The End of Android 20

The main gate crashed down with a thunderous boom, dust billowing everywhere. Through the swirling haze, three figures could vaguely be seen—Android 17 and Android 18 radiated an invisible pressure, while Android 20... was now nothing more than roadside trash, not worth mentioning.

Although they had long learned the characteristics of these two androids from Trunks, Krillin could not help confirming it again when facing them for real. "Those are Android 17 and Android 18?"

"Yes." Trunks's voice was taut as a bowstring. "Don't let their appearances fool you. They're actually ruthless and cruel people." He stared at the two figures, every muscle in his body tense—only those who had lived through that era knew how terrifying these two androids were.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Android 20 also felt the pressure. "They're the companions of Goku I mentioned before... Don't underestimate them. They not only defeated Android 19, they nearly took my life."

"Android 19?" Hearing that number from the doctor, Android 17 raised an eyebrow slightly. "You created other androids too?" After thinking for a moment, he sorted out the relationship between them. "I see... The doctor used him to turn himself into an android? Android 19 was an energy-absorption type?"

"Yes!"

Looking at the doctor's back, Android 18 spoke with a trace of mockery in her voice. "Why did the newer android revert to the old energy-absorption model? Was it because the infinite-energy type was too powerful for you to control?"

"Y-yes."

"That's why you got beaten."

Android 18 mercilessly rubbed salt into the wound, and Android 20's face alternated between green and white.

"Couldn't control them?" Krillin and the others, who had been listening all along, exchanged looks, unable to hide their shock.

Android 20 suddenly remembered why he had activated Android 17 and Android 18, and hurriedly changed the subject. "There's no point talking about this! Why aren't you hurrying up and taking care of those people?"

"Old man, are you done nagging?" The siblings could not have cared less about his orders. Android 17 shot back directly, "We only kill people when we feel like killing them."

"Y-you... what did you say?" Android 20 was so furious he could barely speak. His only remaining left hand clenched into a tight fist. He glanced at the shattered remote on the ground and cursed inwardly. Damn it... if the controller hadn't been broken...

Android 18 could not be bothered with his anger. Instead, she walked toward the sleeping chamber on the ground with great interest. "Android 16?" Seeing the number on the chamber, she turned back to look at Android 20 in confusion. "Is this one an infinite-energy type too? He seems a little different from us. He looks pretty big... I wonder what's different about him?"

Android 18 bent down to examine the massive figure inside the chamber. Unlike the other androids, Android 16's face held no killing intent—or rather, that face held no expression at all. He was like a silent guardian waiting to be awakened.

For some reason, she looked at him a few more times before withdrawing her gaze.

"Don't touch him, Android 18! You absolutely must not touch him! Don't touch him!" Android 20 jumped in fright at her actions—only he knew just how terrifying that thing had been when he designed Android 16.

"T-there's an Android 16 too? How did I not know? What is going on?" Hearing the number "Android 16," Trunks's pupils suddenly contracted. He had no information whatsoever about Android 16 in his memories—in the future timeline, no such person had ever existed.

That was no surprise. In the future timeline, Android 17 and Android 18 killed Doctor Gero as soon as they awakened and destroyed the entire laboratory, so Android 16 never had the chance to appear.

"This looks pretty interesting." Android 17 was eager to stir things up. "Go ahead and let Android 16 out."

"No! Stop! Are you trying to destroy the world? Android 16 is a failed experiment. You absolutely cannot activate him!" Android 20 desperately tried to stop them, his voice carrying a hint of terror.

Krillin, watching from the sidelines, was even starting to think of backing out, while Vegeta still wore the look of someone who considered himself unrivaled, completely unconcerned.

Android 18 bent down and was about to open Android 16's sleeping chamber when Android 20 rushed over and grabbed her arm. Android 18 frowned in disgust, then drove her elbow into him. "Don't go taking liberties with a lady!"

Android 20 fell to the ground in a sorry heap. Android 18 circled the sleeping chamber once and voiced the question on her mind. "If he's a failed product, why have you preserved him so well? I heard you already disposed of Android 15."

"I planned to remake him later... In any case, you can't touch him! If he starts moving, he might kill both me and you!"

"You mean... he might kill us?" Android 17 used the miniature computer in his brain to analyze Android 16's data. Seeing that his current data was inferior to both his own and Android 18's, he did not take the warning seriously. "Forget about him. Activate him, Android 18."

"You... You keep defying my orders!" Android 20 raged. "You're all failed products, just like Android 16! Go ahead and do whatever you want—I'll make sure you can't move without energy!"

"But the controller is already broken."

"I'll just make another one."

Before his words had even faded, Android 17's eyes changed. The trace of amusement in them vanished completely, replaced by an icy chill.

Make another controller—those words meant that as long as this old man remained alive, he and Android 18 would never truly be free.

"After all I've said, don't you understand? You can't let Android 16 start up!" Hearing the sleeping chamber activating, Android 20 turned back toward Android 18 in terror, leaving his back completely exposed to Android 17.

Android 17 looked at that back and hesitated no longer. He extended his hand and cleanly drove it through Android 20's chest.

Blood splattered. Under Android 17's "tender care," Android 20 was instantly gravely wounded and collapsed to the ground. Vegeta and the others, who had still been watching, widened their eyes in disbelief—only Trunks was not surprised in the slightest.

Android 17 pulled his hand from Android 20's body. Android 20 turned around with difficulty, his voice trembling. "Why... are you treating me like this? I'm... the one who created you..."

Hearing him bring that up again, Android 17 lashed out with a sweeping kick and sent Android 20's head flying. It rolled to a stop not far in front of Krillin, making his whole body shudder.

Even after hitting the ground, the head was still moving—the energy module had not yet completely shut down. Its mouth opened and closed as it continued accusing Android 17 of "betrayal."

Android 17 had the excellent habit of finishing the job. He flew forward and stomped down. The sound of metal and bone shattering echoed through the laboratory.

Doctor Gero—the Red Ribbon Army's last survivor, the scientist who had turned even himself into a weapon—died just like that beneath the feet of the "masterpiece" he had created with his own hands.