For the next three years the heroes of Earth trained in preparation for the threat that they were forewarned about. Not long after Cyborgs 19 and 20 showed up, the time machine reappeared in a remote area. When the vessel landed, and the hatch opened, Ranch leapt out onto the ground. She looked around, hoping to see anything that might give her an idea of where they ended up, but the area was completely barren. Ranch was just about to ask Trunks about their bearings, when she noticed that he never left the time machine.
"Trunks, why are you still up there?" she asked, hands on her hips.
"Finding out where we are," he answered.
"Alright, so which way is South City?"
"Don't know yet. To the south?" he said nonchalantly.
Ranch rolled her eyes. "Funny man, aren't you?"
"Sure am." Eventually Trunks finished, and hopped out of the time machine. He pressed the button to shrink it down to its capsule form. As they flew off, Trunks asked, "You feel that?"
"Yup." Powering up, they gained speed and made a beeline for the powers emanating from the direction they were going.
After flying for a while, they ended up at an area not too far from South City. Overhead they clearly saw signs of a battle that took place. Ranch was just going to keep going towards the energy they felt, but Trunks suddenly stopped dead and dropped altitude. She was about to ask what was going on, when she spotted it too.
The two of them landed in front of a crater and stared in shock at what they were seeing. "What…what is this?" Trunks said, looking down at the head. It was pale, chubby, and clearly belonged to what used to be a machine.
"This couldn't be one of the things they were fighting, could it?" Ranch asked hesitantly.
"What else could it be?" he said, balling his hands into a fist.
"Damn it, is this timeline already screwed up?" Ranch cried, as they both powered back up and flew again in the direction of the energy.
Miles away in a canyon filled with jagged rocks, Piccolo just took off Cyborg 20's right hand. The cyborg dropped to the ground and looked up at everyone opposing him with malice.
"So are you going to finish him anytime soon Piccolo?" Raditz said loudly, amused at the broken and beaten cyborg below him. "I'd like to make it home for dinner."
"You miserable reprobates!" 20 shouted at them. "How are you so strong? My data tells me you should not have improved this much!"
Piccolo grinned and crushed the cyborg's hand before dropping it. "You're data might've been accurate if we didn't spend the last three years preparing for you."
"Yes, we got a warning about your arrival," Raditz said mockingly. "It's too bad, though, after all that effort we seem to have over trained for this."
Vegeta let out a bark of laughter. "I admit you may have gotten stronger, Raditz, but it's still nothing compared to me!" All Raditz did was clench his fists and glower and him, but he said nothing. There were pressing concerns at the moment. "Well, get on with it, green man, or should I do the honors for you?"
"As if," Piccolo said, getting ready to get the action started again. "He's mine." But suddenly Piccolo, Raditz, Vegeta, Gohan, Krillin, and Tien all became distracted as two figures closed in on them and joined their ranks. "Trunks! You're back?" Piccolo shouted in surprise. "And who's—?" He stopped upon realizing who the other person must be.
Vegeta immediately took notice. Trunks? That's the name of my son, he thought to himself, as it dawned on him. And he's a Super Saiyan from the future? Then he has to be! That's my son from the future!
At the same time that Vegeta came to that realization, Raditz couldn't help but be drawn to the familiar woman next to Trunks. But if he's Vegeta's son…then who is that? Ranch? No…it couldn't be! But she looks like Launch and she has a tail!
"What's going on?" Trunks exclaimed, upon catching sight of 20. "This one's different, too."
"What the hell is that thing?" Ranch yelled in frustration.
That got Vegeta out of his stupor. "What's that supposed to mean? That's one of the cyborgs we were warned about!"
"No, it's not!" Ranch argued vehemently. "The cyborgs aren't supposed to be an old man and a creepy clown thing!"
As they argued, 20 scrutinized his situation as best he could. His chances for survival were slim at best. The only chance he had was making it back to his lab quickly. But first he had to find a way to escape. Damn, thought 20, cradling his injury. I have to make it back to my lab to repair myself. I just need a distraction. At that moment the sound of a flying car echoed around them.
"Hey, look!" shouted Krillin. "It's Bulma and Yajirobi!"
"Did she bring me!" Trunks cried in surprise, as Bulma waved and greeted them.
"Ah crap, it's the cyborg; I knew we shouldn't have come!" Yajirobi exclaimed next to Bulma.
Perfect! The flying car passed over them, and 20 and Bulma caught sight of each other.
"Dr. Gero?" Bulma said to herself.
"Enjoy this victory while you can!" 20 shouted up at them. "Once I unleash 17 and 18 you are all done for!" 20 began waving his arm about as everyone there was stunned by his proclamation, and released an explosive wave of energy that engulfed the area, sending Bulma's car spiraling out of control.
As the explosion petered out, and the debris stopped falling around them, Trunks could be seen shielding Bulma and holding his crying, baby self. Ranch managed to grab onto Yajirobi and placed him back onto the ground. "Thanks for the help," Yajirobi grunted, falling to sit on the ground.
"No Problem," Ranch said, going back to Trunks' side.
"Wow, I'm not dead," Bulma said in amazement, as Trunks put her down. "Ah! My baby!" She frantically looked around until seeing that he was safe and sound in the young man's arms. "There you are," she said, relieved, taking the baby in her arms. "You saved Trunks! Thank you so much!"
"Damn!" Vegeta cried angrily from up in the air. Trunks immediately looked up at him in contempt. "Where did it go? Where's the cyborg?"
"Bulma!" Gohan said as he landed by them.
"You alright?" asked Krillin.
"Yeah, we were saved by…" Bulma trailed off as Trunks flew up to confront Vegeta.
Seeing what was about to happen, Ranch was about to follow, but Raditz came up next to her, and said, "Wait." Looking up at Trunks and Vegeta, he told her, "Trust me, whatever he's going to say to him won't be helped by your presence."
"Uh…right," she replied uncertainly. Does he know who I am?
"You!" Trunks yelled at Vegeta, getting in his way. "Why didn't you try to save them?"
"Who?" Vegeta replied.
"Bulma and your son, who else?"
"Them? They don't matter! I have more pressing matters—like killing that cyborg." Vegeta then got up in his face, saying, "Now get out of my way," before he started flying around the immediate area to search for the cyborg.
Trunks looked stunned at what just happened, while Ranch shot a filthy look in Vegeta's direction. Then she softened up, upon seeing how Trunks was taking it and flew up to meet him midair. "Look, I know that was hard. But you'll have to beat some sense into him later. If there's one thing he's right about it's that we have to find that old man."
Down on the ground, Bulma asked, "So what was up with Dr. Gero?"
"Who's that?" Gohan said.
"The old man," she replied, cradling baby Trunks. "Dr. Gero. He was one of the leading minds in the field of robotics."
"Hey, uh, future guys," Krillin quickly called out. "Bulma says that cyborg was Dr. Gero."
"What!" Trunks and Ranch said in unison. Hearing this as well, Vegeta bolted towards the group to hear what Bulma had to say.
"Are you absolutely sure?" Raditz asked.
"Yeah," she said, annoyed. "I saw his picture once, but even though he's changed a lot since then, I know that was him."
Vegeta let out a frustrated growl, as he turned to two time travelers. "You two! Why didn't you give us a better warning? Clearly we've spent this entire time worrying about the wrong cyborgs!"
"Hey, there only ever were two where we're from!" Ranch shouted back angrily. "How were we supposed to know that it'd end up like this?"
Piccolo stepped in and said, "In that case you need to tell us what these cyborgs are supposed to look like, so that we don't make the same mistake."
Trunks was about to explain, but Ranch spoke up first. "One's a blonde bimbo in a jean jacket and the other's a black-haired pretty boy with a scarf. If you see a pair fitting that description tearing up a city for fun, then that'll be them."
Raditz twitched uncomfortably and looked away. That hit a little bit too close to home.
"I was going to put it a little bit more eloquently, but that's about right," Trunks said. He then took a look around to see who was with them and finally noticed someone was missing. "Hey wait, where's Goku?"
"Kakarot came down with the virus you warned him about," Raditz explained heavily. "He was taken back to his home to take the medicine."
"Oh man, that was supposed to happen six months ago. Seriously, just how screwed up is this timeline?" Ranch said, frustrated.
Vegeta, though, dismissed this. "Forget Kakarot, we don't need him. Bulma, where is Gero's lab?"
"Well," she started in thought, "I seem to remember that he had a lab in the mountains outside North City."
"In that case it might be too late," Krillin said. "He's long gone."
"Oh you think," Vegeta said superiorly. "Tell me, did any of you actually see him fly away?" They all looked at each other and shook their heads.
"So you're saying he got away on foot," Raditz said thoughtfully. "In that case he might not have gotten there yet."
"Oh very astute, Raditz," Vegeta said mockingly. "I'm surprised that you were actually able to get that far on your own."
Raditz balled his fists and started towards him. "Why you—"
But he was stopped when Piccolo grabbed his shoulder. Piccolo gave him a shake of the head, and said to everyone, "Let's get moving, then. We might be able to find his lab before he gets there and take out these cyborgs."
"That's not happening," Vegeta proclaimed to nearly everyone's surprise. "I'll take on these cyborgs myself, and tear them apart with my bear hands."
Vegeta powered up and took off into the air, but Trunks sped up and got in his way with his arms spread out. "No, wait! You can't take these cyborgs on by yourself—you'll be killed! We need Goku."
"Why the hell should I wait for Kakarot?" he said viciously. "I'm a Super Saiyan and stronger than that imbecile will ever be! Consider this your first and only warning, boy: stay the hell out of my way!" Vegeta blew past him and took off in search of Dr. Gero.
Trunks stayed where he was, shaking at just how hard headed Vegeta was. Then, coming to a decision, he desperately said, "No! I can't let him die!" Turning around, he sped off after him. "Dad! Wait!"
Seeing Trunks just run off after Vegeta despite the danger that laid ahead left Ranch momentarily stunned. Growling in frustration, Ranch raised her fists into the air, and bellowed angrily, "TRUNKS YOU FRICKIN MORON GET BACK HERE!" She powered up and gave chase as well. "WE NEED A PLAN!"
Raditz, witnessing this, was temporarily dumbfounded. Finally he ran his hand down his face, and said to himself, "No doubt about it, that's my sweet little Ranch."
Gohan looked over at his uncle, saying, "You mean…?" Then it clicked for him, and he looked up at where his grown up baby cousin had gone. "Oh man, you're right! It has to be!"
"Wait," Bulma said, confused. "'Dad'? 'Trunks'? What's going on?"
Piccolo explained, "It might be best that you know now: it turns out that man is your son from the future."
"My son?" Bulma said, looking down at the baby in her arms. "The future?" A big smile spread across her face and she held the baby out in front of her. "Oh wow! You're going to grow to be such a cutie! And here I was worried you'd end up looking like Vegeta." Then she looked over at Raditz. "And you said that was Ranch? She's really pretty." Bulma gasped, and asked delightedly, "You think they're dating?"
A shiver went up Raditz's spine at the thought of him and Vegeta becoming in-laws. He didn't answer and pretended he didn't hear her. He covered it up, by saying, "It'll probably get more dangerous, Bulma. You should head home."
"Well I would but my car was totaled. I'm stuck," she replied.
"Yeah, same here" Yajirobi chimed in.
Piccolo nodded. "In that case, Gohan, you should give them a lift home. We should be able to deal with these cyborgs."
"Good thinking," Raditz said. "You should then get to your father. No offense to Yamcha, but if things go bad here they'll need some extra protection."
"Now that that's settled let's get moving," Tien said a bit impatiently. "I'm tired of just waiting around."
Raditz, Piccolo, Krillin, and Tien all powered up and flew off towards North City, as Gohan carried Bulma, with baby Trunks, and Yajirobi as securely as he could.
Meanwhile, Dr. Gero was running through the canyon towards his laboratory, incensed at how badly his plan had gone. Not only were his opponents stronger than he predicted, he had absolutely no data on the two strangers that appeared. He was thinking that he might have gone far enough that it was safe enough to fly, when his sensors went off. Gero flattened himself against some rocks, and looked up to see Vegeta flying in the north with the two strangers on his tail. No, it couldn't be! Gero thought in a panic. He was about to chalk it up to coincidence, when four more flew past him going the same way. There was no mistake. They knew where he was going. But how? Then he recalled the girl in the flying car, and he remembered. Damn! She's one of the Briefs!
But not even the Briefs knew the precise location of his laboratory. Sticking close to the ground he continued onward.