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Chapter 7: Invasion on Chi-Chi

Twenty-three hovered high above the lush, rolling mountains of Mount Paozu, her eyes scanning the terrain below. According to her data, this was where Goku's family resided—Gohan's home. The information was pulled from extensive databases Dr. Gero had meticulously crafted over years of study and surveillance. If Gohan's mother, Chi-Chi, was still alive, it was no wonder. She lived deep in the wilderness, far from any cities the androids regularly visited.

The mountains stretched far and wide, their peaks touching the sky. The isolation struck Twenty-three immediately. "Of course she'd survive," she murmured to herself, calculating the odds. No android had reason to come here. It was too remote, too peaceful. Chi-Chi was smart—hiding her family in a place so isolated made it easy to avoid the chaos caused by her, Seventeen, and Eighteen.

As Twenty-three descended, the small house nestled between the trees came into view. It was quaint—simple, yet sturdy. A wisp of smoke from the chimney indicated life inside, confirming the house was inhabited. She floated down, her shoes touching the ground soundlessly. For a moment, she stood still, staring at the modest structure.

"Let's try being polite for once," she muttered, more to herself than anything else.

She walked to the front door, her footsteps light. There was a strange feeling inside her—something unfamiliar. Was it curiosity? No, it was more than that. The data she had on Gohan's mother intrigued her. A woman who had raised a warrior like Gohan, and had been the wife of Goku, was someone worth observing.

Twenty-three raised her hand and knocked gently on the wooden door. The sound was quiet, almost respectful. She waited. Seconds turned into minutes. Impatience bubbled beneath the surface of her controlled exterior. When no one answered, her fingers twitched, and her brow furrowed.

"Of course," she sighed, her patience evaporating.

With a swift kick, the door splintered and flew off its hinges, crashing into the house with a deafening thud. Twenty-three stepped inside, unbothered by the destruction, her eyes scanning the simple interior. It was a cozy home. She could see the kitchen in the back, a small living room, and stairs leading to the second floor.

She walked deeper into the house, stepping cautiously toward the kitchen. The air inside was filled with the scent of fresh vegetables, and the countertops were cluttered with pots and pans, evidence that someone had been cooking. Twenty-three took in the scene, her mind assessing every detail when—

CLANG!

A pan slammed against the back of her head with all the force its wielder could muster, but the metal merely dented, and Twenty-three barely felt a thing. She slowly turned around, her expression flat as she met the furious gaze of a middle-aged woman—Chi-Chi. Her grip on the dented frying pan was tight, her stance tense and protective.

"Who do you think you are, barging into my house like this?!" Chi-Chi snapped, her voice fierce and unyielding. Behind her, a towering figure—her father, the Ox King—was already moving, rushing toward Twenty-three with surprising speed for a man of his size.

"Get out of here, Dad!" Chi-Chi shouted. "I'll handle this! You need to go, now!"

The Ox King hesitated, his massive form casting a long shadow across the room. "I'm not leaving you to face an android alone, Chi-Chi!" he roared, his voice booming through the small house. He charged at Twenty-three, swinging a massive fist with all his might.

Twenty-three sighed, sidestepping the Ox King's attack effortlessly. As he stumbled past her, she reached out and gently shoved him, sending him sprawling backward. He crashed into a nearby chair, his breath knocked out of him, but otherwise unharmed.

"You're lucky I'm not in the mood for this," Twenty-three muttered under her breath, before turning her attention back to Chi-Chi.

Chi-Chi, undeterred by her father's failed attempt, stood her ground, her eyes blazing with defiance. "What do you want?" she demanded. "Why are you here? If you're here to kill me, you'll have to try harder than that."

Twenty-three raised an eyebrow, impressed by the fire in Chi-Chi's eyes. "I'm not here to kill anyone," she said, her voice calm. "I'm looking for Gohan's mother."

Chi-Chi's expression shifted from defiance to anger in an instant. "What have you and the other androids done to my son?!" she shouted, gripping the frying pan even tighter, her knuckles turning white. "If you've hurt him—"

"We haven't hurt Gohan," Twenty-three interrupted, her tone growing more serious. "Not yet, at least. Your son is strong. He's become... an interesting opponent."

Chi-Chi's eyes narrowed, suspicion etched into every line of her face. "Then why are you here? What do you want with me?"

Twenty-three took a slow step forward, her gaze steady. "I've heard a lot about you, Chi-Chi. My data tells me you're the one who raised Gohan—trained him to be a scholar, kept him away from fighting. That interests me. I want to understand why a woman like you would allow her son to fight... to risk his life."

Chi-Chi's lips pressed into a thin line. "I don't have to explain myself to you," she snapped, her voice shaking with a mixture of fear and fury. "You don't understand what it means to protect your family. Gohan fights because he has to—to protect this world and everyone in it. I would never let him if there were another way!"

Twenty-three considered Chi-Chi's words, a strange flicker of something unfamiliar stirring inside her. "You say that," she replied slowly, "yet Gohan has always been drawn to battle us. It's in his blood. He's the son of Goku, after all."

Chi-Chi's face twisted in pain at the mention of her husband. "Goku..." she whispered, her voice softening for a brief moment before hardening once more. "Gohan may be Goku's son, but he's also my son. I raised him. I taught him everything he knows."

Twenty-three stared at Chi-Chi for a long moment, her mind processing the emotions she was witnessing. This woman—this human—was fierce in her love for her family. It intrigued her, though she couldn't quite understand why.

"You're stronger than I expected," Twenty-three said finally, her voice quiet. "Not physically, but... in other ways."

Chi-Chi frowned, unsure of how to respond. "What do you mean?"

Twenty-three's gaze remained steady on Chi-Chi, the brief flicker of curiosity in her eyes now replaced by the cold, calculating look Chi-Chi had come to expect from androids. "Enough chit-chat," she said, her voice cutting through the tension in the room like a blade. "I'm not here to exchange pleasantries."

Chi-Chi gripped the frying pan harder, her knuckles white. "Then what do you want?" she spat, her tone defiant.

Twenty-three's expression didn't change. "Gohan mentioned you," she began slowly, almost thoughtfully. "He said you were the best cook he ever knew." She paused, watching for Chi-Chi's reaction. "So, I want you to teach me. Teach me to cook the way you do."

Chi-Chi blinked, momentarily thrown off by the request. Of all the things she could have expected from this encounter, cooking lessons hadn't even been on the list. "You want me to teach you to cook?" she repeated incredulously, her voice rising in disbelief. "After everything you and the other androids have done? You think I'd help you?"

Twenty-three met her eyes coolly, unfazed by the outburst. "Yes."

Chi-Chi's face flushed with anger, her fury barely contained. "You think I would ever teach you anything after what you've done to this world? Because of you, my friends are dead. Gohan's dream of becoming a scholar—gone, because he has to fight you monsters every day! He's out there risking his life because of you!" Her voice cracked with emotion, but she stood her ground, refusing to back down.

Twenty-three seemed almost amused by her refusal, a smirk playing at the corner of her lips. She raised her hand, and instantly, a ball of energy began to form in her palm, its light casting an eerie glow over the room. The sudden shift in the atmosphere made the tension unbearable.

"You're in no position to refuse," Twenty-three said, her voice dangerously calm. "You either teach me, or I turn this place—and you—into ashes. Lights out for you and your father."

Chi-Chi's heart pounded in her chest, but she held her ground. "Go ahead," she challenged, though her voice wavered. "Do it, if that's what you came for."

The Ox King, still slumped against the chair where Twenty-three had tossed him, suddenly rose to his feet. His large frame shook with fear, but he stepped forward, placing a hand on Chi-Chi's shoulder. "Chi-Chi," he urged, his deep voice trembling. "Think of Gohan. Think of him. What will he do if we die here today?"

Chi-Chi's resolve faltered, the weight of her father's words sinking in. She clenched her teeth, torn between her defiance and the crushing fear of leaving her son alone in the world.

Twenty-three watched the exchange with cool detachment, her hand still raised, the energy ball glowing steadily. "It's simple, really," she said. "You give me what I want, and I'll leave. No harm done. Refuse, and your son will be without a mother or a grandfather." She paused, letting her words sink in. "What's in it for you? I'll make sure the other androids stay away from Gohan as much as possible. I won't promise safety, but I'll do my best to keep him out of harm's way."

Chi-Chi's eyes narrowed with suspicion. "Why should I believe anything you say? You're an android. You don't care about us."

"You don't have to trust me," Twenty-three replied coolly. "But you don't have many choices, do you?"

The Ox King's grip on Chi-Chi's shoulder tightened. "Chi-Chi, please," he urged. "We have to trust her, for Gohan's sake. We can't leave him to fight this battle alone."

Chi-Chi's gaze dropped to the floor, her mind racing. Her instincts screamed not to trust Twenty-three, not to give in to this cold, calculating machine standing in her kitchen. But the image of Gohan—alone, fighting these androids day after day—flashed in her mind. He was all she had left, and if there was even the slightest chance this deal could keep him safe...

With a sigh of defeat, Chi-Chi looked up at Twenty-three. "Fine," she said through gritted teeth. "I'll teach you how to cook. But if you lay a hand on Gohan after this, I'll make sure you regret it."

Twenty-three lowered her hand, the energy ball dissipating as quickly as it had formed. "Smart choice," she said, a faint trace of approval in her voice. "Let's get started."

Chi-Chi glanced back at her father, who gave her a solemn nod. She turned toward the kitchen, the weight of her decision heavy on her shoulders. "You'd better keep your end of the deal, android," she muttered, reaching for a cutting board.

Twenty-three leaned against the counter, watching Chi-Chi's every move with a mix of curiosity and calculation. "I always keep my word," she replied evenly.

As Chi-Chi began gathering ingredients, she couldn't shake the feeling of dread gnawing at her insides. She was about to teach an android—one of the very beings responsible for the destruction of her world—how to cook. Yet, deep down, she knew this was the only way to ensure she'd see Gohan again. And if teaching this machine gave her even the slightest advantage in keeping her son safe, she'd do it, no matter how much it sickened her.

The lesson began in silence, Chi-Chi chopping vegetables with precise, angry movements, while Twenty-three observed with the intensity of someone processing data. It felt surreal—like some twisted game where the stakes were life and death. As Chi-Chi taught the android how to knead dough and season a dish properly, she kept her thoughts focused on Gohan, praying that this unthinkable alliance would be worth it in the end.

But even as she worked, she couldn't help but wonder how long this fragile agreement would hold—and what the android's true motives were.

——

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