Foreword: Time to get to Gero's lab and add another change to canon. What do I mean? Let's have a look.
Dr Gero ducks into a crevice in a rockface and spots the group of fighters he just escaped fly over him and move with purpose in a specific direction. Gero narrowed his eyes at the sudden unexpected shift from searching for him to flying where ever they were going.
Gero: 'Wait, the only thing I can think of in that direction is...My lab! But how do they know where it is!? The only people that would know where it could be are fellow scientists like Dr Slump or Dr Briefs...Oh no...'
Gero sprinted as fast as he could while staying hidden, realizing that that teleportation trick the fighters have been using must have been used to talk to a scientist for the fighters to have any bead on his labs location. The only advantages Gero had were the fact he couldn't be sensed and that he actually knows where the lab is. He stayed low and hidden trying desperately to surpress his own panic as he moved, hoping that the fighters would focus entirely on his lab and not spot him going in to it.
The Z fighters quickly flew to North Town and noticed the large amount of sizable mountains that a secret base could be hidden inside of.
Tien: "So Bulma said it was hidden in a mountain north of North town, right? That's still a lot of ground to search"
Piccolo: "Guess we're splitting up to search again. Keep your senses sharp in case the mad scientist decides to pick us off one by one. Anyone's energy suddenly drop or spike for a long while? Instant Transmission to help. Sound fair?"
All fighters present nodded and split up taking a segment of mountains to the North of North City to search. Bansuri established a telepathic link with his father to converse.
Bansuri: 'Who do you think is going to find the lab first out of us? I'm torn between the idea of Krillin getting lucky and spotting the lab entrence or Yamcha being unlucky and receiving a 2nd beating from Gero but spotting the lab by following Gero.'
Piccolo: '...I'd say the Yamcha idea holds more weight. Gero knows he can get the drop on him and would probably go for him again'
Bansuri: 'He has been unlucky lately...that or slacking on situational awareness...'
There was a moment of silence over the telepathic link before both came to a conclusion.
Bansuri/Piccolo: "...probably both... (sigh)'
They both cut off the telepathic link at the same time and continued their search for the lab hidden in the mountains.
Gero carefully moved amoung the mountains and vegetation to avoid being spotted by the searching Z-fighters on his way to his lab. With his lab reasonably close, Dr Gero started to smirk before getting an annoyed look on his face.
Gero: 'Of course one of them is close to the lab's entrence, it would be too simple to have a clear shot to my hidden lab. Whatever, I'll simply knock them out and sprint to my lab then activate Androids 17 and 18...Here's to hoping I did a good enough job with the detonator remote should things go south...'
Gero sneaked closer to his target, making sure he was behind them then launched forward to attack!
Krillin was slowly floating through the sky in search of Dr Gero's hidden lab, keeping his physical senses sharp in case Gero attacked him on his way to the lab.
Krillin: 'Man, I wonder how Yamcha is holding up. Sure he got healed but getting attacked out of nowhere can't be good for your nerves or ego. Maybe we should have searched in pairs with at least one person in the pair knowing how to heal'
Krillin sighed at the thought and felt annoyed at his hindsight when he heard a sudden noise from the ground behind him, prompting the monk to whip around ready for the coming threat!
...Only to see a bunny hop out of a brush and start eating some of the mountain's vegetation. Krillin took some deep breaths to settle his now rapidly beating heart before feeling Yamcha's energy suddenly drop like a rock. Krillin quickly put two fingers to his forehead and used Instant Transmission to get to the side of the now knocked out Yamcha, arriving soon enough to spot Gero leaving the scene.
Krillin quickly healed Yamcha's injuries and followed after Gero, seeing the Android Doctor fly into a cave in the mountain. The other Z-fighters arrived at the side of the now returning to consciousness Yamcha as Krillin returned with news of where Gero's lab is.
Inside Gero's lab, the Doctor activated the lights and set about getting the detonator remote. He really didn't want to activate 17 and 18 because while he had managed to give them data on how to fight, Gero didn't have enough time to put in the obediance programing due to setbacks caused by Bansuri's data. The only other option Gero had was to get the defective Androids 13, 14, and 15 out of storage but he hadn't even finished reprograming them and Gero doubted he had the time to sort out the programing.
Gero's doubts were immediately confirmed as he heard banging on his lab's door.
Krillin: "Damn these doors are well-built!"
Piccolo: "Cut the compliments and keep hitting the door!"
Tien: "Right"
Chiaotzu: "Okay!"
Yamcha: "Got it!"
More banging noises on the door hurried Dr Gero's choice to activate Androids 17 and 18, the black haired boy waking up first followed by the blonde girl.
Android 17: "Hey Doc', It's been a while"
Android 18: "Yeah, it's been months since you last had us activated. What's going-"
More loud banging noises interupted the blonde andoid's question.
Android 18: "Ah, that's going on"
Gero: "Yes, Son Goku's friends are at my door and I want you two to eliminate them"
The door is kicked open showing the group in question, Piccolo, someone that looks like Piccolo, Krillin, Tien, Chiaotzu, Yamcha and Vegeta arriving last with a blue haired teenager.
Android 17: "Hey Doc, I don't know jack about the extra Piccolo and the Blue hair guy. Guess you didn't give us all the info we need, you not as good a scientist as you thought?"
Gero: "Don't you mock me! The "extra Piccolo" is Bansuri and he has been interfering with my data for years and the blue haired one just appeared one day and vanished! You will kill them regardless because I said so!"
Android 18: "And how are you going to make us? We're stronger than you are and there's two of us and only one of you."
Gero: "Because I have this!"
Gero holds up a remote in his hand.
Gero: "You make one wrong move and the bombs I put in the two of you will detonate and I won't have to deal with insubordination ever again! So obey or d-!"
Gero felt a burning agony from the hand holding the remote and looked down to see both his hand and the remote blasted out of existance. Shocked and outraged, Gero turned around to demand answers and berate the imbecile responsible for the destruction only to see the bane of his existance, Bansuri, smirking at him.
Gero: "No...You didn't!"
Bansuri: "And what if I did? What are you gonna do about it? Come at me bro!"
Gero gave an angered yell and moved to launch himself at Bansuri before a sharp pain filled his chest, making him look down and see a black sleeved arm impaling him through the chest. He looked back to see Android 17 smirking at him before 17 ripped his arm out and proceeded to jump and kick Gero's head off, sending it at the feet of 18 who stepped on the Doctor's head and crushed it like a bug.
The Androids smiled at a job well done before looking at the group and looking thoughtful. Bansuri managed to lock eyes with Android 17 and 18 and due to the centuries of experience from Guru, was able to tell that they weren't evil. Before he was able to voice this thought to the others, Trunks yelled and sent a blast at the two Androids, the mountain base being blasted away from around the group.
Krillin: "That seemed a bit extreme, they didn't even seem like they were on Gero's side"
Trunks: "Those heartless monsters killed everyone for fun! There's no way they were on our side"
Android 17: "Well not after you blasted us we're not"
Trunks: "What!?"
The smoke cleared and revealed an undamaged and remarkably unbothered 17 and 18 along with a container of some kind. The Androids noticed this and decided to open the pod and have a look revealing a large red haired Android in the case. Android 17 pushed the 'on' button and the Android activated and stood up.
Android 17: "Hey there big guy, what's your name?"
Red-haired Android: "I am designated as Android 16"
Android 18: "Wow, what an original name. Let me guess, Gero made you to 'Kill Son Goku'?"
Android 16 opened their mouth to answer then paused and closed their mouth, a thoughtful expression on their face.
Android 16: "I do not know, I do not have a programmed directive"
Android 17: "Guess the mad doctor didn't finish you. Same deal with us 16. Say, how about you hang out with us? I've always wanted a robot friend to hang out with"
Android 18: (Eye roll) "Boys"
Android 16: "Very well, I will travel with you."
Android 17: "Sweet! Come on, let's go look for some fun"
Android 17 picked a direction and started flying, Android 16 and 18 followed suit leaving a group of fighters unsure of the recent developments and one fighter outraged at being ignored.
Vegeta: "Those tin-can cowards! Don't you run from me!"
Vegeta launched away after the Androids.
Trunks: "Father! Wait!"
Trunks followed after Vegeta, revealing to the group who he was and making the destructive outburst make way more sense.
Tien: "...(sigh) we should go and make sure Vegeta doesn't get himself killed..."
The rest of the group grumbled and gave begrudging agreement to the statement before flying off to follow the charging Saiyan with the Namekians being the last to move.
Piccolo: "Not keen on helping Vegeta?"
Bansuri: "There is that, yes but there's also something else."
Piccolo: "Yeah?"
Bansuri: "This mountain is rather large...It could fit quite a bit more inside it, don't you think?"
Piccolo: "Ah, and you want to check for more dangers?"
Bansuri: "As well as maybe pick up some stuff that could be helpful like designs or parts."
Piccolo: "Bulma?"
Bansuri: (nods) "Bulma"
Piccolo: "Alright, see if you can get some good stuff while I try to prevent Vegeta from dying and leaving Bulma a single mother"
Bansuri: "She's rich and has plenty of help but fair enough, I'll catch up with you later"
Piccolo and Bansuri nodded to each other before Piccolo flew away toward were Vegeta went and Bansuri lowered himself to the remains of Gero's lab, looking for a way to get deeper into the mountain. Will Bansuri find anything helpful to the Z-fighters? Will Vegeta be able to handle the Androids? Will the Z-fighters help Vegeta should he get into trouble? Find out next time on Some Help.
