At Last

When they realized Dr. Gero had escaped, the group didn't just sit around and wait to die.

They split up to search for him, and sure enough, in an area far to the north, Piccolo found a rather well-hidden cave.

To be safe, he didn't alert anyone inside. Instead, he released his energy.

After sensing his energy, the others hurried toward him at top speed.

Inside the cave.

Dr. Gero was still debating whether to revive Android 18 and Android 17.

Although the two of them were incredibly powerful, there were far too many factors he couldn't control.

He was afraid they might disobey his orders and do as they pleased!

But as soon as he sensed Piccolo's energy, he stopped hesitating.

Those people would be here any moment. If he delayed any longer, he might lose his life right here...

Dr. Gero went straight to the two pods and took a remote control from his clothes.

"Whew!"

After taking a deep breath, he pressed one of the buttons on the remote with a withered finger.

"Creak!" "Creak!"

The two pod doors in front of him slowly swung open.

The first to emerge was a young man with black hair parted down the middle. He was Android 17.

Then, a beautiful young woman with golden hair stepped out of the other pod!

"Android 17..."

Dr. Gero murmured softly.

Android 17 turned and glanced at Dr. Gero, while discreetly eyeing the remote in his hand.

"Good morning, Dr. Gero!"

Android 17 said with a faint smile, looking quite amiable.

Hearing Android 17's words, Dr. Gero felt a little surprised.

He hadn't expected Android 17 to greet him of his own accord, and so warmly, too.

"How did you become so polite? You weren't like this before..."

Dr. Gero asked as he looked at him.

Back when he'd tried to modify the two siblings, it had taken a great deal of effort.

After he'd finally succeeded, the two of them had insisted on killing him.

He'd had no choice but to seal them away for the time being.

He just hadn't expected them to be so different when he woke them this time.

Seeing Dr. Gero's incredulous expression, Android 17 replied with a faint smile. "Of course. You're the one who created us, just like our father. Naturally, we should respect you!"

Hearing that reply, Dr. Gero began to gloat inwardly.

It seemed he'd finally fixed them. This would make things much easier.

"Why is there such a powerful energy nearby? And there are lots of other energies gathering here, too. What's going on, Dr. Gero?"

Android 18 asked curiously.

Seeing that the two of them seemed to be behaving, Dr. Gero grew arrogant. "Our enemies are outside. When I tell you to attack, you attack. Understand?"

Android 17 and Android 18 exchanged a glance, then answered in unison, "Understood!"

Satisfied with their answer, Dr. Gero nodded.

Now he was completely at ease.

But just as he was about to open the door and take the fight to them, something unexpected happened.

While Dr. Gero wasn't paying attention, Android 17 snatched the remote from his hand.

Dr. Gero's face drained of color. "What are you doing, Android 17?"

That remote was the only thing that gave him control over the two androids.

Without it, he'd lost control of them both!

"Heh!" Android 17 laughed coldly. "Did you really think we'd started obeying you?"

As he spoke, he crushed the remote in his hand!

"You turned us into this. You're lucky we haven't made you pay for it!"

Android 18 brushed back her hair and spoke menacingly.

Just then, the others arrived outside.

"What's going on in there?" Li Lin asked curiously, looking at Piccolo.

Piccolo was already sweating. He'd been guarding the cave the whole time.

So he'd heard every word of their conversation!

"The androids have been released!" Piccolo said through gritted teeth.

Facing an unknown enemy, it was only natural to feel a little afraid.

Even he, once known as Demon King Piccolo, was no exception.

Hearing that the androids had been released, Vegeta grew excited.

Seeing the metal door in front of him, he didn't waste a word before preparing to blast it open.

Trunks hurried over to stop him. "You can't do that. The androids have already been released. We should go back and think this through first!"

Watching Trunks, Li Lin smiled faintly.

This showed just how much more levelheaded Trunks was than the other Saiyans.

If Son Goku hadn't suddenly fallen ill and they hadn't returned so abruptly,

Trunks would probably have been even more anxious than Vegeta!

"Damn it, let go of me!"

"What the hell do you mean, think it through? I can wipe them out right now!"

Vegeta wasn't about to listen. He was determined to blast the door open.

But with Trunks holding him back, he couldn't fire a blast.

Li Lin didn't want to wait any longer. He was getting a little anxious, too.

But his reasons for being anxious were different. It wasn't simply because he wanted to fight!

Boom!

An explosion rang out.

Drawn by the blast, Vegeta and Trunks stopped their display of father-and-son affection.

Seeing the metal door blasted open, Vegeta smiled.

"Mr. Li Lin, you..."

Trunks looked at Li Lin in confusion.

He couldn't figure out why Li Lin had done that.

If he knew about the androids, didn't he know how dangerous they were?

Li Lin saw Trunks's puzzled expression, but had no intention of explaining himself.

There was no way he could explain it. He couldn't very well say he'd done it so he could meet his wife sooner...

As the dust from the explosion slowly settled, Android 17 and Android 18 stood at the cave entrance, waiting for them.

Li Lin's gaze immediately fell on Android 18.

He sighed inwardly. She really is the goddess of my dreams. She's even prettier in person!

No one else knew what he was thinking.

Dr. Gero saw that they really had caught up with him.

Facing so many people, Dr. Gero lost his head and immediately began giving orders. "Android 17, Android 18, kill them!"

Android 17 gave a disdainful smile. "We'll handle our own business. It's not your place to order us around!"

Seeing the two disobey him, Dr. Gero's wrinkled face twitched.

Android 18 walked over to another large pod and said calmly, "Why's there another one here? Android 16?"

Seeing Android 18 approach the pod, Dr. Gero hurriedly shouted, "Don't go near Android 16! Come back!"

"Hmph!" Android 18 snorted. As an android herself, she didn't want to leave another one of her kind imprisoned.

"The more you say that, the more curious I get. I'm not just going to get closer—I'm going to open it, too!"