Time Patrol: Shadow Operations
The temporal rift deposited the Time Patrol team onto a windswept plateau overlooking South City. The familiar sensation of chronodisplacement faded as they oriented themselves to their new temporal coordinates—May 12th, Age 767. Three years had passed since Trunks' intervention, and today marked the arrival of Androids 19 and 20.
"Timeline analysis shows significant variance," Scarlett announced immediately, her scanner painting an alarming picture. "The Androids' power signatures are... inconsistent with historical records."
Zero's sealed form tensed as he processed the implications. "Define inconsistent."
"Android 19's energy absorption capabilities have been enhanced beyond original parameters. And Android 20—Dr. Gero—is showing power fluctuations that suggest external augmentation." Scarlett's expression grew grave. "Towa hasn't just enhanced them; she's fundamentally altered their core programming."
Aiko's sensitive ears twitched as she detected the approaching energy signatures of the Z-Fighters. "The team's gathering as scheduled, but..." She paused, concentrating. "Goku's heart virus is progressing faster than it should. His power level is already dropping below optimal parameters."
"Accelerated timeline," Eleryc concluded, his Kai heritage allowing him to sense the temporal distortions. "If Goku becomes incapacitated too early, Vegeta won't have his historical motivation to engage Android 19 alone."
Jinjer studied the distant city where chaos was beginning to erupt. "And if the power balance shifts too dramatically in the Androids' favor..."
"The Z-Fighters could be eliminated before Androids 17 and 18 are ever activated," Zero finished grimly. "Changing everything that follows."
The team spread out across strategic positions as the first explosions rocked South City below. Through their shared communications network, they coordinated their approach to this most complex of interventions—one that would require them to manage not just power levels, but the precise timing of multiple interconnected events.
"Visual confirmation on Android 19," Aiko reported from her elevated position. "The energy absorption discs in his palms are... modified. They're glowing with dark energy traces."
"And Dr. Gero is maintaining power levels far beyond his historical capacity," Eleryc added. "Towa's given him enhancements that will make him a match for Super Saiyan Vegeta—something that never should have been possible."
Below them, the Z-Fighters had arrived to confront the mechanical threats. Goku, still showing signs of his impending illness but not yet incapacitated, faced off against Android 19 while the others watched with growing concern.
"Heart virus acceleration detected," Scarlett warned. "Goku has approximately four minutes before historical incapacitation, but current progression suggests two minutes maximum."
"If he falls too early, Vegeta won't witness enough of 19's energy absorption technique to develop his counter-strategy," Zero noted. "We need to slow the virus progression without eliminating it entirely."
Jinjer positioned herself where she could observe both battles simultaneously. Her unique background as a reincarnation of Goku Black gave her insights into Saiyan physiology that proved invaluable in these delicate interventions.
"I can create a temporal buffer around Goku's cardiovascular system," she proposed. "Not healing, but slowing the progression to match historical parameters."
"Risky," Zero cautioned. "Any direct biological manipulation—"
"Won't be direct," she interrupted. "I'll use ambient ki manipulation to create environmental conditions that naturally slow the virus. Changes in atmospheric pressure, subtle electromagnetic fields—all undetectable but effective."
As Goku and Android 19 clashed in their opening exchanges, Jinjer began her delicate work. Her divine ki, refined through years of redemptive service, created minute changes in the local environment that would naturally ease the strain on Goku's compromised system.
Meanwhile, Eleryc focused on Dr. Gero, whose enhanced power threatened to overwhelm Piccolo and Tien before their historical roles could be fulfilled.
"Classic selective filtering," he murmured, hands weaving complex patterns as he channeled his Kai abilities. "Too much power, too fast. Towa's overcompensating."
The battle below intensified as Android 19 began demonstrating his energy absorption capabilities. Each time Goku's attacks were absorbed, the mechanical fighter grew stronger—but Towa's enhancements were making the process far more efficient than history recorded.
"19's absorption rate is triple historical parameters," Aiko warned. "At this rate, he'll overpower Goku before the heart virus can naturally incapacitate him."
"Then we regulate the absorption efficiency," Zero decided. "Aiko, can you create interference patterns in the energy transfer?"
"Already working on it," she confirmed, her enhanced senses allowing her to track the complex energy flows between combatants. "Introducing resonance disruption in 3... 2... 1..."
The effect was subtle but immediate. Android 19's next energy absorption proceeded at exactly the rate history had recorded, giving Goku the opportunity to demonstrate his full power while gradually succumbing to his illness.
"Perfect synchronization," Scarlett confirmed. "Goku's performance aligning with historical records. Heart virus progression now matching expected timeline."
As the battle reached its crucial turning point, Goku finally collapsed, the heart virus claiming him exactly as history demanded. Vegeta's arrival followed immediately—his pride wounded by witnessing another Saiyan's defeat, his anger focused on proving his superiority.
"Vegeta's transformation imminent," Eleryc reported. "But Dr. Gero's enhancements might make him too powerful for even Super Saiyan Vegeta to handle."
"Not if we're selective about which enhancements we allow," Zero replied, already implementing their contingency plan.
The team worked in perfect coordination as Vegeta's golden aura blazed to life. While he engaged Android 19 with historical precision, they carefully modulated Dr. Gero's power levels, ensuring that while he remained formidable, he wouldn't exceed the parameters that would lead to the proper outcome of these confrontations.
"19's destruction proceeding as recorded," Aiko confirmed as Vegeta systematically dismantled the energy-absorbing android. "Power absorption capabilities failing under sustained Super Saiyan assault."
"Dr. Gero retreating toward his laboratory," Scarlett added. "Next critical juncture approaching—the activation of Androids 17 and 18."
As the first phase of the Android saga reached its conclusion, the team prepared for the even more delicate task ahead. The real Androids—17 and 18—represented a convergence point of staggering complexity, their activation leading directly to Cell's emergence and the tournament that would define the next phase of Dragon Ball history.
"Towa's influence is evolving," Jinjer observed as they tracked Dr. Gero's retreat. "She's not just enhancing individual fighters anymore. She's trying to alter the fundamental relationships between characters."
"The awakening of 17 and 18 will be her real test," Eleryc agreed. "If she can corrupt their programming before they rebel against Gero..."
"They could remain under his control," Zero concluded. "And a Dr. Gero commanding 17 and 18's power..."
"Would be unstoppable by any force in this timeline," Scarlett finished grimly.
The team regrouped as they prepared to shadow the Z-Fighters' approach to Dr. Gero's mountain laboratory. The next phase of their mission would require unprecedented precision—ensuring that two of history's most powerful beings awakened exactly as they were meant to, free from Towa's corrupting influence.
"Laboratory approach in thirty minutes," Scarlett confirmed. "Multiple temporal stress points converging. This is where everything could unravel."
But as they moved through the rocky terrain, Scarlett's scanner began emitting increasingly urgent warnings. "Critical alert—massive temporal distortion detected inside the laboratory. Towa's not just enhancing the Androids. She's attempting to rewrite their core directives entirely."
Zero studied the readings with growing alarm. "If she succeeds in making them loyal to Gero..."
"We'll face three unstoppable adversaries instead of the historical rebellion that eliminates Gero and leaves 17 and 18 as manageable threats," Eleryc concluded.
"Shadow operations won't be sufficient," Aiko realized, her enhanced senses detecting the massive dark energy signatures converging on the laboratory. "The corruption is too deep, too fundamental."
Scarlett's expression was grim as she ran calculations on her temporal scanner. "Standard intervention protocols are insufficient. Direct engagement will be necessary to preserve the timeline."
"That's a massive risk," Zero cautioned. "Direct involvement could create paradoxes we can't control."
"And non-involvement guarantees timeline collapse," Scarlett countered. "I'm detecting probability cascades. If Androids 17 and 18 remain under Gero's control, Cell never achieves his perfect form, the tournament never happens, and the entire future timeline becomes impossible."
Jinjer studied the laboratory's energy patterns with her unique perspective. "There's another approach. Eleryc and I can work on Gero's psychological state—subtle influence to ensure his decision-making follows historical patterns. Meanwhile, Aiko and Scarlett handle direct intervention on the Androids' programming."
"Psychological manipulation is delicate work," Eleryc noted, "but feasible. Gero's arrogance and paranoia are well-documented historical traits. If we can amplify the right aspects at the right moments..."
"He'll make the same mistakes he made originally," Zero finished, understanding the strategy. "Activating the Androids despite the warnings, underestimating their independence."
As the Z-Fighters began their assault on the laboratory's exterior, the Time Patrol split into their designated roles. Zero maintained overwatch, monitoring for additional anomalies, while the others prepared for their most direct intervention yet.
Inside the laboratory, Dr. Gero moved frantically between the activation chambers of Androids 17 and 18, dark energy swirling around the pods as Towa's influence worked to corrupt decades of programming. The mechanical beings lay dormant, unaware that their destinies hung in the balance.
"Beginning psychological influence," Jinjer reported through their comms, her voice tight with concentration. Drawing on her experience as a former villain who had undergone redemption, she understood the twisted pride that drove beings like Gero. Her divine ki created subtle environmental pressures that would enhance his natural arrogance.
Eleryc complemented her work with his Kai abilities, weaving temporal suggestions into Gero's immediate thoughts. Not direct mind control—which would create paradoxes—but gentle nudges that encouraged his historical decision patterns to emerge despite Towa's interference.
"Target's paranoia increasing to historical parameters," Eleryc confirmed. "He's beginning to doubt his ability to control enhanced Androids, just as he should."
Meanwhile, Aiko and Scarlett infiltrated the laboratory itself, moving with practiced stealth past the battling Z-Fighters and into the deeper chambers where the real threat lay.
"Direct visual on the activation pods," Aiko whispered, her enhanced senses allowing her to navigate the complex facility in complete darkness. "Dark energy corruption is extensive. The programming matrices are almost completely rewritten."
Scarlett activated her most sophisticated temporal tools, devices that could interface directly with the Androids' systems without triggering security protocols. "Beginning counter-programming. But this is going to require physical contact with the pods themselves."
"I'll provide cover," Aiko volunteered, positioning herself between Scarlett and the laboratory's main chamber where Gero was growing increasingly agitated under Eleryc and Jinjer's subtle influence.
As Scarlett worked, her fingers dancing across interfaces that shouldn't have existed in this time period, she carefully unraveled Towa's corruption while preserving the original Android programming. The process required her to essentially engage in a programming battle with one of the most sophisticated time manipulators in existence.
"Resistance patterns adapting," she muttered, sweat beading on her forehead as she countered each of Towa's digital traps. "She's learning from my techniques in real-time."
"How much longer?" Aiko asked urgently, her sensitive hearing picking up the sounds of the Z-Fighters getting closer to their position.
"Two minutes minimum. The corruption runs deeper than anything we've encountered."
Outside their position, Jinjer's psychological influence was reaching its critical juncture. Through their comms, she reported: "Gero's approaching the activation decision. His confidence is building exactly as history recorded, but Towa's influence is still competing with our suggestions."
"Increasing temporal pressure on his decision matrix," Eleryc added. "Emphasizing his frustration with Android 19's failure, his need to prove his superiority to the Z-Fighters."
The next sixty seconds would determine everything. As Scarlett fought her digital battle against Towa's programming, and Eleryc and Jinjer worked to ensure Gero's psychological state matched historical parameters, the fate of multiple timelines hung in the balance.
"Programming restoration at seventy percent," Scarlett reported breathlessly. "But I'm running out of time. The Z-Fighters are about to breach the inner laboratory."
"Gero's hand is on the activation switch," Aiko confirmed, watching through a gap in the chamber wall. "Whatever we're going to do, it has to be now."
"Eighty-five percent," Scarlett said through gritted teeth. "Close enough. If Gero activates them now, the core personality matrices should be intact."
At that precise moment, Eleryc and Jinjer's psychological manipulation reached its crescendo. Dr. Gero, driven by the same pride and desperation that had defined him in the original timeline, slammed his hand down on the activation controls.
"It's working," Jinjer breathed as the pods began to open. "He's following historical patterns. The Androids will awaken as themselves, not as Towa's puppets."
But even as Android 17 and 18 began to stir, Scarlett's scanner detected one final surge of dark energy—Towa's last-ditch attempt to corrupt them during the vulnerable moments of awakening.
"Not on my watch," Aiko growled, abandoning stealth for the first time in the mission. She burst from concealment, placing herself directly between the awakening Androids and Towa's energy pulse.
The dark energy struck Aiko full-force, her enhanced physiology allowing her to absorb the corruption that would have twisted the Androids' minds. She screamed as the malevolent force coursed through her, but held her position until the critical moment passed.
"Aiko!" Scarlett called out, rushing to her teammate's aid.
"I'm... I'm fine," Aiko gasped, the dark energy slowly dissipating as her natural resilience overcame it. "Are they...?"
Android 17 sat up in his pod, his cold blue eyes surveying the laboratory with the same calculating indifference that history had recorded. Beside him, Android 18 awakened with identical composure.
"Oh, hello there, Dr. Gero," Android 17 said with the casual menace that would soon lead to their creator's destruction. "We need to have a little talk."
"Historical parameters confirmed," Scarlett announced quietly through their comms. "Androids 17 and 18 are awakening exactly as they should. Timeline integrity preserved."
The next few minutes played out with perfect historical accuracy. Dr. Gero's attempts to control his creations, their casual dismissal of his authority, and ultimately his destruction at Android 17's hands—all proceeded exactly as recorded.
As the Androids departed to begin their historical rampage, eventually leading to their encounter with Cell, the Time Patrol regrouped at a safe distance.
"Mission accomplished," Zero confirmed, though concern for Aiko was evident in his voice. "Are the dark energy effects fully neutralized?"
"Clean," Scarlett confirmed after scanning Aiko with her temporal sensors. "Her physiology processed and eliminated the corruption completely."
"Direct intervention was necessary," Eleryc reflected. "Shadow operations alone couldn't have countered Towa's level of interference."
"She's escalating," Jinjer agreed. "Each mission, she's more sophisticated, more dangerous."
As they prepared for extraction, Scarlett's scanner picked up a familiar energy signature—Towa herself, observing from a distant temporal vantage point.
"She's watching us," Scarlett reported. "Learning from this encounter, just as we are from hers."
"Then we'll have to stay ahead of her learning curve," Zero replied grimly as the extraction rift opened before them.
But their mission wasn't over. As Androids 17 and 18 departed Dr. Gero's destroyed laboratory, leaving behind only mechanical debris and the old scientist's scattered remains, Scarlett's temporal scanner detected a massive anomaly forming.
"Temporal distortion increasing," she announced urgently. "Something's wrong. History shows Dr. Gero should still be alive at this point."
Zero's sealed form tensed as he processed the implications. "In the original timeline, Gero escaped the laboratory destruction. The Z-Fighters had to hunt him down to his secondary hideout."
"But he's already dead," Aiko observed, gesturing toward the debris. "Android 17 killed him here instead of at the hidden base."
"Towa's influence," Jinjer realized grimly. "Even though we prevented her from corrupting the Androids, the psychological manipulations we used to ensure Gero's historical behavior patterns had an unintended side effect."
Eleryc nodded gravely. "We enhanced his arrogance and paranoia to the point where he confronted the Androids more aggressively than he should have. They eliminated him ahead of schedule."
"Timeline fracture imminent," Scarlett warned, her scanner painting an alarming picture. "If the Z-Fighters don't find Gero's secondary laboratory, they'll never discover Android 16. Without 16's presence..."
"Gohan never experiences the emotional trigger needed for his Super Saiyan 2 transformation during the Cell Games," Zero concluded. "Cell wins, Earth is destroyed, and the entire timeline collapses."
The team moved swiftly through the mountainous terrain, tracking the Z-Fighters' search patterns while simultaneously scanning for Dr. Gero's hidden facility. The irony wasn't lost on them—having successfully preserved the Androids' proper awakening, they now had to ensure their creator's historical survival long enough to lead the heroes to their next crucial discovery.
"Z-Fighters spreading out in search formation," Aiko reported, her enhanced senses tracking multiple energy signatures across the mountain range. "Krillin is taking the eastern quadrant, exactly as recorded."
"But without Gero to track, they're searching blind," Eleryc noted. "In the original timeline, they followed his energy signature."
"Then we give them something to follow," Zero decided. "Eleryc, can you create a false energy trail leading from the destroyed laboratory to the hidden base?"
"Risky," the half-Kai replied, already beginning to weave temporal energy into a convincing facsimile of Dr. Gero's ki signature. "But manageable. I'll make it subtle enough that they'll think they're tracking residual energy from his escape."
As Eleryc worked to lay the energy trail, the rest of the team positioned themselves to guide the search if necessary. Krillin was indeed the key—his discovery of the hidden laboratory had been the pivotal moment that put history back on track.
"False trail established," Eleryc confirmed. "Leading directly to the concealed entrance of Gero's secondary base."
"Krillin's picked up the signature," Aiko reported, watching the small martial artist change direction toward the energy trail. "He's signaling the others now."
Through their shared communications, they heard Krillin's voice calling out to his companions: "Hey, I think I found something! There's an energy signature over here!"
"Perfect historical alignment," Scarlett confirmed as the other Z-Fighters converged on Krillin's position. "Piccolo, Tien, Vegeta—all responding as recorded."
But as the heroes approached the hidden laboratory, Scarlett's scanner detected new anomalies. "Additional temporal distortions manifesting inside the facility. Towa's not done with us yet."
"She's targeting Android 16 directly," Jinjer realized, studying the energy patterns. "If she can corrupt him before the Z-Fighters discover him..."
"We'll face the same problem we just solved with 17 and 18," Zero concluded. "Direct intervention may be necessary again."
As the Z-Fighters located the concealed entrance to Dr. Gero's laboratory, the Time Patrol made their preparations. Aiko, Scarlett, and Zero positioned themselves for potential direct action, while Eleryc and Jinjer maintained their shadow operations.
"Remember," Zero cautioned as they watched Vegeta blast open the laboratory doors, "we intervene only if the timeline deviates beyond acceptable parameters. Our primary goal is to preserve Android 16's discovery and his eventual role in Gohan's development."
Inside the laboratory, the Z-Fighters discovered the rows of stasis pods containing incomplete Android prototypes—a sight that filled them with dread about Dr. Gero's true capabilities. But it was the largest pod that drew their attention, containing the massive form of Android 16.
"Energy corruption detected around Pod 16," Scarlett reported tensely. "Towa's attempting to alter his pacifist programming."
"If she succeeds in making him aggressive..." Aiko began.
"He becomes a threat instead of an ally," Zero finished. "And Gohan never receives the guidance he needs to surpass Cell."
As Vegeta approached Android 16's pod with characteristic arrogance, preparing to activate the massive Android despite his companions' protests, the Time Patrol prepared for their most delicate intervention yet.
"Pod activation in ten seconds," Scarlett announced. "Dark energy corruption at seventy percent. If we don't act now..."
"I'm moving," Zero declared, abandoning their shadow protocol as he streaked toward the laboratory.
But before he could reach the facility, a new complication arose. Dr. Gero himself—somehow survived from the earlier confrontation—stumbled into the laboratory through a concealed passage, his damaged form barely functioning.
"Impossible," Eleryc breathed. "He should be dead."
"Temporal feedback," Scarlett realized. "Our alterations to his psychological state created a causal loop. His enhanced paranoia made him prepare an escape route from his own laboratory."
The injured Dr. Gero, driven by desperation and the same enhanced arrogance the Time Patrol had amplified, lunged toward Android 16's activation controls. But his damaged cybernetic systems were failing, his movements erratic.
"Historical patterns re-establishing," Jinjer observed with relief. "His survival allows the timeline to self-correct."
As Dr. Gero's trembling hand reached for the activation switch, Zero made a split-second decision. Instead of preventing the activation, he subtly guided Gero's failing systems, ensuring the scientist would complete his historical role.
Android 16's eyes opened with their characteristic gentle intelligence, uncorrupted by Towa's influence thanks to the temporal stabilization of his creator's survival. The massive Android sat up slowly, his peaceful nature intact despite the dark energy that had been attempting to twist his programming.
"Programming matrices stable," Scarlett confirmed with relief. "Android 16 is awakening with his original pacifist directives intact."
Dr. Gero, his purpose fulfilled and his body finally succumbing to his injuries, collapsed—this time permanently. His death came at the historically appropriate moment, after ensuring his final creation would fulfill its destined role.
"Timeline convergence achieved," Eleryc announced as Android 16 regarded the Z-Fighters with curious but non-hostile eyes. "All parameters align with historical records."
The Z-Fighters, faced with an Android who showed no immediate aggression, cautiously began the encounter that would eventually lead to 16 joining their cause. His gentle nature and hidden strength would prove crucial in the battles ahead, particularly in nurturing the warrior spirit needed to awaken Gohan's true potential.
"Mission successful," Zero confirmed as the team prepared to withdraw. "Android 16's discovery proceeds as recorded. The Cell Games timeline is secure."
"For now," Aiko added grimly, her senses still detecting traces of Towa's lingering influence. "She's adapting faster with each encounter."
"Then we'll have to stay one step ahead," Scarlett replied, closing her temporal scanner as they moved toward their extraction point.
As they departed, leaving the Z-Fighters to grapple with their discovery of Android 16 and the implications of Dr. Gero's android army, the Time Patrol reflected on how close they had come to catastrophic timeline failure.
"Every mission gets more complex," Jinjer observed. "We're not just fighting Towa anymore—we're fighting the consequences of our own interventions."
"That's the nature of temporal work," Zero replied philosophically. "Every action creates ripples. Our job is to ensure those ripples don't become tsunamis."
The mechanical convergence was finally complete, but as they stepped through their extraction portal, each member of the Time Patrol knew that their greatest challenge—the Cell Games themselves—still lay ahead.
The shadow war for history's preservation continued, growing more dangerous with each victory.
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*To be continued in Chapter 7: Perfect Storm*