Chapter 10: Friend in the Snow – Android 8
The morning after Muscle Tower's destruction dawned in brilliant hues across the frozen horizon. Snow blanketed the forest like a soft ocean of white, glistening under the rising sun. Aera lay half-buried in a snowbank, only her spiky hair and tail visible, wiggling gently.
"Mmm… warm snow…" she mumbled.
Goku, already up and preparing breakfast over a small fire, chuckled. "Snow's not warm, Aera."
"It is if you hug it hard enough…"
Their journey took them east, following the Dragon Radar's signal toward a quiet village nestled at the edge of a frozen lake. But instead of peace, they found fear.
Doors slammed shut. Curtains were drawn. The village was under Red Ribbon control.
"They've been taking our supplies," an old woman whispered to them in secret. "They have a monster living in the mountains—a giant. We tried fighting back, but…"
Goku and Aera exchanged a look.
"We'll help!" they said in unison.
---
Tracking strange footprints through the woods, they discovered a small wooden cabin. It was old and crumbling, yet well-maintained. Smoke puffed from the chimney.
Aera peeked through the window. "Big guy inside!"
Goku knocked.
The door creaked open, revealing a towering figure—metal bolts in his head, a flat-top haircut, and sad, intelligent eyes.
"I am Android 8," he said softly. "You should leave. The Red Ribbon Army watches me."
"We're not scared of them," Goku said. "We beat up their whole tower yesterday!"
Aera beamed. "Hi! I'm Aera! You're really tall. Do you like hugs?"
Android 8 blinked. "...I do."
She hugged his leg. "You're nice. You don't feel like a bad guy."
"I am… not like them. I was made to hurt. But I don't want to."
Goku nodded. "Then help us stop the ones who do."
Android 8 hesitated. Then… slowly… nodded.
---
Back in the village, a small Red Ribbon outpost guarded by tanks and a mini-commander, Major White's subordinate, was terrorizing the locals.
Android 8, Goku, and Aera arrived together.
"INCOMING! IT'S THE BRAT AND THE GIRL!" a soldier shouted.
The commander stepped out. "And the defect android. Traitor!"
He pressed a button on a remote.
Android 8 staggered.
"Pain chip activated," the commander grinned. "Let's see how loyal you really are."
Android 8 dropped to his knees, grunting.
"No!" Aera shouted, leaping forward. Her eyes flared with power.
Goku jumped into action as well, disabling turrets and knocking out soldiers.
The commander tried to flee. Aera stopped him with a flick to the forehead.
"Ow! Ow! Ow!"
"Give me the clicky box," she demanded.
Terrified, he handed over the remote.
She crushed it like a cookie.
Android 8 stood, breathing heavily. The pain was gone.
"You… helped me."
Aera held his big hand. "Friends help friends."
---
The village rejoiced. Supplies were returned. Children hugged Android 8's legs.
"I've never… felt this before," he whispered.
"It's called being loved," Goku said with a smile.
---
That night, they sat around a campfire.
Aera danced in the snowlight, tail swishing, hair glowing faintly.
Android 8 watched her. "She's… like sunshine."
"She's always like that," Goku said. "Even when she's punching people through walls."
Android 8 smiled.
"I will travel with you," he said.
"Yay!" Aera cheered. "More friends!"
And so, their journey continued—with a gentle giant now among their ranks.
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End of Chapter 10