Android 16

This detector, which looked much like a Dragon Ball Radar, had been modified by Bulma based on the power level scanners used by the Frieza Force.

It was capable of detecting abnormal energy fluctuations and computer network nodes.

The detector in Son Gohan's hand had just picked up a computer signal wave nearby.

In this desolate, uninhabited Gobi Desert, the appearance of computer network fluctuations was clearly not a normal occurrence.

Holding the detector, Son Gohan followed the signal.

A few minutes later, he descended from high altitude and looked at the cave before him.

This cave was extremely well-hidden, with thickets of shrubs growing all around it, obscuring the entrance.

If Son Gohan hadn't been holding the detector, he would never have discovered this location.

Son Gohan raised a finger, and a blast of ki shot out, instantly igniting the shrubs.

Soon, the shrubs were burned to nothing, leaving only a layer of ash on the ground.

With the shrubs gone, a circular cave entrance was laid wide open, exposed to Son Gohan's view.

Son Gohan waved his hand to disperse the dust and acrid smoke in the air, then leaped into the cave.

After walking about five or six meters, a heavy steel door blocked his path.

Looking closely, a striking emblem was imprinted on the steel door.

The emblem had a red background with a white border, resembling a ribbon, and was engraved with two capital R's.

It was unmistakably the logo of the Red Ribbon Army.

Son Gohan felt a surge of joy.

He had truly found it without even having to search for it.

He had finally found it.

Dr. Gero's laboratory had to be right here.

Thinking of this, Son Gohan slightly flared his ki to notify Trunks.

Sensing Son Gohan's rising ki, Trunks erupted with a blazing aura and flew rapidly toward Son Gohan's position.

Soon, Trunks descended from the sky, ran into the cave, and arrived beside Son Gohan.

"Brother Gohan, did you find it?" he asked.

Son Gohan pointed to the heavy steel door behind him.

"If nothing goes wrong, it's behind this door."

"Oh?"

Trunks moved past Son Gohan to stand behind him, reaching out to press his hand against the heavy steel plate, feeling the cold touch of the metal.

He knocked on it, and the iron door emitted a dull, heavy sound.

"Brother Gohan, this door is made entirely of steel plates and is over 40cm thick. What should we do?" Trunks asked.

Son Gohan said, "What else can we do? We use physical force to open it, of course. Trunks, you do the honors, but remember to control your strength—don't destroy what's inside."

"Mm, alright." Trunks nodded in agreement.

Son Gohan stepped back a few paces.

Trunks extended his palm and pressed it against the iron door.

Ki exploded!

"Boom!"

A loud crash echoed out.

In an instant, the ground shook, and loose rocks fell from the ceiling.

The steel door structure, at least 40cm thick, had been shattered by Trunks' palm strike.

"Uh, Brother Gohan, I think I might have used a little too much force," Trunks said with an awkward laugh.

"It's fine, let's go." Son Gohan waved away the dust, passed through the iron door, and stepped inside.

Trunks also waved his hand to clear the smoke, following closely behind Son Gohan.

Passing through the iron door, a spacious laboratory appeared before them.

Unlike the dimness of the cave, the ceiling of the laboratory was embedded with numerous glowing energy stones.

The energy stones illuminated the entire space, making the laboratory as bright as day.

Dr. Gero had hollowed out the interior of this weathered mountain to build this secret base of considerable size.

Inside the laboratory, dense bundles of wires were tied together, covering the floor and the walls everywhere.

Several giant computers stood there, their screens pitch black, having long since ceased operation.

In the archives room, Dr. Gero's various manuscripts and work notes were piled up in dense stacks.

Inside the hall, three Nutrient Hibernation Pods were arranged in a row, some horizontal and some vertical.

Two of the pods were already open, while only one remained sealed, with energy tubes plugged into both sides to provide a constant flow of power to the unit.

Not far from the pods lay a headless corpse.

To call it a corpse was generous; in reality, only the clothing and skeletal remains were left.

Judging by the attire, this headless body was undoubtedly Dr. Gero himself.

The wretched Dr. Gero, after awakening 17 and 18, had attempted to control them with a special remote, only to be killed by 17 in retaliation.

In the end, his head was blown off by 17, leaving him without a complete body.

On the other side of the laboratory, a massive hole had been torn through the wall.

This must have been ripped open by 17's brute force back then.

The hole led directly to the Gobi desert outside, and the wind and sand blowing in had left a significant layer of dust across the laboratory floor.

Son Gohan crouched down beside Dr. Gero's corpse and began to rummage through the remains.

After pulling the only pen from the pocket on Dr. Gero's chest, Son Gohan stood up and kicked the headless skeleton out through the jagged hole.

"Trunks, go and collect everything that might be useful," Son Gohan instructed.

"Yes, Gohan-bro." Trunks nodded, took out his portable storage capsules, and began packing away the computers, notebooks, and various manuscripts.

Son Gohan walked over to the hibernation pods.

He first stored the two empty pods into a storage capsule, then crouched down to examine the only one that remained sealed.

A number was inscribed on the pod.

16!

Through the transparent glass of the pod, Son Gohan saw an android with a tall, sturdy build lying inside.

This android had a sharp, angular face with rugged features and short red hair.

He wore green armor over a black bodysuit, white socks, and green boots, his expression cold and stoic.

It was none other than Android 16.

This was a fully mechanical android created by Dr. Gero, modeled after his own son.

Dr. Gero's son had once been a high-ranking soldier in the Red Ribbon Army, but he had tragically died under enemy fire during a mission.

Harboring special feelings for his son, Dr. Gero had endowed 16 with immense power and a terrifying explosive device.

However, not wanting him to be destroyed in battle, he had designed 16's personality to be relatively gentle.

Consequently, 16 not only disliked fighting but actually loved peace, nature, and small animals.

In the eyes of the ambitious Dr. Gero, this was nothing short of a failed project.

Therefore, he had never activated 16, leaving him to slumber until this very day.

Placing his hand on the hibernation pod, Son Gohan thought for a moment and decided to reboot 16.

There were two reasons for this.

First, Earth's high-end combat power was currently far too scarce; 16 possessed formidable strength and might prove useful at some point.

Second, 16 had a gentle, peace-loving personality and was not a villainous, wicked soul like 17 and 18, making the risk of awakening him very low.

This was an android whose benefits far outweighed the risks.

Moreover, given Son Gohan's current combat power, even if 16 were to illogically rebel, he could easily handle him.

Not to mention Son Gohan, even Trunks in his current state could easily suppress 16.

After their long training in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, the brothers' base combat power was now staggering.

Even by the standards of their realms, Son Gohan was currently only a hair's breadth away from Super Saiyan 2, and Trunks had fully mastered the Super Saiyan Full Power form.

No matter how powerful 16 might be, he could never be their match.

Son Gohan carefully inspected the hibernation pod, successfully located the activation button, and pressed it.

A grinding "clack-clack" sound echoed through the room.

The lid of the hibernation pod slowly began to open.

Trunks, who had been so thorough he looked ready to tear up the floor tiles, walked over.

"Gohan-bro, I've finished collecting everything. What are you doing?"

Then, he saw a massive android sitting up from within the hibernation pod.