Hoping to push this chapter through. We'll see how it goes.


The wind swept across the barren landscape, stirring up dust as it wore down the sandy rock that made up much of the area. Little was worthy of note in this desolate wasteland, aside from a well-worn crater with a dark stain in the middle, and the shabby remains of a long-since destroyed spaceship, the fragments of alien metal beginning to at last succumb to the ravages of time. It was here that space and time began to warp and twist.

Reality seemed to knot inwards upon itself as the fabric of existence sought to expel a foreign body. It finally succeeded, spitting out the time machine piloted by the young half-Saiyan Trunks. The machine powered down with a whine as the dust its arrival had spat up began to settle.

Trunks knew immediately something was wrong. He sensed no power levels nearby, certainly not Frieza's or King Kold's. This in and of itself was worrying, but then the dust cleared enough for him to see the skeleton of King Kold, brutally dispatched with ruthless efficiency. The spaceship was likewise demolished with what looked to have been a single, perfectly targeted ki blast.

A knot began to form in the pit of the young man's stomach. Despair threatened to engulf him. He knew only androids were capable of such clinically efficient destruction. He'd seen it too many times to not recognize it on sight. He cast his senses out across the world, starting in confusion as he felt his mother's energy, calm and relaxed, near that of another that felt...oddly familiar. It felt rigid and unyielding, disciplined and refined. He immediately took off at top speed towards this power level, fear and confusion warring like old enemies in his chest. An unfamiliar sensation, that of hope, soon wormed its way in when he began to feel the unmistakable ki signature of his mentor, Gohan, near that of another person, one with an exceptionally high power level.


Nappa was busily scanning papers that had been set before him with the ruthless efficiency of a civilization ender when he felt the power level appear out of nowhere. Instantly alert, he quickly stacked the documents that he was examining and raced out of his small office to the adjoining one. His charge, Bulma, rather than being angry, just looked annoyed as he slung her gently over his back and took off towards, of all places, Dr. Gero's laboratory.

In the year since the return of Dr. Gero's son, the once-insane scientist had devoted himself to bettering the world. His android body lent itself well to this task, as he no longer needed sleep, medical attention, or even to breathe or blink. It was quite the change. His every day was filled with the joy of a father whose greatest treasure had been returned to him.

Gebo, for his part, had declined the offered android conversion for the time being, preferring instead to spend time in nature. His kind demeanor called the animals of the wild to him in droves, and it was quite something to see his enormous frame surrounded by deer, birds, small mammals, and the like.

As a result of his son's return to life, Dr. Gero had sworn to help in any way he could. With the need for revenge gone and forgotten, the doctor could see just how far he had gone astray. He had nearly committed suicide as a result, realizing his folly, but his son and his faithful servant 19 had brought him back from that dark place. Thus, Nappa knew that Dr. Gero's lab would be the safest place for the heiress.

Without preamble, the doors to the secret lab flew open to admit the Saiyan general, who carefully set Bulma down on her feet. The portly 19 quickly waddled up and inspected the heiress. "You are well, Bulma Briefs?" it asked in its usual polite manner.

Bulma laughed. "Yes, 19, I'm fine. It's good to see you too. Where's the old fart at this time?" she asked.

"The 'old fart' is right here with the replacement leg for your Saiyan friend over there," came a sharp quip from the shadows. Dr. Gero stepped out of a side room, bearing a gleaming, dangerously shaped limb in his hands. "I've finally succeeded in a perfect union technology for his nervous system and the mechanics of the leg. It should function just like a normal leg and will stand up to even the harshest punishment. I'm still trying to make one that will be somewhat compatible with his Oozaru transformation but I fear I've set myself an impossible task."

Nappa stepped forward, arms out to receive the limb. He carefully took the leg over to a nearby table and began to remove his previous leg and attach the new one.

"That's nice and all, but no one's told me yet why Nappa decided to bug out like there was some sort of emergency," Bulma pouted.

A deep voice sounded from the other side of the cavernous laboratory. "There is a large power level that has appeared spontaneously some miles south of here. Its origin is unknown. Your companion's caution was appropriate." A tall man with massive muscles and green armor walked out of the shadows from yet another room in the lab (due to a recent experiment that went sideways, many lights were out in the lab).

"Gebo?" Bulma asked. "I thought you were training with Tienshinhan on Kame Island."

The giant man shook his head. "I am not Gebo. I am Android 16. The doctor activated me for combat, should such a need arise. It appears that it is necessary now."

The larval terror reared its head up. A familiar power signature had appeared in the distance. Had it been possessed of a mouth in this form, it would have grinned in a manner most vile. As it was, it had to settle for an evil shimmy of delight.

It resumed its activities, burrowing below the soil of Gingertown...


Vegeta knew without a doubt that his underling had taken Bulma to the place she would be safest, Dr. Gero's laboratory. Knowing this, and also that the strength of the creations of the good doctor far exceeded his own, he put the uneasiness in the back of his mind to rest about the appearance of the high power level and resumed his frightfully intense training. Thanks to the terrifying intelligence of the blue-haired genius and the android doctor, the Saiyan prince had a healing pod whose capabilities far exceeded those of the Planet Trade Organization. He had used this in conjunction with the Saiyan zenkai to raise his power vastly far above what it once was. He had no doubt that he was powerful enough to defeat Frieza as he was in his third form, though any further than that, he was unsure. Kakarot was still far stronger than the Saiyan prince, and though the fact that he was a mere third-class still chafed at his pride, he had long since realized his pride served him poorly here. This planet's power was based on camaraderie, not isolation.

Suffice to say, the prince was...content. Not happy, but appeased with his lot in life now. The Saiyan race had been avenged. The blood of millions of warriors, crying for vengeance, had been brutally sated with terrible precision and violence. Without a doubt, the Saiyan race was no longer a victim, but a survivor. He chuckled with chagrin as he thought of the one with whom he had proven this to be true with...


Trunks sped through the air even faster when he detected his mother's ki signature quickly relocate to a new place. Something about the location unsettled him, though he was unable to figure out why until he reached his destination.

Amenbo Island.

The place where the horrible massacre of the human race had begun.

Agony curled in his stomach. This timeline was tainted too by Dr. Gero, only this time it had taken a grip far earlier and more insidiously.

He was startled by the sudden and unannounced appearance of a tall, muscular man with an orange mohawk and green armor bearing the logo of the Red Ribbon Army. The man crossed his arms and intoned, "Who are you and what is your purpose in entering this area?" His voice was deep and commanding. Disconcertingly, a bird flew around the head of the man, seemingly without any fear.

"I think I should be asking you that question. Why are you wearing the logo of the Red Ribbon Army when they've been defunct for decades?" Trunks said carefully, adopting a guarded stance and preparing to fight.

"I am Android 16. I was told to guard Dr. Gero and his companions, and so I shall. Are you here to harm anyone?" the giant man - android - asked.

For the hundredth time that day, Trunks' heart dropped into his shoes. "...you're another Android? How...many of you did that monster make?!" he shouted. Without waiting for an answer, he let out a primal shout and burst into his Super Saiyan state, unsheathing his sword and slashing at the Android.

For all the difference it made, Trunks might as well have not transformed at all. The massive Android simply dodged effortlessly as the young warrior dashed by. Without pausing, Trunks wheeled around and let loose with a massive energy blast, screaming in fury. 16 simply let the blast strike him, as its strength was not enough to so much as scuff his armor. The dust cleared, revealing to Trunks that the Android was yet unharmed.

Despair, a familiar companion, settled back into the pit of Trunks' stomach.

"Analysis complete. Parental match to Vegeta and Bulma Briefs..." the Android trailed off, experiencing a logic failure in his processing chain. "You are the son of Vegeta and Bulma?" he ventured.

Trunks snarled. "Yeah, what of it?" He hefted the sword, preparing to strike again, futile though it may have been.

"Come with me. I assume you wish neither of those individuals harm, and it appears there is much that must be explained by both parties." 16 motioned to a clearing, descending as he spoke.

Trunks, who had spent his entire life fighting horrifically evil abominations who showed no signs of humanity, was distinctly unsettled by the giant's calm behavior and apparent lack of hostility. Nevertheless, he kept his guard up, descending to the clearing as well.

The giant Android had already seated himself by the time Trunks touched down. Fauna of all sorts were carefully emerging from the forest around them to investigate, and many simply walked straight up to the massive Android with absolutely no fear. The giant smiled and gently stroked some of the approaching animals. A few birds dropped from the trees to land on his shoulder.

"I am, as I said, Android 18. I am modeled after Dr. Gero's son Gebo. I am far superior to the preceding models, save for one under specific circumstances, and the models produced after me. I am unsure of your origin, but your parentage leads to many highly implausible explanations. In order to proceed, I need further information."

Trunks glared at the Android, but he couldn't deny that the Earth looked and felt... decidedly undestroyed. His parents aside, he could feel the ki of everyone on the planet clearly, including many high powers that he assumed were the Z-Fighters. He sighed and dropped his transformation, figuring he could at least escape with a burst of speed should the need arise. "I'll explain as little as I want. All you need to know is that I'm from the future, or...I suppose a possible future, one where Dr. Gero's creations have destroyed the Earth. Androids 17 and 18, after being released, turned on their creator and killed him, then plunged the world into chaos. Goku was killed by a heart virus before the Androids even appeared. I was conceived in the seven years after Goku returned from Namek after killing Frieza. That's all I'll tell you." Trunks folded his arms, waiting for a response.

The giant Android reclined against a nearby tree, careful not to disturb the various birds that had perched on his frame. "I am unaware of any means by which time travel is possible, but I believe you would be interested in knowing that none of that has or will come to pass in this timeline, in the event that you are telling the truth. It would be interesting to know at which point this timeline diverged from yours."

Trunks stared in disbelief at the Android, who had so casually stated that this timeline...was safe?

Sensing the fluctuations in the half-Saiyan's ki, 16 stood, gently shooing the fauna from around him. "It is your choice what you wish to do from here, but I believe you would be well served by coming with me. I believe for one that the good doctor would be highly fascinated by your tale, as would your mother." He lifted off slowly, then headed northward.

Trunks, still completely taken aback, had nothing to do but to follow this strangely contrary Android. A being that completely defied his entire understanding of all of Dr. Gero's creations...

Somewhere deep beneath the despair and fear, hope began to sprout once more...


Far across the galaxy, hope was being squashed beneath the foot of Babidi's newest recruit...