Vegeta brought Bulma to the living room; after all, it was a bit strange to receive outsiders in the bedroom.
Not long after, the doorbell in the living room rang.
"Please come in, Ms. Vomi," Bulma said unhurriedly, and then the closed iron door slowly opened.
Vegeta stood beside Bulma like a guard.
After the door opened, a woman with fluffy brown long hair, wearing glasses on her nose, looking quite intellectual, walked in, holding a stack of organized documents in her hands.
"Sorry, I'm late."
"It's alright, I'm the one who should be sorry for disturbing your work."
"Is this Mr. Vegeta?" Vomi looked at the stern-eyed Vegeta and was not intimidated by him; instead, she greeted him.
"Hey, say something, have some manners, will you?" Bulma looked at the cool-looking Vegeta, resting her chin on her hand, feeling quite helpless.
"Hello, Vomi, I am Vegeta." Although he didn't want to have too much contact with Earthlings, since Bulma had spoken, Vegeta bit the bullet and greeted her, even if he was unwilling.
Earth women…
They're pretty, but what's the use? Can they beat him, Vegeta?
"Don't mind him, he's just like that." Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Bulma could only try to lighten the mood.
"No, I just think Ms. Bulma's husband has a lot of charisma," Vomi said with a slight smile.
"I'll take that as a compliment." Bulma sighed. She knew what kind of person Vegeta was, but since Vomi said so, she couldn't refute it, could she?
"Vomi, you mentioned earlier that you knew information about Dr. Gero..."
"Yes, I once worked for Dr. Gero for a period, but that was a long time ago."
"I still know some things about his situation," Vomi said, a hint of recollection in her eyes.
"No wonder... you're so young yet so knowledgeable," Bulma said, a little surprised.
"Then do you know if he was creating Androids?" Bulma asked again.
"An... Androids?" Vomi was silent for a moment, then, looking at Bulma's questioning expression, she said, "I did hear him mention this. Oh, and the Red Ribbon Army once invited Dr. Gero."
"They hoped Dr. Gero could create powerful Androids, and it seems he succeeded later."
"I'm not very clear on the specifics, because when I was Dr. Gero's assistant, the Red Ribbon Army had already been destroyed for a long time."
"The Red Ribbon Army, Dr. Gero was related to the Red Ribbon Army..." Hearing Vomi's narration, Bulma's mind also recalled Goku's destruction of the Red Ribbon Army.
"Androids..." Bulma murmured.
It seemed Goku had mentioned an Android 8 at the time.
Bulma had mostly forgotten about that incident; after all, it was quite a long time ago.
"Speaking of which, Vomi, when did you become Dr. Gero's assistant?"
"During the time Dr. Gero was still in the public eye, he recruited assistants, and I joined then."
"But later..." Vomi paused here, "Dr. Gero disappeared for some unknown reason, and after that, we assistants went our separate ways."
"Hey, your name is Vomi, right? When you worked for Gero, did you ever hear him mention other Androids? I mean, besides that Android 8?" Vegeta looked at the rather voluptuous woman and asked.
"No." Vomi shook her head. "The Doctor was very secretive at the time. He wouldn't let us ordinary researchers know many things. Even when he asked us to do something, it was done separately, so we had no idea what he was doing."
"However, it's possible we helped him in the process of creating Androids, but we were completely unaware."
"Then... when did Dr. Gero disappear?" Bulma was still more concerned about this point.
"Seven years ago, which is when Dr. Gero vanished from public view."
After talking for a while, Vomi handed Bulma the information she had collected about Dr. Gero.
Then, she bid farewell and turned to leave.
…
Somewhere in an unknown mountainous region.
The towering mountain has been hollowed out in the middle, containing a huge research facility.
The dim cave was brightly lit by numerous lamps.
An old man with white hair and beard, wearing a jacket, was busily working.
On the floor near him lay a pale-faced, large fat man.
This large, motionless robot lay on the ground, its abdomen completely opened, and its mechanical parts scattered everywhere.
"Doctor, I'm back."
A familiar voice came from outside the cave.
The old man in the jacket stopped his work and turned to look outside.
"Indeed, the identity of a researcher suits you better." Looking at the white robe on the woman, the old man's tone actually carried a hint of emotion.
"Yes, I think so too. Long time no see, Dr. Gero." The woman pushed up her glasses and said.
"You should call me 20. The name Gero is a thing of the past."
The woman fell silent upon hearing this, then nodded after a long while: "I'll remember that, 20."
"How are you doing now?" Dr. Gero asked.
"If I don't use my power, that special feeling can be suppressed, but... it's not a long-term solution."
"That's enough. That pink thing truly is a taboo that we cannot touch. I've put it somewhere no one can find."
Dr. Gero sighed.
"Since you don't want to fight, just be a good researcher!"
"Doctor, is it really necessary to avenge the Red Ribbon Army?" The woman advised, "Cell, who is still unawakened in the basement, might betray you."
"What did you learn from Vegeta?" Dr. Gero didn't answer.
"Regarding the Android Cell, I haven't found any related information. Perhaps his appearance will be in a much later future."
"However, the future world of the young man who came here before was destroyed by Androids. If my deduction is correct, it's because you reset the personalities of 17 and 18, making them only capable of slaughter, which led to this outcome."
"So what? Goku destroyed the Red Ribbon Army, destroying my life's work."
"If it weren't for him, you and 16 wouldn't be like this now, having completely lost your past memories."
"Wasn't that caused by your obsession? If you weren't obsessed with the Androids project, your son and wife wouldn't have..."
"Enough, Android 21, you are not her. Don't speak to me in that tone."
"Sorry, Doctor, I just wanted to..."
"That's enough!" Dr. Gero interrupted the woman. "Since you don't like to fight, don't get involved. Besides, your current condition isn't suitable for fighting."
"When the time is right, take 16 and leave. And help me look after my good-for-nothing grandson."
"Doctor..."
"Alright, stop being an eyesore in front of me."