Chapter 2: Unwelcome Help
"It's strange.." Trunks thought to himself, "I know neither Cell nor the Androids are down here, but I still get uneasy at the thought of the despicable beings that have come out of here.." The hole lead to a dark and cold hallway and at the end was a sealed, metal door. Trunks quickly punched the door open, not risking a blast that could damage any equipment his mother could use.
The lab was just as Trunks had remembered in the past, except for one thing, Cell's tube was open. Quickly scanning the room for any sign of movement or Ki, Trunks made sure there was nothing awaiting him in the former doctor's lab before stepping in. Feeling the wall for a switch, he found a button, turning the lights on and brightening the cold room.
The sound of his boots echoed as Trunks ventured across the room. There were papers strewn all over the place, but everything was dusty and old, maybe he was wrong about what Gero could have had here. "I need a closer look." He thought as he made his way to one of the desks and sat down.
"What do we have hidden in here, you old coot." Trunks slowly sifted through blueprints and research papers, nothing about space travel. Standing up, he made his way to a corner to what looked like a trunk or container, thinking it may have some equipment in it.
Trunks reached down and wiped the dust off slowly, as his hand revealed what the container looked like, he came to a haunting realization...a number was on the container…"16…" Trunks actually read it out loud to himself as he couldn't believe what he had just found.
He wasn't sure what he should do, Trunks knew the Androids of his time were considerable different than the Androids of the past, but 16 was even further different than the rest of them. 16 was a gentle giant, he attempted to sacrifice himself not once but twice in the fights against Cell.
Trunks thoughts drifted to destroying the pod right now. This version of 16 could be different than the one from the past. He could be just as ruthless as the future versions of 17 and 18, but something kept Trunks from acting on his thoughts. Maybe 16 could help, they could use all the help they could get right now. And Trunks was more than strong enough to handle 16 if he got out of control, right? Hell, maybe the pod was empty! He hadn't even cleaned it off enough to see through the glass. He gave the pod a quick lift...very heavy. It certainly wasn't empty. Trunks sighed before deciding he should check out the rest of the lab and dwell on his thoughts.
It was a good half hour before Trunks decided he had seen all of what Gero's underground lab had to offer, but his mind still wandered to the pod. Trunks thought for a few moments, maybe he should take it to his mother, after all, it concerned her and all the others as well. He slowly walked to the pod, wiping the dust off the glass and looked inside. 16's face looked stone cold, almost like a corpse, it gave Trunks the chills. He shook his head while lifting the pod onto his shoulder and walking out of the lab.
The bright light of the sun nearly blinded Trunks as he stepped back out into the world. Covering his eyes with one hand, he tossed the pod onto the ground and faced back towards Gero's lab. "We don't need any other mad scientists finding this.." Trunks lept up into the air and held out his arms, charging an orange ball of Ki, "Burning Attack!" The large blast completely obliterated the hill that contained the entrance, keeping any future trespassers away.
Trunks landed back onto the ground softly, lifting the pod containing 16 back onto his shoulder, "Now, let's figure out what to do with you, old friend." He blasted off into the sky, heading back home.
Moments later, Trunks landed onto the green grass in front of the Capsule Corp building. Bulma was barking out orders to people, giving instructions on construction and various other necessities. She quickly silenced herself as soon as she noticed Trunks, "Son!" She ran up to him and looked at the large pod he had, "You must have found something good! What is it?"
Trunks spoke softly, "Not out here mother, let's go inside."
Bulma looked at Trunks concerningly, but she nodded and headed towards her private lab.
A few moments later..
"What?!" Bulma nearly screamed at her son's explanation of what was in the pod. "You brought an Android into my home?!"
"Mother, please calm down. He isn't even activated. Besides, I'm much stronger than him at this point. I told you already, 16 was a hero in the past."
Bulma shook her head, "I don't know Trunks, he's an Android, and nobody around here will trust him. As nice as he could be, there's no way we can risk it."
"I understand, I really do, but, we can use his help. Imagine how much work he could do compared to everyone else? He could do the work of at least a hundred men. And he's strong. I know we feel safe now, but we don't know what the future holds. We only have me."
Bulma begrudgingly sighed, "Trunks...I just, I don't know. Are you sure you can keep him under wraps? I am sure I can calm people down, but he needs to be on his best behavior or nobody will ever believe here is here to help."
Trunks smiled, "I am sure it will work out fine." That's what he said, but in his mind, Trunks wasn't one hundred percent sure. Though he knew he could easily dispatch of 16 should he get out of hand.
Trunks slowly reached for the pod, it sounded like an airlock released as it opened and a dreary fog seeped out slowly as the lid reached its apex. 16's body was stiff for just a moment more before his eyes opened. Trunks spoke up, "Hello 16, I have a few things to say before you leave that pod."
The large android slowly booted up, but before he could move he heard the stranger's voice. "You are not Dr. Gero" 16 coldly responded.
Trunks quickly raised his Ki, ascending into his Super Saiyan state, "No, I am not Dr. Gero, however, it would serve you well to assess my power to your own before you make any moves. You can certainly see that I am much stronger than you."
"Affirmative. I have assessed your power level, and it greatly exceeds my own. I find this perplexing." 16 assessed Trunks, his computer didn't have any data on a power level this high. Could Dr. Gero's data be wrong?
Trunks continued, "I would also like to tell you that Goku is long dead. He went on to the otherworld over twenty years ago. His death was your mission, correct?"
"Affirmative." 16's scanners were searching for any other high power levels, trying to confirm what this stranger was saying. He could find none. Perhaps this man was telling the truth.
"I also know that you care for this world and it's creatures. This world has been devastated, devastated by your creator and models 17 and 18. I have a new mission for you, if you would like." Trunks wasn't sure what 16 would say, perhaps this would be it and Trunks would have to kill him right here, but the 16 of the past may have listened.
16 slowly processed the information this man was giving him. Destruction was not his cause, he was just meant to kill Goku. He didn't enjoy killing anything else. Without Dr. Gero around, he was free to do as he wished. As a computer, he wasn't sure what to do. Assessing his situation, he determined listening to the stranger was his best option. "I would like to hear your proposal."
Trunks smiled a bit, "Well, my name is Trunks, and I am the son of Bulma Brief and Vegeta. I would like you to join me in rebuilding this world we both care for."
16 processed, Vegeta, he had data on Vegeta. He was a Saiyan, very strong, but not nearly at his own level according to the data. Bulma Brief, according to data, was a brilliant scientist Gero seemed to consider her a sharp mind, though not an equal. This Trunks character, he had very little data on, according to his data Trunks should be an infant. 16 concluded that his data must be very old, as this man was certainly not an infant.
"I would like to help the world, Trunks." 16 said, in his cold, deep voice.
Trunks smiled, "Great!" He powered down into his normal state. "Please stay in your pod for now, you have been inactive for over twenty years, my mother would like to run some tests on you, and we need to remove your bomb."
Bulma was dumbfounded, she couldn't believe that this giant of a machine was made by the same man as 17 and 18. She wondered why he was deactivated, though Trunks did say he was passive, maybe that was a flaw in Gero's eyes? She intently listened as her son and the robotic man conversed, thoughts racing through her brain. As the two ended their conversation, Bulma slowly walked up to the pod, "Um..Hello 16, was it? I am Bulma Brief, please stay still." 16 offered no resistance as Bulma attached some instruments to his body, measuring his power output and mechanical functions.
After a few hours of tests, Bulma concluded 16 was functioning properly, and she was astounded at the technology Gero put into his creations. "His power is somehow infinite. He is the most efficient machine I have ever encountered. He basically powers himself. Like a built in carburetor, but without fuel. It's astounding." She stated to Trunks, who was enthralled at her excitement.
16 slowly stood up, "Thank you."
Bulma almost laughed as she realized 16 took her review as a compliment. "You are very welcome." Though she was still uneasy around him, she was certainly interested in the gigantic machine man.
Trunks spoke up, "I'm sorry I didn't find anything of use in our other endeavors."
Bulma had almost forgot, she had had an idea while Trunks was away, "I thought of that! Now look, I have no idea where New Namek is, but I know who does!"
Trunks looked at her funny, "Who?"
"Well, Goku and the others!" She exclaimed.
Trunks laughed a bit, "But Mom..Goku and the others are dead…"
"In this timeline."
Trunks smacked himself in the forehead, "Of course. Why didn't I think of that?" He chuckled, "And I know past Mom has spaceships galore. We could get one from her easily!"
Bulma put her hand on Trunks shoulder, "Exactly. We have enough fuel for one more trip, and you can tell everyone how it went! Hopefully there's enough room for the big guy in there with you."
"I'm sure we will fit..besides, I know Gohan would be thrilled to see a fully functioning 16 again."
16 processed what the two were saying, Gohan, he looked into his data, Half-Saiyan, Goku's son, would be around nine years old at time of data. "Why would Gohan be happy to see me? We have never met."
"I'll fill you in, you're a hero, my friend." Trunks patted 16 on the back and walked out of the room, "Follow me."
End of Chapter 2
Next Chapter, Chapter 3: Back to the Past
