[1] Group 1 - Hospital

[Android 17]

The android had no clue what the girl represented, but he knew his mental state had not declined so far that he was seeing things. Leaving the young girl was something the machine-hybrid would not have done under similar circumstances, but at the moment the others needed his help. Seventeen hit the bottom of the stairs and took them two at a time?interested in what all the commotion was. The scene was something straight from a cheesy horror movie. The corpses that littered the entrance to the hospital were now shifting around on the ground. Android Seventeen was mystified by what he saw. Their decomposing form defied all natural laws, but still the zombies managed to move and moan. The android was examining them, eying each and every one of the corpses like a scientist. None of them had much skin left on their bones. Some had their exposed organs dangling in the air.

Android Seventeen was pushed forward by one of the creatures. More of the reanimated corpses had found their way up the stairs. The monstrosity unleashed a moan, a mixture of hunger and sadness, before sinking its stained teeth into the android?s neck. Seventeen screamed out as the jagged, aged mandibles sunk into his skin. The flesh gave way and the machine-hybrid felt his blood start pouring from the wound. The monster let go, raising its head to prepare to take another chunk out of the machine-hybrid?s neck, but the android was not content with letting that happen. Pushing up from the ground violently, the corpse tumbled off Seventeen?s back and onto the dusty tile floor. Android Seventeen quickly hopped up to his feet and prepared for what was next. His tussle with the living cadaver had attracted the others in the lobby. They were now shuffling towards him, moaning in anticipation for their feast. The android, not content with becoming a meal for the living dead, spun around and unleashed a ki blast at his former attacker. The zombie grunted as it stumbled backwards. Although its rotting stomach had been blown completely away, its approach was only stalled for a few seconds.

?What the hell??the android muttered as he realized he was quickly being surrounded. Seventeen felt cold, lifeless hands grasp his shoulder and reacted faster then his attacker could blink an eye. With a single, powerful strike the android split the cadaver?s skull in half. Rotted brains, stringy hair, and coagulated blood were splattered everywhere by the force. The monstrosity staggered once more before crumbling in a pile of decayed skin and bones. Another attacker bit deep into the side of the android?s neck, causing Seventeen to scream in pain before unleashing a massive discharge of energy. The zombie fell away, disintegrating under the blast of ki. As Android Seventeen clasped his bleeding wounds, three more corpses attacked. Their cybernetic target would be no easy prey. The machine-hybrid screamed out as his barrier activated. With no brain, the encroaching cadavers fell against the shimmering sphere of ki, initiating its self-destruct and their demise. The green barrier shrunk into itself for a brief second before exploding outward, catching the closest reanimated bodies in its wake.

As the dust and debris cleared, Seventeen realized his outburst had left a few stragglers, but then the unexpected occurred. As the android was preparing to quickly finish off the nearest zombie when it lashed out. The corpse suddenly shot forward, pushing the android with amazing strength. Even with its emaciated arms, the cadaver hurled the machine-hybrid through a crumbling wall. Android Seventeen hit the tile, crushing the aged linoleum under his weight. Seventeen hit the ground and tried to catch his breath. However, his attacker lunged through the crumbling wall seconds later and diminished any chance of a break. The zombie hit the spot where the android had been seconds after Seventeen had flipped backwards to his feet.

The machine-hybrid stepped forward and brought his boot down?crushing the already decomposing skull underneath his foot. The android quickly moved his boot and started rubbing the tissue and fluids from it, but yet another zombie interrupted his little recess. Crashing through the wall to his left, the cadaver hit Seventeen?s leg and destroyed the cybernetic fighter?s equilibrium. Android Seventeen?s head smacked off a crumbling end table, destroying the small piece of furniture but not before possibly concussing the machine-hybrid. The dead body bit into the android?s pant leg, piercing both his jeans and calf muscle. Screaming out once more, Seventeen unleashed a massive blast of ki. The energy removed the walking corpse from existence, but the act had been more of a way to release the android?s growing frustration.

Standing up, the machine-hybrid brushed the dirt, dust and fluids from his clothing. The worst part was most of it was his own blood?still flowing from the two wounds in his neck. Android Seventeen slowly made his way out through the hole in the wall he had created and back into the lobby. There were still a few zombies, milling around in the darkness of the hospital, but Seventeen knew they were hiding their ferocious nature. Opting not to have to suffer further assaults alone, the android leaped up the stairs to go locate the rest of his party. Without Paige, all this insanity was a lot more difficult to deal with, but the android knew he had to do his best. Even under these odds Seventeen had to show that he could deal with what was going on without all the soothing words. As much as he tried to persuade himself otherwise, the android knew he missed his ladyfriend intensely.

When the machine-hybrid made it to the top of the stairs, he noticed that the rest of the group was still fending off the reanimated corpses. Even worse, Seventeen turned around to notice that at least a dozen of the cadavers had stalked him the entire way. The android instantly recognized Piccolo. Even under all the dirt and blood, the green warrior still knew it was his cybernetic training partner from the Room of Spirit and Time. Android Seventeen went to say something, but his stalkers pounced before he got a word out. As the machine-hybrid fell, he felt more broken, yellowed teeth pierce his neck and back, but this time the android was through with the walking corpses. Seventeen caught himself this time, and the enraged warrior leaped into the air. Throwing off his decrepit attackers as he flipped in midair, the android landed behind the group of zombies and split their skulls with three kicks. Seventeen spun back around almost on instinct as more of the monsters started pouring down the hallway.

?Going to be a long day?? the android said with a usual hint of sarcasm.