Androids 13, 14, and 15 were originally failed prototypes discarded by Dr. Gero, and Trunks had no knowledge of their existence.
In Trunks' timeline, only the deadly duo of Androids 17 and 18 existed—the rest were either destroyed or already defeated. As far as Raditz knew, numbers 13, 14, and 15 should never have appeared, because despite being nearly complete, they still possessed critical flaws.
Android 13 stood tall and imposing, wearing a peaked cap with a sleeveless jacket on his upper body and green overalls below. Android 14 resembled Nappa in build, sporting long braids with nothing but green pants covering his massive frame, a diagonal belt strapped across his shoulders. Android 15 wore a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, sporting a bow tie despite his short stature. A long windbreaker covered his entire body, giving him the appearance of a demented clown.
"These aren't the androids you mentioned, are they?" Vegeta demanded, glaring at Trunks.
"No, they're completely different."
"Hmph, it doesn't matter. Nappa's finished anyway. Let's go!"
Vegeta acted with his usual decisiveness. Seeing that Nappa could no longer handle the three androids alone, he launched himself forward without hesitation.
Goku couldn't miss such a prime fighting opportunity and shot forward as well.
"I'll help too!" Trunks shouted, cutting through the air with a streak of blazing speed.
The three Super Saiyans swarmed the androids, giving no one else a chance to join the battle.
Golden light flashed as Goku threw a devastating punch. Android 14 desperately tried to dodge, but the Super Saiyan's speed was overwhelming. The punch, carrying a howling gale, grazed Android 14's cheek—the energy fluctuations alone crushed his entire cheek inward, sending him flying sideways.
Meanwhile, Vegeta faced Android 15, finally getting the intense battle he'd been craving. The energy around him erupted without restraint, creating a turbulent storm that swept across the entire area. The ground itself undulated like ocean waves, with hundred-meter swells rolling layer upon layer. His assault was even more violent—dozens of lightning-fast punches fired in succession, yet none could land on the short-statured Android 15.
Only Trunks seemed to struggle against Android 13. Even in his Super Saiyan state, Android 13 managed to match him blow for blow. Their battle raged from ground to sky, piercing through clouds before crashing back to earth, then soaring skyward again in an endless cycle of destruction.
During this fierce melee, Dr. Gero attempted to escape unnoticed. He had hoped that the arrival of Androids 13, 14, and 15 would turn the tide, perhaps even secure victory. Who could have predicted that the enemy possessed three Super Saiyans? The situation remained unchanged—the androids were still outmatched!
With his plans exceeding all expectations, Gero had no choice but to flee.
The surrounding ruins provided perfect cover, and he had absorbed enough of Nappa's energy to fuel his escape.
With a sinister smile, Gero's figure flickered as he dove into the pile of rubble.
"Argh!"
Gero, having just charged in, was struck by a Ki blast. Without time to absorb it, half his body was blown away! He lost his remaining hand along with his left mechanical heart.
"Raditz!" He saw clearly who had been waiting for him.
"Don't run away, Dr. Gero. You haven't answered my question yet."
In desperation, Gero repeated his old trick—his eyes blazed fiercely, sweeping beams of light in a fan pattern across the rubble pile in front of Raditz, then attempted to flee... Thud!
He slammed into an invisible wall! Gero stumbled backward, his throat working with difficulty as he realized something was terribly wrong.
Raditz's voice drifted casually to his ears: "Sorry, but you're trapped by my psychic power. There's no escape."
"You..." Gero was crippled and couldn't flee. The stumps on both sides of his body sparked with electricity, leaking green oil and blood-red fluid from various breaks in his systems.
Even calling upon Android 13 had failed—he was still caught by Raditz. Gero gritted his teeth in bitter frustration.
As Raditz had said, when strength is insufficient, nothing else matters.
After the smoke and dust cleared, Raditz appeared before him completely unharmed. "Androids 13 through 15 should have been destroyed. Why did you activate them?"
"Hmph, I've fixed their flaws! Now they're perfect!"
"And what about Cell?" Raditz continued his interrogation.
Dr. Gero knew escape was impossible. His ancient face twisted into something horrifying. "Don't interrogate me with that expression—like you know everything. You understand nothing about my creations!" His chest suddenly blazed with scorching light. "I won't tell you anything! Since we can't escape, let's face the end together! My ultimate android will defeat all of you!"
"You?!" Raditz was suddenly alarmed.
Gero was going to self-destruct? Impossible! In Raditz's understanding, Gero wasn't that type of person. Someone who would go to any lengths to achieve his ambitions, who transformed himself into an android to obtain eternal life—such a person would actually commit suicide?
But the reality was right before him. Gero was burning himself with his own energy furnace!
His entire body was roasted by the intense heat, skin turning to ash in the energy flames. Finally, rainbow light filled the sky as the crimson core triggered a catastrophic explosion. The mighty energy swept across the earth, obliterating the ruins and pulverizing all debris into powder. The entire wasteland looked as if it had been carved anew.
The flowing clouds were pierced by the soaring light, and scattered sparks fell like fiery petals, igniting the ground below.
Even Raditz was forced to retreat several kilometers to avoid the devastation. Fortunately, he had contained the energy with his psychic power—otherwise, this explosion would have rivaled an atomic bomb!
"He actually self-destructed? Did he have no other options? For someone who valued life above all else, it's not worth dying just to protect the secret of his ultimate android." Raditz shook his head.
At least he had confirmed one thing: Androids 13, 14, and 15 were not the ultimate android. There were still threats lurking in the shadows.
Perhaps it was Cell.
Regardless, it was time to clean up this mess. Nappa had enjoyed enough combat, Gero was dead—there was no need to waste more time.
Raditz flew back to the group and snapped his fingers at Tumat. "Tumat, recover the fragments of Android 19 and Androids 13 through 15. Use them to analyze the locations of other androids."
"Androids 13 through 15? They..."
"I'll handle it right away!"
As Raditz spoke, his figure flickered and he shot away.
Androids 14 and 15 had been beaten to scrap metal. The power beyond Super Saiyan was incomparable to these artificial beings. Only Android 13 could match Trunks' dazzling swordsmanship.
Android 13 wasn't made of flesh and blood, losing no ground when clashing with Trunks' blade. Every collision rang with a sharp metallic sound.
"Android 14, Android 15, how are you?" Even during fierce combat, he found time to check on his companions.
But what answered him was the sound of explosions and Android 15's head flying past his field of vision, cutting through the air like a sharp arrow.
"How is this possible?" Android 13 was shocked, throwing a punch at Trunks as his expression changed dramatically.
"It's simple. You're not strong enough." During the fierce battle between the two, Raditz suddenly appeared behind Android 13. "Trunks, leave this to me." As he spoke, Raditz delivered a backhand punch, swinging his arm in a full arc to strike Android 13's head and twist it 180 degrees!
At the same time, Goku's punch pierced straight through Android 14's body, sending the massive android flying like a kite with its strings cut.
All three androids were defeated.