Part 3, Chapter 5: The Final Battle Unfolds

So this is the old man's hideout Zahha mentioned!

We still don't know for sure...

It looks like it's still in use.

This is the first one we've seen up and running. I'd say there's a good chance we've hit the jackpot.

But, I can't catch the smell of Cell here. Is he really here?

The tracker I attached on him does indicate this to be his last location...

Whatever. If this is the real hideout, regardless of whether Cell's here or not, Dr. Gero will be here.

We lay the doc to rest first. Cell, second.

Yeah! I like your thinking. Either way, we still gotta clobber 'em all!

...Here you are.

This is as far as you go, meddlers. You will be eliminated.

That's a warm welcome. You seem to be protecting something behind you. Well, we'll take pleasure in destroying it!

But I think we'll start with you!

I've got the geezer's scent. This way!

Amazing! So many forks in the road, yet Master knows exactly where to go!

Heh heh. All that scientific genius... foiled by a nose. Imagine that.

Look. The path's opening up!

There you are!

How the hell did you get here?! One wrong turn in that labyrinth would keep you wandering for an eternity!

How? Our secret weapon, Shallot. That's how.

Shallot? ...That boy?

Hm... #16 didn't fill you in, then. I guess he's not as loyal as you thought.

All alone, Doctor? Where's your magnum opus, Cell?

Hmph. Even without Cell, #16 is more than a match for the likes of you!

(Judging by that reaction, Cell really isn't here.)

#19! Buy time until #16 is operational!

Let's scrap these guys and get after Gero!

Outta the way!

Wah ha ha!

There's too many. We'll lose Gero at this rate.

That's not the end of our worries, either. If Cell were to arrive at the same time as #16...

We'll be neck-deep in all sorts of hurt! What do we do?!

Here's a thought: you could have done nothing...and waited LIKE I SAID!

Zahha, Piccolo! Great timing. Let's kick these clowns into next week!

Is that all you have to say? ...Whatever. Punch first, talk later!

Whew! Thanks guys. We needed the help!

What do you take me for? A goldfish? I remember telling you guys to WAIT.

S-Sorry, Zahha. It's all because...

Of me! This is on me, Zahha.

N-No, it's not! If I didn't...

Ugh, fine! I get the point. I should've done a better job convincing this meathead to stay put anyway.

...Let's just not repeat this. Have I made myself clear?

A-As Crystal!

Damn roaches. They keep pouring out of the woodwork!

Hey, Shallot.

You ran full-out to get here. Why not sprint to the finish?

...?

I'm telling you to go ahead and take care of Gero for us. Piccolo and I can take these goons.

Are you sure...?

...Got it, Zahha! I'll bash in the geezer's brain case for you!

I'll stay behind too, just in case Cell shows himself!

Roger. With Zahha here, you should be able to hold that monster 'til I get back. #17, #18? It's go time!

Take care of yourself... Master!

...Master? You mean Shallot?

That's right!

Discipleship? Under that gorilla? I'd reconsider that career path, kid.

Master is no gorilla! He's one of the kindest souls of I've ever met!

Oh, really...

Why, just the other day, he...

(Eh. If the kid's fine with it, why not? I guess...)

Shallot, you're sure this is the way?

Without a doubt! The old man's stench is coming from this way!

Then it may as well be a straight shot to the end! Heh heh, Shallot may be soft in the head, but his sense of smell is razor sharp.

You seem happy.

Oh, does it show? We're finally on the last leg of our quest to defeat the evil scientist. Quite exciting, isn't it?

Here already? Irksome insects... I deployed every functional #19 unit in this facility!

You should've played it smart and deployed #16. Against us, a numbers game...is a losing game.

You'll soon be singing a different tune, defective junk!

I've brought all my spare bodies online. Keh keh keh... Well? Which is the real Gero?

Oh, I should probably mention that I've issued the order for Cell to return. He'll be here momentarily.

From spare bodies to your insectoid lackey... Will you ever learn to fight straight?

Did we get him?

Ha! I think not!

Damn. Which one IS it...?

...Guys! That one there!

How do you know?

Those eyes. They make me want to lodge my fist in them... More so than the others!

A-Alright...

Disappear, old man!

Fwa ha ha! Is playing with my copies that entertaining? Fools!

It's like searching for a needle in a haystack. Let's just melt 'em down one by one. We'll get Gero eventually.

But how'll we know whether he's down?

Easy. If the real Gero is issuing orders to the fakes...

...once we scrap him, his puppets are bound to shut down.

Why not make a game out of it? First to open a hole in the real Gero wins!

Sounds fun. I'm in! Let's get to wrecking!

Unfortunately, your juvenile plan will never come to fruition.

...

#16!

Protect me, #16! Stop these fools!

We meet again, #16.

...

Is this really what you'd want to do? To be the old fart's lap dog?

...

In our original world...if you'd come online while Gero was still breathing, would we have been enemies?

...

No comment? Man, it's impossible to get a read on you.

It's high time we retired the good doctor and fixed history!

Grr...!

What gives? He's way stronger than before!

As he should be! It's amazing how far a little fine tuning can go. Now, #16... Retrieve #17 and #18!

(Fine tuning, eh? Wait... In our world, the doc said he planned on rebuilding #16 from scratch...)

I see... You remodeled #16, didn't you?

Ah, you're rather astute. For a piece of junk, that is.

Indeed. After this remodeling, #16 has just become my greatest masterpiece, merciless and loyal!

Unlike you disobedient defects!

In other words, you turned him into a mindless servant! You're sick!

You'll pay for this, Gero!

Hmm, that doesn't make sense. In our original timeline, you were resistant to boot up #16...

#16 is a prototype! A failed one at that! Do not bring him online, I tell you!

You warned us that if we activated him, #16 might wring our necks, yours included.

And yet here the silent giant is before us. What motivated this change of heart, I wonder?

What is this nonsense you're spouting? #16 would never dare attack his master. YOU on the other hand... That's a different story.

Behold his amazing power! His energy! #16 is the very embodiment of my scientific genius!

He's taken a complete 180 to our timeline. What gives, #18?

Damned if I know. Maybe the old fart's finally gone senile.

Enough talking? We came here to break the old man's face and save #16!

Just don't overdo it and break #16.

That bruiser'll be okay. He's tough...!

Shallot and I will take #16. #18, you keep scrapping the docs.

Keep a close watch on ALL of them. If one tries to turn tail, that's him.

Sounds like a plan. Just don't die on me.

Here we go, Shallot. Let's stop #16 by the two of us.

Cool! Let's do it, #17!

Krh...!

...

Tch! Cool as a cucumber, eh? Come at us seriously!

...

You really don't like to talk, huh? Well, let's see how long you can pretend to stay calm!

Don't rush in, you moron!

Hrm!

What?! He's even faster than!

Tch!

Kragh!

...?!

#17?! You protected me...?!

...!

Heh, that's a good punch...

Are you freaking suicidal?!

It's a battle with #16. We wouldn't want to go a man down, even if it's a brainless like you.

And, this doesn't even hurt.

Heroic idiot...

Hey, #16. I get the old man has messed up with your body...

But #17's your friend, right?! Friends don't hurt each other!

Nrrgh... Arrrgh!

...#16?

Knngh!

(Something's wrong with #16. What's going...)

...!

...?! Where'd he...?

I've had enough of you, Gero! Burn in hell... After I burn you here!

Gngh!

#16?!

He shielded Gero! But why?!

Hmm... Very interesting... Let's try a little experiment.

Eat this, Gero!

Grr...!

Oh, I get it.

#17. I'm in the mood for some fireworks.

What a coincidence. So am I!

Ngaah!

Why's #16 guarding the old man? Dodge, you big oaf!

The Gero cowering behind #16... That's our man!

...!

The doctor's safety is top priority in #16's program. He has no choice but to protect the real Gero.

Glad my sweeping attack worked.

I see... You guys are pretty smart!

End of the line, Doc! There won't be a single nut or bolt left of you after this!

Ngh, a tactical retreat is in order... #16, a diversion!

...Grr...

Are you deaf, #16?! Obey my order!

Rrr... Agh...

GRAAAAAAAAGH!

What the...?! That lout exploded out of a sudden!

They're gone... That explosion was just a disguise. Now, where did they escape?

Nowhere Shallot's nose can't sniff out. More importantly... #16. Something's wrong with him.

He looked different than last time.

Maybe Gero's control is imperfect despite his best effort.

All the more reason to kill Gero before the sun sets. Come on. Our friend needs saving!

(I was right to build an emergency exit. You can never be too careful.)

(#16 hesitated to obey my order, albeit for a few seconds...)

You can run, but you can't hide, old fart!

Wha?!

Found ya. Say, aren't you pretty old to be playing hide-and-seek?

Irksome pests...! Shield me, #16! That's an order!

...

Useless mass of metal! Have you short-circuited?!

Obey me, #16! Obey, I say!

Enough of this. The #16 I know would never stoop to being Dr. Gero's handservant.

...

I asked you this back in our timeline, so I'll ask again. What were you made for?

I-I...

Break free from Gero's control... Remember who you are.

As I recall, you exist to destroy Goku, right?

What were you made for?

I told you. To destroy Goku.

...!

Seems he remembered.

My purpose... is...

Don't listen to this drivel! You need only obey me, your creator! Understand?!

Unngh...!

Can it, Gero! This whole mess is your fault!

I'm gonna put an end to this... by destroying YOU!

Silence, filthy ape! Must everyone I cross paths with defy me?!

I've decided... After I destroy you all...

I will redesign #16 anew, stripping him of any and all free will! He will be the perfect war machine!

(This feeling... This is the same vibe I got from Raditz and the others!)

What a perfectly twisted man you are.

My thoughts exactly. Now let me tell you MY next plan of action, old man.

From the very moment we came online, we've acted entirely on whim.

Killing you just made sense. We never really gave it a thought.

But that all changes now. I swear to devote every last ounce of power and will in me to delivering you a painful and fiery death!

Be erased, Gero! For good this time!

Gaaaaaaaah!

Drat, I've been bested... But my death will not be the end! On the contrary, this is only the beginning!

What?

For the birth of the ultimate warrior is nigh!

The ultimate warrior...!

That's right... My TRUE vengeance is finally at hand!

Hear me, ultimate warrior! Bend the whole universe to your peerless might!

Stop beating around the bush! Who IS it already?!

You will know in due course. And then sink into despair!

I've had enough of this loudmouth. Time to...

Die!

...Beaten to the punch.

Hey, first come, first serve. You hogged the kill in our world.

I said I will do the honors this time. Now we're even.

Th-That is one scary lady...

Well, the last issue... You.

...

Mission... failed... My... purpose...

Uh, did he break?

Now that Gero's out of the picture, he's not sure what to do.

The hell he doesn't. Listen up, #16...

...?

WHAT'RE YOU, STUPID?!

Ugh?!

You decide your "purpose"! It's your life, dammit! Look at #17 and #18 here!

These two do whatever they freaking want all day long!

SO WHADDAYA YOU WANNA DO?!

I... I...

Whew! Glad I got that out!

Hey, #17. Let's get the big guy over to Bulma's. She'll have him fixed up in a jiffy.

Not so fast, Shallot. You hit #16.

Huh?

Yes. Our very PRECIOUS friend, #16.

G-Geez, guys. I was only trying to knock a little pep into him!

But instead you knocked him down. And to think, I was starting to warm up to you...

Wha...?! Aren't you exaggerating? I didn't even hold my fist tight!

With your freakish strength, one can't be too sure.

Also, that part about us doing "whatever we freaking want"...? That didn't sound like it came from a place of respect. Plus, YOU do whatever you want, too!

Uh... Er...

Heh.

...?

Ha ha ha, we're just playing. We know #16's built to handle way worse.

GAH, you guys! I seriously believed you!

If only you could see your own face... Priceless. You're my new favorite plaything, Shallot.

Y-Yeah? Try playin' with these fists...

U-Urrrgh...

Huh?

M-Master...!

Cabba? That you?! What happened?!

Greetings... "Master"! Heh heh heh!

What?! CELL?!

What have you done to Cabba and the rest, you monster?!

They kept making brazen demands... Something about not letting me pass? I had no choice but to humble them.

G-Grr...! Son of a...

Oh, calm yourself. They're still breathing...for now, anyway.

But flee and I assure you that will swiftly change. Understand?

You won't be slipping through my grasp this time, #17, #18! Now, all three of you...come here!

I want you to walk to your doom with your own legs, so that I may feast on your power! Wah ha ha ha!

Grrnngh... Dammit! Dammit all! CEEEEELL!

...