material that was slightly shiny and reflective. It seemed that he had struck something quite hard before something happened to him, causing him to fall into such a state.

The boy tensed up and shivered at that realization. He might very well be in danger, but he couldn't see anything that was directly dangerous, of course.

Deciding to wake the man, the young boy knelt by the man's right shoulder, which was closest to him, and shook the man lightly. The man wasn't expressly heavy, but he was a young boy barely older than ten years old, and was quite small, so shaking the man took a degree of strength he barely had. He would not be able to carry the man down the mountainside, and instead, in the case he needed help or assistance, climb back to the village and inform some of the hunters who could help this man better.

The man still gave no response. In fact, his breathing had begun to slow ever so slightly, as if he were sinking into a deep, relaxed sleep.

"Mister, wake up. You can't sleep on the mountainside without a ten,t" the young boy pressed his hand firmly on the man's shoulder and pressed hard, rolling the man over and out of the clay with some effort.

Letting out a pained gasp, the man's eyes burst open, and with a feat of incredible agility, he leapt into the air, spinning several times midair before landing with a grace the boy had never seen from anyone before. The man looked around with the countenance of a wild dog, his eyes wide and frightened as his head whipped side to side.

He looked as if he had stared death in the face and lost the ensuing confrontation quite badly.

His breathing came out in several quick, rasping successions and was erratic.

"Cell!" he shouted in fear and anger, which quickly turned into confusion as he seemed to take in his surroundings. Whoever this Cell person was was no longer here, and he was instead greeted by the terrified Gareth, who had fallen to his back and was almost crawling away on his back.

The man then raised his arms in front of him and clenched and unclenched his bruised fists as if he were looking at something that should not be.

"But Cell absorbed me," He said hoarsely. Clearly, he didn't expect to be alive.

Gareth, who was approaching the edge of the cliff, rolled over and stopped, seeing that the frightening man had composed himself somewhat. It was obvious seeing by the man's flips through the air, that this man was not an ordinary man. Given the boy's limited experience with anyone outside of his small village, strange scenarios began to play in his head.

The most vivid one was that this man would destroy their village and turn into a monster. This caused the young boy to quiver involuntarily with a tremor of fear.

The man seemed to come to his senses enough to notice the boy and call out to him.

"You. Can you understand me?" the man asked, approaching the boy with narrowed, intense, icy blue eyes.

"Y-yes, Mister. Please don't hurt me," The boy stammered before shakily getting to his feet.

"Easy there, kid, I'm not gonna hurt you. I just want to know where I am." The man spoke, looking around himself in an attempt to figure out if he recognized this place. None of the data Dr. Gero put into his mind spoke of a place like this. At least the boy and he could communicate verbally.

The boy took a deep breath and regained some of his nerves, answering the man as best he could.

"This is Dusselmont, and we're not far from my village of Dussel. Do you want to come back to the village with me?" The boy offered, now that his composure had returned to him in full, seeing as the man was not hostile to him. While reserved, his bold nature caused him to bounce back from just about anything.

"Dusselmont...Dussel...I've never been there," The man slowly ruminated before speaking up again.

"Very well. Take me there," The man spoke, and for just a slight moment, it seemed he had come to a realization about something the boy was not privy to.

 

[Stimpak Medic]

Chapter One: First Steps

Gareth decided to take the safer path down the mountainside when escorting the strange man back to his village. After all, he wasn't entirely sure that this man had made a full recovery, and being unbalanced when climbing a mountain was tantamount to suicide if one wasn't particularly careful in where they stepped. Thus, he took the longer route on a winding dirt path that snaked through the cliffs to where it split off into two different paths, which wound down to the village below.

The man had done his best to brush the clay out of his hair and succeeded relatively well, leaving only a faint reddish tint in his hair if one were to look quite closely.

During the descent, he would sneak glances at the man who had up to this moment followed silently while scanning his surroundings for anything and everything he could, as if he were expecting danger to pop out at any turn. Had he had such a catastrophic emergency that he still was on edge and jumpy despite having walked for almost ten minutes with no ambush or assault?

The boy stopped at the crossroads of the path that had branched in front of him. Two roads diverged from the singular path they had been treading down. The right-sided road twisted off into a deep forest of blue pines and large rocky boulders that refused to give way to the trees in as defiant a manner as stones could show by just existing. The path seemed to curve upward towards a large roaring waterfall, a good mile or more awa,y then travel down the river to the town much further downstream.

The Rocky Mountains had largely given way to lush grass and small boulders, with several variants of bushes that reached up to heights taller than the young boy. A Jack-Rabbit hopped towards the road, giving the passersby a quick once over with its large black eyes before getting distracted by something in the distance and hopping off with very little care as to the two people on the road.

The boy who had stood still for a moment turned to the man and said in a voice that seemed much more relaxed than previously up the mountain as he pointed down each road, "The path to the left is shorter but very rocky, and the right is long but much safer."

The man didn't take very long to come to a conclusion, and he said, "The left is good," and began down the leftmost path, causing the boy to break into a spirited jog to catch up to the man, who had taken off at an almost inhuman pace. It seemed that the man's patience wasn't unlimited, and he very much wanted to arrive at the village sooner rather than later.

With the path chosen, the boy followed the silent man as he easily trekked down the rocky dirt path that dipped down into a deep ravine, in which it skirted a small bubbling brook. The trees were sparse here, giving way to smaller bushes that clung to the ground like grasping claws. The leaves and little round berries on the bushes were fresh, being green and red respectively.

There were even blueberry bushes that were occasionally visited by large insects that would buzz and hum with their speedy wings and brilliant carapaces that shone with dozens of colors in the midday sun. All in all, they gave off the look of a scene fresh out of some novel, landscape painting, or animated movie.

It was at this moment that the young boy's steps went from a jog to half skips. He couldn't help skipping, as he always did on the way back to the village. It was what all the young children did, and for good reason. Skipping helped him think to the extent it was almost a habit to him, and he would sometimes even find himself skipping at inopportune times.

After the path curved away from the brook and towards a sloping grassy plain, the two could see the wooden-walled village, which had several large guard towers along its expanse.

While there had never been any serious conflicts for the past twenty or so years, there once was a bandit raid on the village in its founding days, so they built the defenses to a suitable standard in such a way that the town could withstand a modest siege from bandits. However, any proper siege would flatten the town in mere hours. A trebuchet or other such catapult would bypass any and all defenses, and that was to say nothing of Ballistae or a skilled wizard.

Thankfully, no such assaults happened in the history of the village.

Android 17 was beginning to get restless. He had humored the boy, but all this walking was beginning to irritate his feet. The rocks and uneven ground were beginning to poke into his shoes, which were not meant for mountain hiking or rough use. He noticed the village in the distance and smiled for the first time since they descended the mountain. The wooden houses with shingled roofs and the small steeple of the local church rose above the wooden walls, giving Android 17 a quick oversight of what to expect in the town. It seemed that, aside from the steeple, there were no buildings taller than two stories in height.

Also, there was a distinct lack of air traffic. Not once had he seen a plane in the sky or even the trails of some long-passed plane. No, it seemed that in this mountain there were no planes, trucks, cars, or any such vehicles for that matter.

As they made their way through the grassy plain, the boy sped up and began skipping full stride. His mood had drastically brightened upon approaching the village. Android 17 caught sight of smoke rising from several chimneys in the village, likely from an active fireplace or oven.

The two approached the town quickly, and before they arrived, the clatter of horse hooves and the rolling of a carriage's wheels over dirt was heard behind them from another road that rose from further down the mountain. The carriage, which was a large box model that extended long enough to fit a very long couch in both length and width, was drawn by four white horses that all bore cloth coats of blue with golden edges. The carriage itself was painted blue and had a golden house emblem consisting of a shield crossed with two intersecting spears. The flag of the house rose from the front and rustled gently in the mountain breeze.

Android 17 didn't have any idea what that symbolized, but the young boy quickly knelt down as the carriage passed by them on its way to the town. The coachman at the front of the carriage gave a disinterested glance at the two, fixing his top hat with one hand as he held the reins in the other. Not that he needed them, for the horses were splendidly trained and wouldn't spook or startle easily.

The boy rose only after the carriage was long gone and looked incredulously at Android 17.

"Mister, that was the carriage of His Grace Duke Joseph Platini. Why did you not kneel?" the boy asked, shocked at the man's brazen disregard for the etiquette everyone in the land should know by their sixth birthday.

Android 17 just shook his head.

"I don't kneel to anyone, kid," He said, and a dark look flashed across his face, as if remembering some horrible experience that was still fresh in his mind.

The boy, stunned momentarily, just stood there gaping fish-mouthed at the man's gall and impressive bravery. It was obvious that the man wasn't a Noble, or even a Vassal of a Noble. He was something else entirely. From his strange clothes to his reserved but bold demeanor, the man was an enigma.

Recovering from the shock, the boy gulped and tried to warn him of possible problems that could arise from ignoring the customs of the land.

"Don't let His Grace the Duke catch you badmouthing him. Who knows what would happen then?" the boy warned, but Android 17 didn't have much else to say on the matter other than an amused "He can try if he wants to do anything.

It wasn't hostility, as he didn't dislike the Nobility and the Aristocracy from a distance. In fact, as a very small child, he did enjoy the stories of fantastical worlds full of knights, dragons, kings, and princesses. However, that was removed partly by Dr. Gero in his recalibrating and programming of his brain, leaving it a distant memory of a faded past. It Moreso was his free spirited nature and impressive power that gave him the confidence to not kneel to anyone. Not after Dr. Gero. Not after Cell. Never again would he be a tool for someone else. He was free now, and he didn't have any plans of taking orders or kneeling to anyone.

Besides, from the quick glimpse into the passing carriage window, Android 17 saw that the passenger was a young woman who looked to be around eighteen or nineteen years old.

She had long flaxen hair that curled ever so slightly at the ends, and a thin face. He couldn't make out much more as the windows were only half visible through the open blue window curtains, and shadows covered her face as well. She was likely one of the Duke's Daughters.

Turning back towards the village, Android 17 waved for the boy to follow him.

"C'mon, we don't have all day," he motioned, walking closer to the village. A few minutes late,r the two came across the open gates to the village, and the two men standing guard greeted the young boy. It seemed that his coming and going was a common occurrence, and strangers were many over the year,s so they didn't spare Android 17 much more than a second glance, especially since he was unarmed.

The village itself looked much larger from the inside than when Android 17 saw it from high up in the mountains. The sounds of people talking, chickens clucking, cows mooing, bells ringing, and carriage wheels crushing small stones on the dozens of dirt roads that went about the village were quite rustic, and Android 17 got the strange feeling that he was either somehow in the distant past or in some strange alternate world.

This was compounded by the distinct lack of any modern technology. There were no electric lamps, cars, phones, or any of the modern necessities of the present. This town felt very much as if it had been pulled from the distant past and plopped into the modern day and age without compensating for the era difference at all. Also, he saw the signs on the nearby stores, and he couldn't read any of the wooden and metal plaques that presumably told what they were. However, he could see the basics of the buildings, as many of them had stalls in front where they were selling their wares, which ranged from smithed goods, furniture, baked pastries, to fruits and vegetables.

Several bystanders gave Android 17 a look over and were intrigued by his unconventional outfit. Two young ladies with brown hair and pale skin in yellow and blue bell dresses and bonnets respectively, found themselves captivated by this dashing stranger and whispered to each other hurriedly whilst sneaking glances at the man who had just arrived.

Android 17 could hear the raunchy things the young women said to each other, given his enhanced senses, and frowned. Normally, he would be flattered, but these girls were a bit too young for his comfort, being barely of the age of fifteen or sixteen.

Gareth spoke up from next to him, snapping him out of his discomfort.

"Would you like me to show you around?" The boy asked, now much more comfortable since he was in town.

"No. I'm good," Android 17 said, waving the boy away.

The boy nodded and addressed him respectfully.

"Well, it was nice meeting you, Mister," He said before giving a polite bow and scurrying off down a side street into the throng of busy pedestrians.

Now rid of the boy, Android 17 looked around him. Aside from the men and women in various clothes ranging from hunter clothes of leather and brown cloth to fine dresses, suits, and suit jackets, there were various animals. Dogs that looked akin to tame wolves leisurely strolled throughout the crowd, and occasionally a brown furred long horned Ox would tread up and down the side roads with several bags on its back that looked quite heavy and full of valuable items.

Noticing a man on the porch of what looked to be an open lawn restaurant leaning against the corner wall that was flat instead of a sharp edge in a gray suit that was made of a fine fabric, a monocle, and slicked black hair that was capped by a gray top hat. He seemed to just be observing the people passing by and taking in all the sounds. His face was sharp and had several wrinkles on his forehead that were very visible on his lightly tanned skin.

"Excuse me," Android 17 said as he approached the man, making his presence known.

The man who had watched him approach carefully responded in kind.

"What can I do for you, good sir?" he asked, tilting his head to the side slightly and giving the android a slight bow.

"I'm new to the area here. Can you tell me where this town is?" Android 17 asked calmly and to the point. He wasn't one for beating around the bush.

The man raised an eyebrow at him, but seeing that Android 17 was quite sincere in his words, he answered moments after.

"Our town of Dussel is in the northwest of our Re-Estize Kingdom. Does that help?" The man said, still slightly confused as to why he asked where the village was instead of what the name of the village was. After all, Dussel was far out in the mountains and a multi-day carriage ride from anywhere near the heart of the Re-Estize Kingdom. That was to say that you couldn't accidentally stumble into it by sheer happenstance.

"That doesn't ring a bell. Thank you," Android 17 said, now confident that his hunch earlier about no longer being on Earth was solidifying.

The man thought that he was awfully queer in his questions, but didn't say anything so as to not be discourteous. Many queer and odd folks showed up around this time of the year from all over the Kingdom to take the trails and look at the spectacular glaciers and meadows.

Android 17 turned away and looked to the sky. Staying in this village was not a good idea. He would need to find a city of significant size to find the information he needed.

He crouched down for a brief moment, getting odd looks from several nearby bystanders. Then, a bright aura of white energy flared around him.

Crack! The sound barrier was instantly shattered as Android 17 extended like an uncompressed spring and flew high in the sky, eliciting some frightened and amazed gasps from the people down below.

Now high in the sky, Android 17 looked down upon the mountains and lands before choosing a direction. South.

Shooting southward with a blazing aura, Android 17 searched for a city of sufficient size from his heavenly altitude.

 

[Stimpak Medic]

Chapter Two: The Capital

"Re-Estize. The city of prosperity. Capital of the Re-Estize Kingdom and bastion of civilization on the continent. Our continent. We've gathered here, Noble, Mercenary, Soldier, Adventurer, Commoner, and Royal alike to withstand the menace we could not face alone: The Monsters.

Across the northern mountains, our armies are fighting the monsters to a standstill... For now.

But the monsters aren't the only threat...Not by a long shot.

With our armies on the monster front, our closer enemies have become bold. The Slane Theocracy sends it's spies into our lands, and it's assassins lurk in every shadow. Our neighbor, the Baharuth Empire, is chomping at the bit to invade our border towns, and we can't let the home front collapse.

Demi-Humans on our frontiers have become emboldened, and entire villages fall to their menace. Our enemies thrive on brutality. They will never stop.

But here in the Re-Estize Kingdom, we will rise again, and we need you to turn the darkness back into light.

Who knows? Maybe you can be the next Hero of our Kingdom?"

-Excerpt from the Re-Estize Royal Army recruitment pamphlet-

In his flight over the vast land of the Re-Estize Kingdom, Android 17 confirmed his nagging suspicion about his situation once and for all. This was not Earth. Of that he was now completely sure of. The landmarks and mountain ranges conflicted with the data and geographical locations Dr. Gero had programmed into him in his moments of lucidity between his mad attempts at killing Son Goku.

This meant that Son Goku probably wasn't in this world either. Though it was not like he could know that, as he could not sense energy. However, this left another mystery in his mind. How did he get to this strange world? Had Cell been defeated? It nagged him to an extent, but it wasn't paramount to find out at the time. Right now, he needed to figure out where he was and what the situation of this world was. If space travel were possible and affordable, he might be able to find his way back to Earth someday, as his lifespan had been considerably extended due to his cellular do-over and the infinite energy generator the doctor had grafted into him.

He didn't know how long, but he very well could live for two hundred years, or possibly even much longer. It was a harrowing thought that he might live out two hundred or more years in a world without the necessities and luxuries of the modern age. As the lands passed on below him in a checkerboard fashion, as the fields and meadows in large squares of land drifted past, there was a certain peace to it. They looked akin to green and brown boxes all lined up against each other with farmhouses, barns, and little villages that shouted in their own way that the land within their wooden fences and stone walls was very much theirs and not to be disturbed.

After a while, the plains, fields, and meadows gave way, and the land became thick with lush forests and rolling hills. Android 17 even began to see strange creatures that were neither dinosaur nor human in their own habitats. Some were fought by groups of humans with archaic weapons like swords, maces, quarter staves, and even some that commanded magical powers.

The villages began to get larger, and roads became much more common, including the occasional carriage and cart traveling to whatever destination the riders had planned for.

There were more and more people who traveled the land the closer he got to civilization, yet the little hope he had growing in his heart for some greater technology seemed to be utterly and completely fruitless. This country truly was archaic in every sense of the word.

It seemed to be a cruel joke, and Android 17 entertained the thought that he might be in Hell for a moment, but dismissed it quickly.

Hell was not this forgiving. Hell did not afford such freedoms. Hell was likely much, much worse than this old age land.

Passing over several large towns and small fortress cities, something grew in the distance, and Android 17 had finally succeeded in his mission.

As he flew at a blistering pace, he came across a huge sprawling city that appeared on the far distant horizon. Even from his great height, he could make out the massive stone walls with their giant buttresses and towers that each held hundreds of patrolling and alert guards. This city was a stunning example of a Royal capital, as even from such a height, Android 17 could make out the magnificent flags and shining towers inside the capital.

For a moment, he pondered landing on the ground and entering through the gates, but that would be tiresome, and seeing the long lines of travelers, merchants, and citizens going in and out of the massive silver gates, he could be stopped and denied entry. A swiftly moving deep blue river traveled through the eastern side of the capital, where dozens of broad-masted boats drifted and sailed in and out of their own specially carved entrances and exits in the walls.

The vast city extended for over four miles, perhaps even more, and many buildings had risen over five to eight stories, which was massive for such a country where the prior highest he saw was barely three with the occasional four in the closer towns.

As he flew high over the city, he stopped just below the clouds and looked down at the complex and carefully planned mazes of streets and roads that crossed through the city, akin to a mass of pipes and machinery that created one large working machine with all its quirks and intricacies.

The city consisted of several districts.

On the outer rims closest to the walls, the buildings were shoddy, and the paths were mostly dirt. Carts and wheelbarrows were pulled and pushed around by people on the streets, and occasionally, a few men and women on horses would ride through and past the gates to the second district closer to the middle. Pigs and chickens trotted through the street, and there were many fights and brawls happening in that district.

Here in the second district, the roads were a mix of cobblestone and dirt, and the buildings were made of stone and wood. Also, there were the breakouts of shops and lawns. Small carriages and horse-drawn carts were much more common here. Guards now were seen lounging at chokepoints, and even further towards the middle of the city were large white stone walls that separated the noble districts that were much larger with paved roads and opulent buildings far removed from the squalor and filth of the outer rim.

Then, in the very middle of the city, higher up were the Royal castles and the Royal districts, which were segregated from the noble districts. Shining white castles and immaculate roads reflected the bright sun that shone down upon them, and men and women of high status walked to-and-fro in gardens and lawn parties, while opulent carriages embellished with gold and brilliant coats of arms rolled through the streets led by sets of beautiful horses.

Deciding that he should probably go to the second district first, then the noble district afterwards if he couldn't get help there, Android 17 descended down to a fairly quiet corner of the second district on a street that was flanked on either side by modestly shrubbed gardens. He had seen a large building where dozens of people came and went, with weapons and armor donned. Anywhere where there was a large traffic of people would probably be a good start to finding out about the world he had found himself spirited away to.

Touching down on the dirt road, Android 17 found himself somewhat relaxed. He liked the quiet more than the bustle of urban streets. Cities reminded him of when the mad doctor Gero abducted him, and that wasn't very pleasant to him in the slightest. Walking towards the large building in the path from his memory, he came across a wide street where men and women milled about in all sorts of clothes and armor.

Some had swords, bows, staves, wands, croziers, crossbows, flails, and even a woman in thick green robes had a large green scythe that seemed to glow with a sickly, putrid liquid at the long, curved, silvery blade.

Several of the combatants turned to look at Android 17 as he approached, and many of them were taller than him. However, seeing that he was unarmed, a few turned away. However, some were still cautious, and others were giving him a look over and taking notice of his appearance, probably wondering if he was a prime target to be robbed later.

Entering the large building through the wide open front doors without a trace of any nervousness or trepidation, a few adventurers had gained a good impression of him, whilst others were wary.

This branch of the Adventurer's Guild was one of the more Rough-and -Tumble ones, where there were dozens of iron and steel-plated adventurers, and even ten mithril adventurers were sitting amidst the throng of weaker riffraff.

Quite a few eyes fell on him as he walked down the open aisle in the middle of the large guild that was lit brightly with steel chandeliers and oil lamps that burned bright in alcoves in the wall.

The smell of Alcohol, sweat, blood, and cheap meat wafted from all around, tingling his nose with the unpleasant scent. He momentarily scrunched his nose and frowned, but made his way over to the counter where a bubbly brunette woman in her mid twenties, who wore a black suit that looked like a mix of a suit and blouse, and had a steel nametag over her left breast of her jacket, stood silently reading an open book that was likely full of records and information.

Android 17 couldn't read anything, which had quickly become a serious problem for him. Sure, he could understand what people were saying, but the words on paper, stone, wood, and steel did not translate to any language he knew.

There was a young man in front of him, hardly older than seventeen, in a small chainmail hauberk and steel-studded chaps. He had short brown hair that was ruffled a bit, and tanned skin from being out in the sun so much daily. He began talking to the receptionist about commissions before placing a paper on the countertop.

"Clearing out Hillsbury cave, huh? I didn't expect an Iron plate adventurer to try that one out. Very well, you can do it, but the suggested party size is two to three adventurers" The receptionist said, giving the young man a warning indirectly.

The young man chuckled embarrassedly at the reminder, and his grass-green eyes glinted with a youthful vigor.

"Well, you see, after what happened with the last party, no one wants to join me. Hahaha." He finished with an self depreciating awkward laugh.

The receptionist sighed.

"Yeah, that does make sense. However, I'm sure you'll find someone eventually," She finished sympathetically before shooing the young man away and motioning to Android 17, who was looking around behind him at the interior of the guild building around him.

He stepped forward and stood in front of the woman at the counter, which was covered in various books, pouches, scale,s and measuring equipment.

"Hello," Android 17 greeted the lady with a small nod.

She looked up from her book and gave him a polite smile, her green eyes flashing with a bright interest.

"How can I help you today, Sir?" The lady asked, giving Android 17 a chance to speak.

"I'm new to this city, and I want to find work. How do I sign up?" Android 17 asked. He needed money, and work was the only way he could reliably make it. Sure, he could just steal from someone, but he was feeling rather sentimental at the moment, and Cell was a real wake-up call to him.

He wanted to try doing things the right way, even if only out of curiosity, for a while, and if he really couldn't make money the proper way, then he could just do it in unsavory ways. In a city this large, there surely was an underground full of violence, bloodshed, and treachery.

Given his particular strengths, he was sure he could find a job, though, regardless of its legality.

The woman looked him over, and after making a simple no,d she gave him a few options.

"Well, you could become an adventurer partnered with our guild and gain all the privileges that come with our support. It's enticing, no?" She asked, giving a knowing smile.

Then she told of the other option after letting the first offer marinate.

"You also could do labor for a noble, or work at an excavation site as a porter or a miner. But I doubt that you want to do that," She finished with an amused smirk.

"You carry yourself like you're destined for greater things," She continued, somewhat carried away by her thoughts and barely hidden fantasies.

"I don't know if you're even aware of this, but not many people have the nerve to come in here unarmed, yet you strolled in here under the pressure of some of the guild's best without even any hesitation. I got to say, I'm impressed. The name's Susie Brigg,s" She said, leaning forward and sharing her name and observations.

Android 17 stood silent for a moment before answering. He considered using an alias, but if this was truly a different world, giving his name couldn't be harmful.

"I'm Lapis. My name is Lapis. Now, how do I become an adventurer?" He asked before catching himself and asking a question.

"No, wait, before that. What does an adventurer even do?" he asked, curious as to this strange profession.

"Wow, my hunch was right. You must be from far out in the hills if you don't know what an adventurer is. Though that's pretty obvious on second thought, seeing by your clothes and lack of visible weapon" The lady said before turning towards another young lady receptionist a few meters away at the other end of the counter.

"Lisa, get someone to cover for me for a while. I might be conducting an initiation. Mr. Lapis, follow me, please. Let's talk somewhere less noisy, she said before turning back to Android 17 and motioning with her hand to follow her.

Android 17 was somewhat enthused by this and gave the lady a chance. He followed her leisurely as she lifted up a hinged part of the counter and walked out into the lobby with him. Taking a right, she took Android 17 through a series of doors and offices next to the counter, stopping at an empty office that consisted of a table with three wooden chairs, each having its own maroon cotton cushions on them, a desk, and several gray cabinets that were likely full of official papers and records.

An artificial light hung on the ceiling, made of glass and lit by a warmly glowing milky white stone that seemed to be the functional equivalent of a lightbulb from back on Earth.

She sat down and offered the seat across the table to Lapis. To which he sat down and rested his arms atop with his hands clasped, awaiting the information she was likely to give.

After the two settled in, the woman began a short explanation on the duties and benefits of being an officially sanctioned adventurer.

"Mr. Lapis, an Adventurer, is, in the simplest form, a Man or Woman who takes officially sanctioned and legal jobs for pay from various sources. Be it from nobles, the Royals, Outposts, Citizens, or even farmers if they have the money to request adventurers. These requests are always double-checked for authenticity, and the money is always collected at the end of the job once someone accepts the request.

Now I must warn you that Adventurers are not to take sides in a war between humans in their official capacity as adventurers. We at the adventurer's guilds are neutral parties and can not be hired for such purposes, and our reputation relies on such rules; we could not be the continental-spanning force we are.

For starters, let's discuss the benefits of membership in our guild. First, we offer equipment on loan to high-ranking adventurers, and guarantee the safety of any adventurers we deploy for non-combat roles. We can make sure that bad actors can't hire you to set up an open ambush. Also, as an Adventurer and as your rank rises, you will be exempt from tolls, taxes, border permits, the costs of amenities, and at a high enough rank, we will no longer take a cut from any jobs you are offered. Not only this, but we have a very good information network you will be able to access from the steel plaque and higher.

What do you say? Sounds good?" She finished, giving him a broad smile.

"This does sound interesting. There's always a price, though. How much does it cost to join?" Lapis asked, giving the lady a look of curiosity.

"Five silver for the initiation and paperwork, plus five coppers for the literacy test. Also, whenever you advance a tier in the guild below gold rank, your plaque will be deducted from your promotion test job reward," She explained the cost as precisely as she could.

"Hmm. I'll have to get back to you on that. I have to make that money first before I get back to you, and find somewhere to spend the night" Android 17 said, getting up from the table with a curt nod. He didn't have the money needed just yet. He also had a plethora of other things he had to do before thinking about seriously joining the Adventurers' guild.

This Adventurer's guild did seem like a good idea for him to join, as an information network was a good thing to have, especially for him who was a fish out of water. Also, in the case that he didn't just fly across any border or country, having an Adventurer's identification would be a large boon. Less people would question him on why he was wherever he was.

"Alright, I look forward to seeing you return to join our ranks at the guild," The lady said, also standing up and leading the man out into the lobby again. There was no disappointment or worry in her eyes. Many people came here to learn about adventuring and needed time to either gather the money or come to their own conclusion, as adventuring was a dangerous job that had taken many lives of the foolish, and many that came unprepared to dangerous encounters.

With that, Android 17 made his way back onto the street with a new purpose. To make money and see what this Adventurer life was all about.

 

[Stimpak Medic]

Chapter Three: Blood on The Ground

The criminal underbelly of the Re-Estize capital is a very dirty and disgusting place. From slaves of all sorts, be they sex slaves, slaves used for work and suicide missions, to even child slaves used in strange rituals and sacrifices, you can find them if you look hard enough and have enough gold. You can find people to do all sorts of jobs here. Kidnappings, extortion, robbery, murder, embezzlement, framing, fraud, and much more are just some of the products you can find on these back alleys and even in so-called "Reputable businesses. Though it would be a miracle if you were allowed to leave with your life and body in one piece after not having enough money, or attempting to cheat one of the brokers in such a seedy, disturbing underbelly.

The Eight Fingers run this vile trade from the top down, being the bosses of the bosses that own the bosses of the trades and regular crime gangs in the city, and they have the power to back up their titles. No major crime happens without their knowledge, and even the minor ones make their way up to their ears if they want. There is a level of resentment between them, but half of the time, they manage to work together for their own twisted "greater good," which does not count as anything good in the eyes of any law-abiding citizen of good character.

With this in mind, allow us to take a rest at the docks over by the Adventurer's guild android 17, or Lapis if you so prefer had just wandered towards, thinking that work could be easily found at the docks where all sorts of goods come in and out under the not so watchful eyes of the Royal inspectors that likely have been paid to look the other way on most imports and exports.

He found the roads thinning, and the smells of rotting lumber, wax, and half-rotten fish assaulted his nose with their powerful and overwhelming stench from more than several streets away. He had a nagging feeling that he was being followed, and for the shortest of moments felt a pang of jealousy for his previous enemy Son Goku, and his ability to sense energy and life. Still, it wasn't like he wasn't able to sniff out the rats that were following him.

"They fell headfirst into my expectations," He said, somewhat irritated while rolling his right shoulder casually.

Then, with a blur, he disappeared from sight.

Jameir Valin was a henchman at the peak of the role of Henchman, and had almost ascended to the boss of his own territory of ten blocks near the harbor. He was quite tall, standing at a comfortable six foot eight with another two inches from his thick brown leather boots. His skin was leathery and pale, with several dozen scars across his body as proof of his tumbles in his barfights and from unsavory jobs.

His white, rough, and wispy short hair gave him a look of an asylum patient, but he didn't care. He didn't deal with the nobles and royals; he was the guy they called to extort and show how things went to would-be adventurers and travelers who moved into his district. The look definitely made a difference in how beginner and low-level adventurers would approach him when he inevitably came a-knockin'.

He wore a leather vest that was open at the front with black cloth pants, usually, though not without several daggers at the belt on his waist. And he wasn't far from his trusty one-handed mithril leaf-bladed battle axe. He wasn't small or thin for his size either, having taken good care of his physique, as his job required him to deal with the superhuman adventurers himself.

If he were to be judged by adventurer standards, he would very much be in the Steel or possibly even Silver-plated adventurer tier when given all his prep time and lackeys for an ambush. He was the perfect example of the best of his class, but below his betters. He was cruel by nature and enjoyed killing. However, he was aware of his limits and didn't overstep on a job. You don't become a minor boss in this city by overstepping and disobeying orders.

There are dozens, if not hundreds, of you, and many others below that want to become you in this city. They would be more than willing to take a job to tear you apart from below. Such was the delicate rope those on the lower middle of the criminal totem pole danced upon.

So, when someone offered a fairly sizable sum to teach a would-be adventurer that was too big for his britches how things went, he could do nothing but accept after hearing the terms. Though it was slightly suspicious.

Supposedly, there was a man who came into the adventurer's guild, completely ignoring all customs to have a consultation before leaving, without paying attention to one of the men they had in the guild who tried calling for him. Someone that confident was either a fool or strong. However, this was a man nobody had heard of or ever seen before. He was likely some upstart from out in the countryside who didn't know just how high the wall he was trying to climb was.

Naturally, that attitude could bring trouble and attention to people who didn't want to be seen or didn't like him. Violence and egos were almost never rational, and horrible things happen to the best of us for no reason other than that we just were in the wrong place, wrong time, or both subsequently. That was to say, not everybody needed some plan or reason to crush a bug, and when a bug gets dangerous and can possibly damage your business and way of life. Well, there is not much one can do to stop the inevitable clash of bodies and wills, and the bloodshed that would soon follow.

So, upon following his job requirements and collecting the down payment, he gathered twelve of his strongest men and women stooges who had been around at the time, armed up, and made his move. The man was said to be wearing clothes that were foreign to this city, and likely everywhere else. Also, he looked unremarkable, with black hair, blue eyes, and a normal body for a low-tier adventurer. Outside of his confidence, he didn't seem like much. Top that off with him being probably unarmed, and well, things were looking easy.

There was a possibility of a setup, but from the looks of it, there was no sign of a tip-off to the Guards and inspectors either.

As he found the man quickly and followed him down a few quieter roads, he was just about to spring the trap in the middle of a thin and less traveled side dead-end road. Getting his axe ready, he motioned to his men and women who had been around him, and the two who had been on the roof of a nearby building with bows at the ready. Then, near the end of the road, the man disappeared, followed by the grunts of pain and screams of his men and women from all around.

The cracking of bone, the squelching of bursting flesh, and the hot splattering of blood on the walls at the end of the road ahead of him caused him to look forward with dread. What he saw was a level of brutality only those willing to kill and maim could possibly do without hesitation at such a speed.

His men and women, or what was left of them, lay in a pile of flesh, quickly pooling blood, and split bone that writhed, screamed, and cried, while their weapons were shattered and split in a crunched up pile next to their flesh pile for lack of a better word.

"You know," He heard from behind him in a young man's disappointed voice.

Not waiting for any mercy, he swung his leaf-bladed battle-axe in a wide arc towards where the voice came from, swiftly turning towards his enemy.

Thwack!

His axe connected with something fleshy, but there wasn't any sound of blood splattering or flesh splitting. He tried to pull back the axe, but he quickly found it being gripped in between the pointer finger and thumb of his target in an unbreakable grip that was covered by a glowing barrier. The hands were completely clean of blood due to the barrier.

"Not good," He thought, quickly letting go of the axe, and turning to run. If he could run out into the street and call for help from anyone at all, he might be able to live. That was only if he could make it out.

Pushing his body to the limit, he shot forward with his superhuman strength and sped forward like a crossbow bolt, desperate to survive.

"You should have brought more people. This level is no fun," The young man spoke from the end of the road.

"Yes, I will bring more people. Just you wait," The man screamed in his mind, but didn't dare to say it out loud in fear of his almost ensured demise.

He didn't even make it ten meters before his left hand was grabbed, and it was almost pulled out of his body as he jerked backwards, grabbed in an unforgiving steel grip by the young man.

"HELP!" He screamed in terror.

"MURDER HELP!" He shouted, flailing with his other arm desperately. However, nobody heard or came to his rescue. The guards weren't nearby, and any inspector that might have passed by had been paid off long ago to ignore any and all such shouts.

Tears welled up in his eyes as he heard a crunch of shattered bones, as his wrist turned to fleshy bone powder. Then, he was struck on the head with a thunderous blow, and that was the last thing he felt before his skull was popped like a grape.

Android 17 grabbed the body of the man he just killed with an annoyed grimace, seeing all the blood that had sprayed all over his clothes. This wouldn't do. No. This definitely wouldn't do at all.

Tossing the body to the ground, he searched through the man's belt pouches and pockets for any currency he might have and found two separate pouches full of copper and silver coins, with one singular gold coin. Placing the pouches in his pants pockets, he grabbed one of the man's arms and threw it to the pile of dying men and women before extending his right hand towards it.

A blue ball of energy formed in his hand with a hissing and sizzling sound and shot forward with a vicious chirping sound. It connected with the pile for a second before a brilliantly blinding blue flash and a massive boom that shook the entire district, causing several buildings to quiver in their supports, and dozens of plants and items on the windowsills of other buildings to fall down onto anyone who was unfortunate enough to be on the streets below.

When the light died down, Android 17 looked at his work with satisfaction. What was left of the assailants was a smoking, tiny pile of ash that was barely a centimeter high. His job was done, but now he had to get new clothes, which likely wasn't a problem given his new coin purse. Seeing the rather large amount of copper, a slightly lesser amount of silver, and the singular gold coin, clothes of a modest sort couldn't be more than a handful of the round silver coins.

A weapon wasn't necessary. No, it would be a waste of time for him, as he was the weapon himself. Besides, judging by the weapons in his assailant's hands, they certainly weren't up to the high standards Android 17 had.

Removing his shirt, which bore most of the bloodstains, he burned it to a crispy ash with a small energy blast. This effectively minimized the amount of blood on him and showed off his impressively chiseled, slim physique. Android 17 was at the peak of its slim physique, with corded muscles and almost no body fat at all whatsoever. Given his reworked body, he had the bare minimum required to make his body not look like a skeleton covered by muscles under the skin. After all, to the mad doctor, looks were important.

Walking out into the street that had men and women running all about in fear, as some adventurers seemed to be shouting orders to bystanders, Android 17 calmly passed through the crowd and walked further away.

After some time, he confirmed that he wasn't being tailed and began looking for a clothing shop that likely wouldn't ask too many questions. He had moved away from the docks and towards a more bustling commerce center full of shops with open fronts, and large stalls full of trinkets, books, cloth sheets, spools of thread, and all sorts of scrolls.

Thankfully, on a side street, Android 17 came across a glass-fronted clothing shop that looked just shoddy enough to not be of great repute, but not disgusting enough to likely be infested by rats and bugs.

He stepped through the front door, and several bells rang from above the door as it closed behind him. Inside the store was a long, strange stone like that on the guild ceiling that let out a subdued white light from high above the wooden shelves and hangars. Long racks of jackets, shirts, belts, and vests stretched to the counter at the back, where a man in his late forties who had pale skin, parted graying brown hair, and a curved, thick moustache above his thin lips sat reading a book.

Android 17 walked up to the counter and asked a question, not bothering to greet the man.

"How much is a new outfit? Make it casual and black," Android 17 asked, causing the man to look up and raise an eyebrow at him before giving a shrug and asking a question.

"A full outfit with jacket, vest, pants, shirt, shoes, and underwear costs seven silver. Do you mind being measured?" the man asked, as in order to make an outfit for the man, his measurements needed to be taken.

Android 17 frowned. Being measured reminded him of the things Dr. Gero did to him, but this man was not Dr. Gero. He was a man who offered a service that required measurements.

"Fine. Make it quick," Android 17 replied, taking his pouches of coins from his pockets before removing his pants and burning them to a tiny pile of ash.

The man behind the counter saw that and gulped with a rising fear, but said nothing. He didn't want this crazy man to hurt him.

"Follow me," he said after a gulp, and led the android to a changing room in the back.

"Wait here for a moment, I need to get my measuring tool,s" The man said, motioning to the wooden sleek bench in the room across from a tall wall mirror.

Android 17 frowned but sat down. The sooner he got over this, the better.

A few moments later, the man came in with a measuring tape and several strings.

It took a few minutes for the measurements to be complete, but afterwards, Android 17 came out of the store with a new outfit. It consisted of a casual black overcoat, a black vest underneath over a white cloth button-up shirt, black dress pants, black socks, and new black sleek shoes that made him look very much like a scholar or teacher in the new world. The man wanted to give him a lace tie around his neck, but Android 17 was having none of it. Still, the man accepted the silver he helped sort from Android 17 after a threat that if he was scamming him, what happened to the pants earlier would happen to him.

Now looking somewhat more like a New Worlder and seven silver lighter, Android 17 made his way out onto the road. It turns out he had over ninety silver, two hundred copper, and one gold.

That was enough for him to eat and have somewhere to stay for a while.

Eating and sleeping weren't necessary for him after Dr. Gero had altered his body and implanted the infinite energy generator into him, but he still needed to drink water, much like Piccolo did.

The thing was, he didn't know where to go at all, but he could find out. He would return to the guild later and purchase the guild membership, but first he would have to learn the basics of the written language here, as he was at a massive disadvantage involving currency, books, signs, and anything written at all.

With a new goal in mind, Android 17 took to the air.

 

[Stimpak Medic]

Chapter Four: The Crows

Of all the things he had thought about upon his arrival in this new world, being able to understand the people speaking but not being able to read anything written was an odd thought for Android 17. It brought back memories of his past with his sister being taught how to read and write at school. The crazy part was that it wasn't that long ago compared to how long he might live.

That's right. His sister. Lazuli.

He couldn't help the frown that came across his face as he thought about her.

They were close enough to not attack each other, but she wasn't precisely the loving sister she had been when they were quite young. Dr. Gero had made sure of that. Whatever he had done to them had amplified their aggression, desire to fight, and removed their inhibitions. The experience that should have brought them closer together had instead fractured their kinship.

He wasn't entirely sure just how the madman actually did this to him and his sister, though he had memories of pain. Memories of agony. Many of those feelings still remained in his subconscious. Over the years that passed, the young boy and girl who had been kidnapped and tortured slowly lost that innocence. That spark of kindness that they once had was now almost completely smothered.

Lapis, who was once the young troublemaker who liked to read just as much as he did play pranks on people with his sister, had been utterly warped, twisted, and turned into a machine of ultimate death with only one purpose.

To kill Son Goku.

The thing was, Dr. Gero was now dead by their hands, and the remote that could turn him and his sister off was destroyed.

Yet that twisted desire to fight, to destroy, and to engage in combat still remained, baring it's ugly teeth.

He hardly had a problem with ending the lives of those ruffians who had tried to set up an ambush. They had thought themselves stealthy, and from a normal human's perspective, they likely were.

Unfortunately for them, his senses were amplified far beyond those of a normal human. He had heard their deliberate steps following him and the commands the big man had been quietly giving every so often. Still, he didn't enjoy killing. Part of him still considered himself human and was disgusted by the deaths he caused.

Still, that disgust was smaller than the indignancy of the ambush, and overshadowed by the fact that someone was out to get him for some reason he didn't know at all, and couldn't begin to guess. Now that their ambush had failed, there were a few outcomes in the possible future that he would have to plan for.

The first, and the most likely, would be that they would soon try again and set an ambush for him.

Persistence was something he was very familiar with, being one of the modified humans of Dr. Gero.

There it was again. After killing Dr. Gero, the man was still haunted by his mind, and likely would be for the rest of his life. This was something that could only be overcome with time.

The second possibility would be that he would be tailed but not assaulted in an attempt to gain information before another move was made.

Third was that he might be framed for some other crime in retaliation for not only stopping the assault, but for killing hired goons, meaning that he was now on the radar of some bad people. More trouble. Thankfully, he didn't need to eat or sleep, though eating was something he liked, and sleeping did make him feel human.

Though there was a very strong chance that someone might try to poison him in some way or other in the future, he wasn't worried about that just yet.

Walking up a long street that he had just turned onto, which was wide and covered in shiny cobblestone, while being overlooked by various wooden, stucco, and shingle-roofed shops, houses, and even a large brown stable long enough to hold dozens of horses at the end of the street.

Various men and women walked up and down the street, whilst a cart led by two dappled horses was driven by an impatient handler who shouted obscenities at a fat gray dog that had decided to stop and lie down right in the middle of the street, stopping the cart for the time.

With his new outfit and his confident steps, Android 17 found himself blending in somewhat better in the crowd, as there were quite a few commoners, shop owners, and Adventurers going to and fro. He was no longer a sore thumb at first glance.

Sure, he didn't have the fancy lace tie that many gentlemen wore, nor a brooch, hat, and cloak, but that could be chalked up to him being eccentric or odd in the case someone cared enough to ask him about it.

Besides, it was obvious that he was not an aristocrat, as the nobles rarely came to this district, and that was to say nothing of the royals that rarely ever left their districts outside of official business or some call to action. These were the deductions he came to in his brief time above and in the city.

What he needed to do right now was find something to do. Learning to read took time, and he didn't want to sit down and start studying. Not for a while at least.

Right, he needed to find something to do, but what did he even want to do? On top of that, what could this world offer him?

Perhaps he could begin to build some connections amongst the higher rungs of the commoners, or perhaps find some form of information guild. Maybe even if there was some sort of Royal Library that might be accessible to commoners. Though it seemed that the last one was a bit of a stretch.

Looking up into the sky that was beginning to fade a little as afternoon began to give way to evening, Android 17 did the only thing he thought would give him immediate answers. He took to the sky, appearing to simply disappear from where he was, followed shortly by a subdued crack as a small shockwave pushed a nearby man several inches back.

Now high above the city with a bird's-eye view, Android 17 looked for whatever he thought might be a library or some hall of governance.

A city like this couldn't operate without a strict and sturdy governing body, despite the rampant crime, so there had to be a long list of buildings that were occupied by those who worked under the King, Queen, or whatever system of rule this city was under.

Brushing a strand of black hair from his face, Android 17 flew across the city skies several times. However, due to the completely different type of architecture here than the one he was used to on Earth, he wasn't sure what the library would look like or where a hall would be.

He had narrowed it down to either the noble district or one of the cleaner parts of the second district, which he had now compartmentalized as the commoner and business districts.

Narrowing it down further from there gave him a grand total of twelve buildings that could be libraries, and six that could be offices or government posts. All he had to do now was check them.

Descending down from the sky slowly into a side street that only had one person in it, who seemed to be a sleeping transient that was resting against a building's brick wall, Android 17 landed with a soft crunch of stone and dirt under his feet. Looking around one more time, just to be sure he wasn't in the wrong place, he let out a soft breath before confirming his location.

Walking out of the side street, he found himself on a fairly busy cobblestone street where several men on horseback were going up and down the street, while well-dressed men and women talked in cafes and lounges that dotted the street.

Seeing these clothes that these men and women wore and looking at his own outfit, it really wasn't his first or favorite choice of clothing. He liked t-shirts and jeans far more than the opulent and well-designed dresses and regal suits that these people wore so comfortably.

Still, he was pragmatic more often than not, and he realized that fitting in enough as not draw more attention to himself would be better than sticking out. Especially after his run-in with the thugs. There was a chance that someone had seen him from a faraway window, and the person who hired those thugs might strike again.

Speaking of that, he did want to find out who did it, but his battle drive and bloodlust had caused him to kill those thugs without questioning them. Dr. Gero really had done a number on him, changing his personality that much.

Then again, it was, in a dark sense, to be expected, as the mad doctor had rearranged him completely on a cellular level. That included altering his brain. He is no longer considered completely human. The doctor had made sure to tell him that many times, whilst he was dormant in his pod, unable to move, but hearing everything that the doctor rambled about. This was no doubt intentional on the doctor's part, as Dr. Gero was a spiteful, driven man who wanted to impress that hatred, that malice, and that destructive desire into him as his tool.

On the right side of the street he had come upon, nine buildings down was a large four-story hall made of stone with a black tightly shingled roof that sloped from a sharp top. Six guards in dull plate armor and red cloaks with insignias on their breasts, each holding pikes with sheathed swords at their waists, stood in front of the open doors, occasionally inspecting any people who came and went from the building.

A large sign of wood painted white hung above the doors with the painted image of a black crow who had its wings extended wide. The name was in black lettering in a language he couldn't understand.

Making his way over, Android 17 walked up to the guards and spoke to the one closest to him, a tall, pale but healthy-skinned man with blonde hair that poked out of his open-faced helmet around his ears. The man turned to him as he approached.

"Can you tell me what building this is? I'm not from around here," Android 17 asked, not really putting much thought into his words.

The man looked him up and down with his ice blue eyes for a moment and seemed to come to the conclusion that he wasn't a beggar or vagrant, as he was far too clean and well dressed for a transient or beggar bum.

"This is one of the many branches of the Crow Merchant guild. Do you have business here? If so, I can call an attendant for you," the man said patiently, unsure of whether this man was a returning customer or a potential customer.

Android 17, who did not have a prior appointment, still decided to say that he did have business there. A merchant guild could possibly have an information network, and judging by the size of the building, it didn't seem to be a small guild. He didn't want to put all his eggs in one basket by only relying on the Adventurer's guild.

The guard straightened up and spoke with more respect now, seeing that this man had business in the guild.

"Follow me Si,r" He spoke, motioning with his hand to the open double doors.

Android 17 nodded and followed him into a spacious marble-floored lobby that had a high ceiling held aloft by thick marble pillars. Several couches of fine cloth with shiny, polished wooden armrests lined the walls where men and women were speaking and trading leisurely over equally polished and pretty wooden tables.

Further in was a long line of booths with glass barriers and comfortable chairs where people were discussing business. Clean red carpets with golden fringes were seen commonly on the floor, and the whole place was lit by the light through the windows, oil lanterns, and bright chandeliers of multicolored crystal.

The guard stopped in front of an open booth and motioned for Android 17 to sit at the very comfortable-looking, cushioned chair across the glass from a receptionist.

"This woman will handle business with you. Do let her know what you need," The guard said with a soft bow and turned away to walk back out of the building to his post.

Android 17 nodded and walked to the chair, pulling it to the side before sitting down and facing the clean, clear glass.

"Good day, Sir, how may we help you today? Do you have a membership or an appointment?" The woman spoke from the other side of the glass with a calm but pleasant demeanor. She was a young woman, barely past her mid-twenties, with a thin but elegant light face. She had fiery red hair, thin golden hoop earrings that had small green gems lining the edges, and her pale green eyes were full of life.

Her thin lips had a fresh coat of red lipstick. She wore a black business jacket and a white woman's dress shirt underneath with a black tie and a black crow brooch lined with a silver trim that rested upon her left breast.

That was all he could see from his side of the booth.

Android 17 shook his head.

"No, I don't have a membership or an appointment, but I wouldn't be against joining," he said truthfully. This place was much nicer than the adventurer's guild and cleaner. Also, it seemed like a reputable establishment at first inspection.

"Excellent. Would you like to know our membership fees before making any decisions?" She smiled professionally at him and gave the usual sales pitch.

"Yes, though before that, does this guild have information about this city? I'm new here and am looking to stay for a while," Android 17 replied, thinking for a moment.

"Of course, Sir. We have a network rivaling the Royals that stretches all across the Kingdom". The woman smiled a knowing smile as if she had begun to figure him out somewhat.

Android 17 thought for a moment before asking his next question.

"How much is a membership for an adventurer? I've recently arrived in the city and will likely be an adventurer soon. Is there a discount?" He asked whilst narrowing his eyes in thought.

The woman responded by simply explaining that depending on your plate and rank, Adventurers would not only get a discount, but could take jobs on gathering information transporting goods, Protecting caravans, and gathering materials for the guild outside of their adventurer duties, and the guild would pay for monster and gathered materials at a significant premium depending on the difficulty and status of the orders at the time.

She stopped for a moment to take a short breath before continuing.

"For a bronze to iron plate Adventurer, the price of basic Adventurer membership would be two silvers a month, and you could receive simple gathering bounties alongside monster part collection jobs, as well as access basic information at a small discount.

For steel to silver Adventurers or lower-tier Adventurers who pay for a year in advance, your jobs would be significantly expande,d and you can also go on information gathering missions for the guild as well as have a larger information network. This membership would also come with the boon of using the facilities of any Crow Merchant guild in the Kingdom free of charge. This included lodging, borrowing weapons, armor, scrolls, food, and access to the transportation network of the guild if there was space. This also included your own Crow brooch to identify your membership. This is the Silver Adventurer membership that costs six silvers a month, and is what most adventurers partnered with the guild own.

Finally, the Platinum Adventurer membership, which you can only access from the Gold Adventurer rank and above. This membership is the highest tier of membership and costs ten silver a month, but the fee is waived if you are an Orichalcum or Adamantine rank Adventurer. It had all the privileges of the previous ranks plus VIP services and priority in any business with the Guild or its subsidiaries.

Also, it comes with the privilege of priority on any job offered, alongside the ability to make orders and purchases directly from the guild's inventory and with any traders associated with the guild for free, with no questions asked. You also would get access to the Crow guild hideouts, warehouses, lounges, Mansions, and clubs. On top of this, the entire information network is open to you with top priority, with steep discounts. Any other privileges you would wish for can be negotiated upon attaining membership." The woman finished her sales pitch with a soft huff and a pearly white smile.

Android 17 thought for a moment.

It did seem nice, and six silver a month wasn't hard for him to get from what he figured. In fact, with his power, he was sure he could beat just about any monster and return with the corpse mostly intact. Though if there were monsters like Cell out there, it might be much harder than he thought. Some level of caution was needed on his part. Getting too cocky was exactly what led to his earlier defeat.

Should he bite the bullet and spend the seventy-two silver for a year? The man at the clothing store said one gold was one hundred silver, and carrying around big denominations of money was not something he wanted to do, especially if they fell out of his pockets in a fight, or when he was flying. It was best to keep smaller to medium denominations in case he lost them somewhere or somehow.

Taking the gold coin from his pocket, he twirled it in his fingers for a moment before handing it to the woman in a small square cut at the base of the glass.

"I'd like to buy a year of Silver membership," He said, feeling slightly reluctant as he watched the golden coin slide under the box and be received by the woman. She took the coin and placed it on a small silver scale to weigh it, then took a magnifying glass made of polished cherry wood with a clear crystal lens.

She looked at the coin through the glass, and a gentle golden glow emanated from the coin.

Satisfied with the results, the woman opened a carved metal box on the table next to her, placing the golden coin in a velvet compartment that had several other gold coins in it before taking two large silver coins, one slightly smaller silver coin, and three of the smallest silver coins. Two tens, a five, and three singles respectively.

She placed them in a small velvet pouch and slid the pouch to him under the square in the glass. He picked up the pouch and looked at the coins. They coincided with what the shopkeeper had told him earlier, but he wouldn't be able to tell a real from a fake even if he tried, so he just accepted them and pocketed them.

"Your payment is received. Welcome to the Crow Merchant guild. Normally, we would require your Adventurer's plate, but since you're new to the city and due to your payment, you have two months to return with your adventurer's plate for verification, or we will have to revoke your membership and ban you from the premises with a refund of course. Please wait for a moment while we set up your paperwork and prepare your brooch. Would you like a refreshment or beverage while you wait? We have quite good cooks here, and we have drinks from the finest wineries and breweries in the capital," The woman asked, giving Android 17 a kind smile.

"If you're looking for a meal, I would recommend either a goat sandwich with potatoes and turnips or beef stew. For drinks, we have a wide variety of Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic for when you don't want to feel the buzz," she finished. Not everyone wanted to be drunk all the time, and the Guild knew that.

Android 17 was quite thirsty, but he didn't want to get drunk at the moment, so he settled for a beef and cheese sandwich with a cup of fresh cider.

"Very well, come to the first door on your left and follow me to the Silver Member lounge while we prepare your food and paperwork. The lounge is a bit quiet today due to most of the members being out, but feel free to acquaint yourself with the other members," The woman spoke as she got up and walked over to a door nearby.

Android 17 made his way to the door she had specified, and it opened almost as soon as he reached for it. He stepped inside into a brightly lit hallway with clean air and red wallpapered walls that had doors on each side going off into other rooms and halls.

Following her, Android 17 was led to a spacious dully lit lounge that had a softly burning fireplace, long comfortable looking red couches, six large tables in a line that were mostly empty, and a kitchen with a bar that was tended by a bartender that looked to be a healthy light skinned man in his late thirties, who had short curly sandy gray hair. There were four desks and three huge bookcases full of books, scrolls, and doohickeys that were sequestered away from the rest of the lounge for a bit of privacy in the case one wanted to study or read.

"This is the Lounge. Feel free to use the facilities here and speak to the bartender, Lyle. I'll take my leave for now, but I'll be back with your paperwork, badge, certificate, and everything else you ordered," She said, giving him a nod before leaving.

There were six other rooms that connected to the spacious lounge that had equipment for various professions, including alchemical desks, and even a room in front of him across the lounge that had the sound of clattering gems and the tinkering of a ball-peen hammer coming from it.

There was a bathroom on the far end of the lounge to the right of the bar. The sign he could see was the symbol of a toilet. Thankfully, there did seem to be plumbing in a basic form here.

Sitting on one of the couches was a young woman in a soft yellow summer dress. Her blonde hair was in a half bob, and her purple eyes were squinting through wide, round glasses towards a blue leather book in her hands.

She looked to be in her early twenties, perhaps twenty-three or twenty-four. A blue sapphire necklace in the shape of a leaf on a gold chain rested atop her firm breasts that were sizable for a woman her age, in direct contrast to her slim, almost demure physique.

She looked up at him for a moment, and seeing his casual but fairly expensive suit, she gave him a warm smile with a gentle wave.

"Welcome. Come, sit and talk with me. It's quite quiet here with no one but the bartender. I mean no disrespect to him, of course. He's a kind man, but one of little words." She spoke in an airy singsong voice, and she seemed to be a kind woman at first glance.

Android 17 looked her over for any ill intent, but she seemed to be very much genuine.

Walking over to the couch and sitting next to her, he spoke first.

"I'm Lapis. Who are you?" He asked, deciding to give this pretty woman a moment of his time.

 

[Stimpak Medic]

Chapter Five: An introduction to the circle of lesser Nobility

"I'm Lapis. Who are you?" Android 17 asked the lady who straightened up on the couch, bookmarked her page with a blue bookmark that had been sitting on her lap, and placed the book down next to her.

She gave him a simple but calm smile and responded with the excitement that a bored lady with an overactive imagination like her would normally show upon seeing an attractive young man like him.

"Straight to the point, huh? Very well. My name is Lucy Whitley. I'm the second daughter of my father, Lord Lucas Whitle,y and a Steel rank support Adventurer in my free time, though it seems I've been doing much more reading than Adventuring these days, so my skills have rusted severely." She finished with a slightly embarrassed laugh that ended in a soft sigh.

She leaned forward towards Android 17, reaching her right hand out to him for a handshake. Her hand was slim, delicate, and unblemished. Android 17 looked down at it for a moment before seemingly understanding what she wanted.

He reached out and grasped her hand in his rougher hand that was much less fragile than the woman's was, and the warmth of her hand seemed to hold his slightly longer than he did hers as he gently but firmly shook it twice before letting go.

"Nice to meet you, Lucy. I just moved into the city and haven't fully become an adventurer yet, so I'm not familiar with the terminology of Adventurers. Could you tell me about the ranks?" Android 17 asked. The woman at the guild hadn't explained the ranks, but he supposed that she would when he finished his registration.

The woman tilted her head to the side in curiosity for a moment, closing her eyes before taking a long breath and exhaling slowly. Then she opened her eyes and spoke.

"I see you're not one for titles and customs. I suppose that's to be expected amongst adventurers these days, though I don't mind telling you the ranks of Adventurers, as everyone knows them, but I suppose if you are from far away it wouldn't be that queer to not know them" She finished with a bit of thought and tapped her right temple in thought with her pointer finger a few times in slow rhythmic succession. She seemed to be thinking about how she should proceed.

Then, she seemed to get a flash of inspiration before opening her purple eyes a bit wider as she removed her hand from her head and spoke again.

"The Adventurer's ranks start at Copper, then go to Bronze, Iron, Steel, Silver, Gold, Mithril, Orichalcum, and then Adamantite at the top of the top. I'm perfectly fine with my Steel rank, as it gives me everything I would need outside of my Title. If you want to know more, you'll have to go to the Adventurer's guild and take a pamphlet. I don't particularly feel like recanting what an adventurer does right now. Instead, I want to know more about you, Mr. Lapis," She finished, brightening at the end.

Android 17 realized that this woman was going to be trouble, but he didn't particularly mind too much.

Looking at her, she did seem the quick, interested type, so Android 17 got an idea. He should start with a backstory, and he had a decent enough idea. Dussel. That little town out in the mountains was going to be his fallback. It was far enough away that most people wouldn't bother to check, and most people wouldn't bother anyway.

"I'm from Dussel. It's far out in the mountains to the north, and city life is pretty new to me," He said, which was true. Going to the city with his family and then running off with his sister was how he got kidnapped by Dr. Gero. The family had lived somewhat outside of the city in a large suburban area. He wondered what it might be like to go visit his family again if he ever got back to his world, but now wasn't the time for that.

The young woman's face lit up at hearing the name.

"Wonderful! I have a close friend there. Surely you have heard of her. She's the First Daughter of His Grace Joseph Platini, Luna Platini. We used to take long walks on the mountainsides with our families as children on our vacations. She's grown particularly fond of writing to me these days. After all, the children of countryside nobility rarely come to the city outside of business trips, Balls, and when summoned by the Crown," Lucy explained, and Android 17 had a recollection.

The carriage he saw was with the pretty flaxen-haired young lady. The young boy had said that was Duke Joseph Platini's carriage, and inside was the young lady. Perhaps that was her?

"I don't know her, but I did see her traveling in her carriage. She seemed to be in quite a hurry," Android 17 recounted.

"Yes, that must have been her, and I understand that you might not know her personally. Personally, meeting the daughter of a Duke isn't an easy thing to do. Even my family visited the manor several times visiting the manor before His Grace even allowed us to interact. Ahh, but I'm getting off track here. How is Dussel this time of year? I heard that Winter Wolves had been harassing travelers on the mountain roads. I hope you didn't have trouble on your way to the Capitol" She finished with a polite gesture of concern that consisted of putting her right hand up to her heart.

Android 17 couldn't help but give a soft laugh. Wolves, trouble him? Bah, the notion was pathetic.

"No, I made it here just fine. Not that wolves could do anything to me even if they tried. As for Dussel. There are many people there, and there have been no attacks." He knew nothing about the town's history, and if anything had happened, he gave a quick lie and responded with a bit of the confidence he felt appropriate for the situation.

The woman smiled at that and responded, lowering her hand with a soft exhale.

"Ah, that is good. I didn't think you would have been troubled by them, but the mountains hold many secrets and dangers, so I wasn't entirely sur,e" she finished with a relieved manner.

Android 17 raised an eyebrow at 'many secrets', and asked out of curiosity.

"Many secrets?" He was somewhat interested.

"Yes! Luna wrote to me three times about the rumors of a Dwarven hall deep below the mountains and that it was full of gold and precious gems. Of course, she said that they were only rumors, but imagine it. An ancient Dwarven complex deep below the mountains, full of all sorts of treasures and culture. It's fascinating. No, dare I go further and say it's Fantastic!" She finished quite excited, fluttering her hand over her heart to calm herself down.

However, Android 17 wasn't as excited as she was. Not that such a thing wasn't interesting or cool, but being underground wasn't exactly something he thought was fun. He enjoyed staying aboveground and flying in the sky much more than living in deep underground caves. No matter how carved and ornate the walls were.

Seeing his nonplussed attitude, Lucy's excitement dropped several levels of excitement as if someone had thrown a cold, wet towel upon her head.

"I suppose I'm getting too excited over rumors," she finished, trailing off dejectedly while deflating a little.

"Anyways, that's not the only thing. I'm sure you've heard this one, but there's talk of Countess Florensia having her third child, and it's a son! Bless her and her Husband's hearts. There was talk of them only having daughters up until recently. Thank the gods it's not true. A good, balanced family is always the best," She finished before looking at Android 17 with renewed vigor.

"Say, Mister Lapis. Do you have any children? You're a good age for having your first son or even second child, and you're not exactly bad looking either. If not, I'm sure I could set you up with a kind young Noble lady, though she likely won't be from a highborn lineage," She asked curiously. In the Kingdom, Men would have their first children at the tender age of seventeen to their early twenties at the latest, and Android 17 looked somewhere in that window to her.

Android 17 who had never really thought about it outside of the occasional passing thought definitely did have preferences, but with the Dr. Gero situation and the traveling to a new world situations had completely removed that possibility at the time, but perhaps finding a nice young lady around his age and having a few kids wouldn't be bad, and he wasn't against it at all.

However, getting back to his world was important as well. Being in this frankly technologically underdeveloped world was not something he wanted. Yet at the same time, did he really want to go back? Back to the world where he was a villain, where he might be hunted down or killed? The Super Saiyans had likely grown much stronger by the time he would return, and he didn't have anyone here to train with.

In short, it was a choice he would eventually have to make.

Return to his world with all the conveniences of modern technology, with the chance he could be killed at any time, or stay in this old-time world and start anew with a family that wouldn't know his past. Each side had strong pros and cons.

The former was a world where he could live normally and lay low, perhaps even mending his relationship with his sister and visiting his family if he could find them again, letting them know he was still alive. Perhaps he could build a family with a young lady from his world. Maybe he could even find a job and give it the old college try.

Android 16's large form flashed through his mind. The giant android had a soft spot for Nature, and animals. He was inclined to agree with such sentiments. Animals, while possessing the ability to be vicious and violent, also did not carry that destructive and maliciousness that humans like Dr. Gero did, and he felt the desire to protect the small and cute ones. The innocent and kind ones that would not harm you are more likely to run away than confront a predator.

He thought of a doe and a small fawn he had saved from a group of trophy hunters when he was flying around with little to no destination in mind back on Earth.

In this world, there was nobody who knew of him, his history, the Red Ribbon Army, Cell, or anything from Earth at all. There were surely enough beautiful women to go around. From the little he saw, the people in this world were vastly weaker than him, but there could be much stronger people hidden amongst the city and beyond. It wasn't like he could know, as he couldn't sense energy.

And it wasn't like he hadn't tried. It was just that he had no teacher, and he wouldn't know where to start in the case he somehow wanted to find out the teachers of such a skill.

"Mister Lapis, are you unwell?" Lucy asked, giving him a concerned yet slightly curious look. The question did well in pulling him out of his thoughts.

"Oh, No. I don't have any kids. I was caught up in a battle I couldn't escape from for a while. Only now do I have time to entertain such options," Android 17 answered to pull himself back to reality.

"Oh, I'm sorry for being inconsiderate. I didn't know the Royal Army had been recruiting even over in Dussel. No wonder you're not caught up on all the rumors. What is it like on the Monster front? Or have you been stationed on the damned Baharuth Empire's borders?" She asked, tilting her head with a grave face. Even without the annual wars at the Katze Plains, the Baharuth Empire was quite quick to advance into the border towns, then retreat before the retaliation from the Kingdom could begin in earnest.

Android 17 decided to go with the monster lines, but referred to Cell. If anyone had seen that monstrosity, they would definitely call him a monster. It was unmistakable. Cell was a monster that absorbed any and everyone, leaving entire cities naught but empty graveyards. The only proof of his ever being there was the thousands of outfits lying haphazardly where those poor victims were added to his biomass.

"I was fighting a particularly strong monster, though what happened to him after I left I don't know, as I came here." He finished hesitantly before speaking again.

"He beat me once. But he's probably dead now," Android 17 said, thinking about how the Saiyans could probably beat Cell, or at least Goku could. If there was one thing Dr. Gero had pounded into him other than "Kill Goku, it was "Goku is strong. Don't underestimate him.

Lucy just nodded silently.

"I don't know much, but I've heard that there are some really scary monsters on the monster front. Perhaps you can come share some stories with me back at my family's manor? I would like to share more time with you over a meal in our Rose Garden, and well, this lounge is hardly the place to exchange a true and honest conversation," She said with a hint of a blush, giving an enticing offer to Android 17.

"I'll take you up on that, though I would need your address," Android 17 responded, raising his right eyebrow slightly.

"Of course. Allow me to write it down. If you're at this guild tomorrow at anytime past midday, you can ask for a carriage ride to the family manor. I'll be sure to cover the cost when you arrive if you would like it so, or I could pay beforehand if you want. After all, you're my guest," She spoke excitedly, now that she had gotten an agreement to her offer.

It seemed that she had grown somewhat fond of this mysterious young man from the mountains and wanted to bring him closer to her. Her earlier offer to set him up with a friend of hers was to test the waters, and it seemed the young man was somewhat receptive to her advances. Of course, some form of restraint was required for a young lady of her status, even if she was an adventurer.

Being too forward could set this man in an uncomfortable position, and he seemed to be a bit more laid back, and even slightly arrogant, depending on the topic. She liked that in him, and he had some of the prettiest blue eyes she had ever seen.

Getting up from the couch, she walked over to a nearby bookshelf that was made of a polished reddish wood and took a parchment from a stack that lay in a wooden box on the middle shelf that stood somewhere between her chest and head.

Next, she went over to the desk at the far corner of the room and took a pen and inkwell from a box that sat on the back of it.

Sitting at the desk for a moment, she began writing an address for him.

At that moment, Android 17 realized that he had gotten carried away by the moment. He still didn't know how to read, and by telling her that, he could very well destroy any connection he had made with her.

"Wait, Lucy," He called out to her.

"Can you tell me the address as well as write it down. I remember things easier when I both hear and read them," Android 17 said. It wasn't a direct lie. Doing both did help him, but it was more a lie by omission. While he didn't like maliciously deceiving people if he didn't need to, he didn't mind fibbing to ensure his safety or benefit.

"Of course. It's the Whitley Estate over on Millbury Hill. The driver will know where it is, as the Guild driver usually takes me there, and the Coachmen have a good grasp of directions as well, so you can't get lost on their watch," she half shouted from across the room, as her airy voice didn't travel too far normally. Thankfully, the room was quite quiet aside from the sounds of the adjacent rooms where other members of the Silver Tier did whatever it was they were doing.

"Gre-"

Whatever Android 17 was about to say was cut off by the lady who had gone to gather his paperwork, drinks, and food entering the room with a small black, silver strapped leather case and a wooden tray upon which sat his food and cider with silverware, a napkin made of fine cloth, and a small bowl of water in which to dip the napkin in the case he needed it.

Walking to a nearby table, she set the tray down and took off the plate and mug of cider. Then she walked over to the Android and handed him the leather case.

"Thank you for waiting, Mr. Lapis. Your papers and brooch are in this case, and any replacements will cost you, so be careful not to lose them. Is there anything else you need?" She asked him, standing attentively before him.

"No, I'm quite good, thank you," he replied, and the woman bowed to him before turning towards Lucy.

"Lady Lucy, do you need anything?" She asked, bowing deeper to the noble lady. Courtesy and Noble status, no matter how minor, were respected in the guild, and a good rapport was important.

Lucy shook her head as she finished writing down the address.

"Not at the moment," she replied, somewhat Blasé.

"Then I will take my leave. Good day," The attendant and receptionist said, turning and leaving the room.

Then, Lucy got up and walked over to Android 17, handing him a rolled-up parchment.

Android 17 took the parchment and placed it into his coat's right pocket.

"I do so look forward to sharing time with you tomorrow, Mr. Lapis. It was a pleasure having our brief but enjoyable conversation," She said, picking up her book and glasses that she had placed on the couch earlier.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Lucy," Android 17 replied, already thinking that he had just made his first foray into this city's nobility.

"Yes, that you will," She jubilantly replied.

Then Lucy turned from him and left the room with a content smile and a pep in her step.

Getting up from the couch, Android 17 walked over to the empty table where his food and drink sat, he sat down and took a bite of the sandwich. The meat was fresh and soft. The fresh cider went down his throat easily, and it wasn't too sweet or sour, sitting in the middle of the taste spectrum that he considered good.

All in all, at that moment in time, he felt satisfied. He hadn't actually sat down and talked with someone for quite a while after his abduction by Dr. Gero, so this was a good experience. Speaking again with the young lady wasn't a problem for him, though he was out of his depth when speaking on matters of this new world. Thankfully, Lucy seemed straightforward and forthcoming with her information.

It seemed that the evening was approaching, and he might have to find somewhere to stay for the night. Safety wasn't a big concern, as blades, claws, and fangs were all ineffective on him. Still, who knows what strange things might exist in this world? Also, he had made an unknown enemy. Though it was unlikely they knew where he was at the moment, as he had flown around quite a bit.

As he finished his sandwich and drink, he hailed the bartender with a wave.

The bartender, Lyle, who wasn't doing much except tending to the bar on the opposite side of the lounge, quickly made his way over to Android 17 and greeted him with a bow.

"Can I take your plate and cup, Sir?" He asked, seeing the empty plate and cup on the tray.

"Yes," Android 17 nodded, handing the tray to the bartender, who took it.

"Thank you, Sir. Is there anything else you need?" He asked.

"No, that's all," Android 17 responded before standing up.

"Of course, Sir," The bartender bowed before taking the tray back towards the bar and to a room behind it. Likely a kitchen or some room of similar purpose.

 

[To-be-hero-X]

Rare Android 17 fic watch

 

[Stimpak Medic]

Chapter Six: A Bit of Thought

Upon having the bartender take his silverware and plate away, android Seventeen wiped his mouth briefly with the napkin that he had dipped in the water for a moment, just to be sure, then he stood up and opened the small case. Sure enough, inside it were a few pages of fine parchment full of symbols he could not recognize. Next to it was a small silk bag that had his brooch inside.

He took out the pages and looked them over, but sure enough, he couldn't make out a word that was written upon them. This was a serious problem he needed to fix soon, but it also brought up a strange thought. How could he understand what the people here were saying, and they could understand him, yet he could not read anything? He would have to look into that right then and there.

It was a long shot, but perhaps the people in the guild knew about it, or at least could point to someone who did know about it.

Placing the handkerchief on the tray next to the small water bowl to be collected later, he started over to the bartender, who had returned from the kitchen and was sorting a few bottles behind the counter.

Android Seventeen stopped across the counter and spoke up.

"Excuse me, Lyle. I have something I'd need your help with." Android Seventeen started, and was met with the bartender's calm face as he nodded.

"Of course, Sir. What can I help you with?" He asked, putting down the bottle he was arranging and looking to him.

"Could you tell me if what people say is automatically translated?" He asked, going straight to the point.

"Ahh, you just noticed that? Yes, no matter the language that you speak, it's automatically translated to the person you speak to by some greater power. I don't know when this started, but it's been happening for as long as I can remember. Unfortunately, it doesn't count when reading or writing as much as I'd like it to." The bartender spoke, answering the Android's question straightforwardly.

Android Seventeen let out a relieved sigh. At least it wasn't something strange that only affected him.

"Thank you. This was getting into my mind. Now I can feel less strange." Android Seventeen said, but quickly came to another conundrum. Whatever was translating everything had to be affecting his mind, and upon further thought, he didn't like that at all. It had to be affecting everyone's mind simultaneously all the time. That was dangerous. What if what was heard by the other person was altered or edited midway? Was there any guarantee that it wasn't happening? Or that it wouldn't just spontaneously stop at random?

What he thought would be a simple conclusion just led to dozens more questions.

Seeing the Android's face twist in his worry and contemplation, the bartender gave his opinion.

"Pardon my interjection, but don't think too much about it, Sir. Many of the wizards, spellcasters, researchers, and witches have likely thought what you must have, yet there has been no conclusive evidence in the past twenty years. I used to study in these fields as a hobby before I got this job, and there have been no answers to our queries," the bartender Lyle spoke, knowing the feelings many had upon this realization, and he could guess to an extent what the Android was thinking.

"Hmm," Android Seventeen responded simply and shook his head.

"No problem, Sir. You've taken it pretty well. I remember a traveler who almost had a fit upon coming to this conclusion. Please forgive my forthrightness," Lyle finished before walking over to the table Android Seventeen had gotten up from, collecting the tray, bowl, and handkerchief. He returned to the kitchen behind a door next to the bar, and Android Seventeen could hear the sound of the bowl clanking into a sink.

Turning away with his case in hand, Android Seventeen decided to ask for somewhere he could stay the night from someone up front. After receiving directions and recommendations, he decided to go back out. Tracing his steps out of the lounge and back to the lobby, he stopped in front of the same glass booth as earlier and asked the same lady where one might find a room for a night or longer in the area.

This part of the second district seemed safe enough, and there looked to be many shops, clubs, and entertainment opportunities around here. He might have worried about computers, or some way of communication, before Dr. Gero's alterations, but now he didn't want to be within a mile of any computer, so the low technological levels had a silver lining at least.

Getting up from the seat and leaving the building, he made his way onto the street and saw the sun beginning the act of setting in the distance. It's light beginning to fall from the bright yellowish white to the darker orange of the late afternoon, where it opened to the evening. The buildings cast their warm shadows across the road, and there were noticeably fewer children in the streets as opposed to earlier, and older couples were walking up and down the streets, along with adventurers who had returned from their day's work.

The sounds of wagons, carriage wheels, and horse hooves could be heard from all around, and even those seemed to be drowned out by the loud voices of revelry, heated discussion, and outright conflict between citizens, families, and adventurers.

Android Seventeen looked up and down the road, and supposedly, there were several inns that met some of his prerequisites, but there was no singular one that met all of them, of course.

Still, there was one he found quite agreeable, and that was the Big Barrel Inn. It was a higher-end inn, and it wasn't too far to the east of the guild. It would be unmissable, due to it operating its own brewery on the side, so it had a stable and carriage yard next to it, as well as many large barrels on the yard and sides of the building.

It was a four-story inn that was much longer than it was tall, and boasted a good amount of privacy, which was a rare thing outside of the noble and royal districts. A singular night for one person in a good room was just short of two silver. Less than a fourth of what one would cost in the noble district, which in itself had a smaller amount of Inns, as many of the men and women living there had their own manors, which would house their guests.

Still, higher-end inns were peppered around, as visitors, high-level adventurers, rich merchants, and lesser nobility from other countries occasionally visited without an invitation from another noble, and they would need somewhere to stay for a few days to weeks.

It was best to find his way over sooner rather than later. On the other side of the Crow Merchant guild's building, opposite of where he arrived, was a long series of coaches, with their own horses and coachmen, with several simply resting on a nearby bench underneath a wooden awning with windows that was long enough to shield them from the rain and weather, along with a fireplace that was unlit at the time.

Android Seventeen took out his brooch from his container and showed it to one of the coachmen, asking if there was a coach that could be used to take him to the Big Barrel inn.

Sure enough, one of the nearby coachmen, a tall, thin man in his mid-fifties who had a square, pale face underneath his top hat and thick graying hair, stood up and walked over to him after a very quick confirmation between the coachmen.

"Hello, good Sir. I can take you there. Do you plan to get there quickly, or are you not rushing?" He asked, as around this time of day, the roads would be quite clogged, and anyone in a rush would find themselves late even by carriage coach.

"I'm not in a hurry, but sooner would be better than later." Android Seventeen responded, nodding to the man.

The man bowed to Android Seventeen, who just then noticed the man's brown suit with a laced shirt and a brown top hat. It seemed that the coachmen all wore brown suits that were less ornate than the suits on the men he saw walking to and fro on the streets.

"OF course. Come with me, Sir." The man led Android Seventeen to a black carriage with comfortable, cushioned seats and glass windows.

Entering, Android Seventeen took a seat in the warm carriage, and after a few moments, the sound of the horse hooves beginning to crunch on the dirt could be heard, along with the occasional encouragement from the coachmen.

Android Seventeen had very little experience with carriages outside of understanding their general concept, but in a stroke of luck, this one did not feel uncomfortable or hurt his back and bottom.

It was awfully slow, but it beat having to fly around looking for it and possibly missing it multiple times. The crunch of dirt and small rocks under the wheels and the clattering of the horse's horseshoes on the ground was a tiny bit relaxing, and just for a moment, he entertained the idea that he could live here. However, that thought passed quickly and was replaced by his thoughts on what he was going to do for the night.

He simply did not need to sleep or feel its draw. Sleeping was something he had to force himself to do, and many times he still couldn't do so.

After a while, his lazy thoughts seemed to mesh together, and time passed quickly.

Eventually, the carriage stopped, and the coachman jumped down from his seat and opened the side of the carriage for Android Seventeen.

"We've arrived, Sir." The coachman explained, his free arm motioning towards the large building next to them. As Android Seventeen stepped out of the carriage coach, he gave a nod to the coachman, who bowed to him before closing the carriage's door and walking back up to the coach seat where he would control the horses.

Sure enough, when Android Seventeen looked to the sides of the wood and stone building, he saw large piles of stacked wooden barrels. and a large cart that had several barrels atop it. Atop the front entrance, he saw a large wooden plaque saying something he couldn't decipher, but there was a carving of a large barrel next to the script.

This seemed to be the place.

Walking towards the entrance as the coachman pulled off, he found himself greeted by a merry sight.

Upon entering, the inside was quite soft and warm. The walls were a creamy white, and the lounge had several round wooden tables that were covered by a green tablecloth. They each had glass candle lanterns sitting unlit atop them. On the walls were paintings of various men and women and scenes of pine forests and countryside hills. Across from the tables on the opposite side of the room was a long crackling fireplace surrounded by three long green couches.

Brass candle sconces along the walls at appropriate points helped light the room alongside two brass chandeliers painted gold. The room had a soft, homely feel, and at the far end, across from the entrance, was a desk surrounded on each side by a door and a staircase next to it. Sitting on a high-backed wooden chair behind the desk was a young man in his mid twenties. He wore a black vest over his puffy white shirt and black dress pants.

He had healthy light skin, light blue eyes, and curly short blonde hair.

He looked up from the book he was reading, which had a blue leather cover, and greeted Android Seventeen. Placing the book down and standing up, he addressed the new arrival.

"Good evening, Sir, are you thinking of staying the night?" He asked with a polite and formal demeanour.

"Ye,s I am. How much is it for a week for one person?" Android Seventeen asked, counting his silver in his head.

"For a single person, we do have a nice room on the third floor that overlooks the nearby street for one silver a night that just became vacant yesterday. It comes with breakfast and dinner at certain times, and a bathtub with hot water. Would you like it?" The young man asked.

"Yes, that sounds good. I'll book it for one week." Android Seventeen said, taking out one of the ten silver coins he had and handing it to the young man, who, in return, took three of the smaller silver coins from a box on the desk, handing them to the Android.

"Wait one second while I get your key. "The man said as he entered a door behind the desk for a few moments, then came out with a pair of keys on a small ring.

"Please make sure not to lose these, as a replacement costs ten coppers." The young man said, handing Android Seventeen the ring.

Android Seventeen nodded and took the ring.

"Could you show me the room?" He asked, and the young man smacked his forehead in embarrassment.

"Sorry, Sir, I was caught up in my thoughts. I can't leave the desk, but give me a second and I will find someone for you." He responded with fervor before disappearing through the back door. Almost a minute passed before he returned with a young girl, perhaps seventeen or eighteen years of age who was walking quickly behind him.

She had long sandy brown hair, a healthy face, and bright green eyes. She wore a brown shirt with a long brown skirt.

"Hello, Sir. My name is Lisa, and I will be taking you to your room. Please follow me," she said with a chipper voice. It seemed that she was excited to get away from whatever work she was doing in the back.

"After you." Android Seventeen said, waiting for the young lady to take him to his room.

"Right, let's go," Lisa said and led Android Seventeen over to the stairs on the right side of the desk that were going upwards.

The walk to the third floor was mostly quiet, but two-thirds of the way through, the young lady spoke up.

"Oh, right, Sir. The dinner period is still active right now, so after you settle in, feel free to come down and eat your fill." She exclaimed as if she had only now just realized she had forgotten something.

That sounds good." Android Seventeen responded halfheartedly, as he didn't feel like eating, especially after he just finished not too long ago.

He didn't eat much, only really needing to drink. However, he assumed that revealing such things would likely make him seem odd.

When they arrived in front of a thick wooden door with a small metal plaque in the middle of it, the young lady stopped, motioning him to come over.

"This is your room. If you want hot water, I'm afraid you'll have to set it up beforehand so a bellboy can bring it to you at the correct time." She said, explaining how it worked.

"All right. Is there anything else that I should know?" Android Seventeen asked, curious as to how things worked.

"Yes, now that you ask, we do have a maid who washes clothes on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in the morning around ten. So tomorrow she'll be here for her Wednesday cleaning," she explained.

"Great," Android Seventeen replied before placing his key in the door and opening it.

Sure enough, greeting him was an average-sized room with the same cream walls, a desk, a medium-sized bed with two pillows, sheets, and a thick blanket. A table sat in a corner with two chairs, and a closet sat closed next to a grandfather clock. A cabinet of polished redwood stood ready for any and all clothes that would be placed in it, and a large soft blue carpet covered a large square portion of the wooden floor.

There was a large double window facing a nearby street that passed by the backyard beneath the window.

"Well, it was nice meeting you, Sir. I hope you enjoy your stay." The young lady spoke from the open door, pulling him from his thoughts.

"Right. Take care." Android Seventeen turned and waved her off.

However, instead of instantly leaving, the young lady began looking sheepishly at him with a faint blush on her cheeks. Her hands were clasped and she kept looking to the side before she gained the bravery to speak up.

"W-well, I was wondering...Could you tell me your name?" She finished, somewhat embarrassed and sheepish.

Seeing him just silently look at her, she dropped her head down and apologized.

Seeing how pathetic and timid the girl looked, Android Seventeen sighed and responded.

"My name is Lapis." He answered, and almost instantly, the young lady's demeanor did a 180, and she brightened up dramatically.

"Thank you." She cheered with a small hop and then scurried off.

Android Seventeen didn't have much experience with the opposite sex, but it wasn't like he was scared of them or nervous. It was just so new to him after his years in the torture of Mad Doctor Gero. So many things were new to him, and he didn't really have much of a chance to explore and enjoy the fruits of his youth before he was turned into whatever he was now.

Closing the door, he decided to take his first rest in a while. Perhaps he could sort his thoughts out. Removing his shirt, vest, and jacket, Android 17 lay down on the bed and shut his eyes.

His thoughts seemed to be drifting around his head like lazy afternoon clouds, tugged and twisted by the simplest of pulls by his mind.

Firstly, his mind went to his awakening. That strange mountain. That young boy. The weird town, and eventually this large city. Then, his visit to the guild, his ambush, his escape, and the purchase of these new clothes. Getting rid of that Red Ribbon shirt was the best thing he could do. He didn't want to be constantly reminded of his torturer. That vile doctor and his experiments on him and his sister could make anyone empty their stomachs just upon hearing what the man did.

Then Cell. That monster had absorbed him. Yet he awoke here in this strange world. There was only one answer. The Dragon Balls. Dr Gero had ranted about them a few times while he was lying in his pod. But who would waste a wish on him, or him and his sister? Almost nobody knew who they were.

Then a realization struck him.

The midget. That little bald man seemed to have a thing for his sister, who, strangely enough, reciprocated those feelings. That had to be it. There was nobody else who could. That also meant that Cell had likely been defeated.

Just like that, a heavy weight was removed from his chest.

He didn't need to worry about Cell finding him here. As he lay there, a smile crossed his lips. Just like that, his biggest worry was gone.

Then his thoughts wandered to Lucy, the young noble lady who was also an adventurer. She was pretty and had an outgoing attitude, but he wasn't smitten with her. He didn't think he could be smitten with any woman just yet. He wanted to go home, not pursue a relationship or a marriage just yet.

Still, the two did have a date, yes, he supposed it was a date. It was tomorrow, and he didn't particularly mind. If anything, she could perhaps show him the ropes of this new world. He wouldn't mind sharing more intimate time with her as well.

Then his thoughts moved to his assailants, and the placid feeling he had recently regained was suddenly shattered. They seemed an organized sort. They were all incredibly weak, barely stronger than the average human. Yet they were exclusively looking for him. Why? He didn't know. Perhaps they thought he was an easy target to be robbed? Even if that was true, why bring so many people?

Well, he did enter the adventurer's guild. Perhaps they thought he might have been a strong would-be adventurer and wanted to tear him down? Still, he wasn't going to forgive the one who hired them. In fact, he was going to find him or her and give them a piece of his mind, and more. The next time someone showed up to start a conflict, he would try to interrogate them.

How good he was at that, well, that was still up for question.

More thoughts and plans flashed through his mind, and before he realized it, he had fallen asleep.