The Androids Awake!

The Race to the Laboratory

Tien Shinhan, Piccolo, and Krillin arrive in the frigid mountains near North City and split up to search for Dr. Gero's secret lab. Krillin grumbles about the cold, but Tien tells him to push through it. The trio divides the six remaining Senzu Beans before separating. Elsewhere, Vegeta warns Future Trunks to stop hovering, but Trunks refuses, knowing Vegeta intends to fight the androids the moment they appear. When Trunks threatens to physically stop him, Vegeta sneers that any true Saiyan would relish the challenge. Gero, traveling on foot to avoid detection, is closing in on his hidden base and remains confident that the Z Fighters will never locate it in time.

Inside the Cave

Gero reaches the mountainside cave concealing his laboratory and leaps up to the entrance. His internal sensors detect a presence just as he prepares to enter, and he turns to find Krillin staring at him. Dismissing the small fighter, Gero opens the lab door and taunts that summoning the others will not help. Krillin raises his ki to signal the group, and Piccolo, Tien, Vegeta, and Trunks all sense the flare.

Awakening the Twins

Inside the lab, Gero admits he would have preferred never to reactivate Androids 17 and 18, but he has no choice. Clutching the Shut Down Remote, he powers up Android 17 first. The android greets his creator with a polite "good morning," though his gaze drifts toward the remote. Gero then activates Android 18, who is equally civil but also eyes the device. She notes that Gero has converted himself into a cyborg, and he explains he craved eternal life. He confesses that their infinite energy reactors once made them impossible to control. With the Z Fighters closing in, he orders the pair to eliminate them. Both agree. The fighters begin pounding on the laboratory door, and the distraction is all Android 17 needs. He snatches the remote, crushes it, and promises Gero will never put them to sleep again. Outside, Piccolo is about to blast the door open when Gero's panicked shouts echo from within. Tien and Krillin freeze as they realize the androids are already awake.