What if Dr. Gero turned Good?

Chapter 1

Whirring and beeping of machines filled the man's ears as he entered the lab he shared with roughly a dozen other brilliant minds. He had the greatest grin anybody had ever seen from him. He walked over to an old friend of his, who was wearing the same style of uniform. When the man in question turned to face him, he seemed a little perplexed and intrigued. "Wow, Gero, I've never seen you this happy before! What's the big deal?" He asked, not able to resist smiling a little seeing his long-time co-worker in such a good mood.

    "Well, Frappe. If you must know..." Gero began, pausing a little for dramatic effect. "...I was selected to become head scientist on the Red Ribbon's greatest project!" Gero said, watching as Frappe's eyes widened like saucers. The big project was always talked about during big meetings, or so he was told. The Red Ribbon wanted to start creating artificial superhumans as a means to become the greatest army on the planet! They'd be unstoppable! Untouchable! Hearing that Gero was becoming head of this operation was incredible news, and Frappe could even feel himself becoming giddy just thinking about it.

    Gero was not done explaining. He tried to put on a stern and serious expression as he stuck out a hand. "I want you to join me, Frappe. You and I will be the spearheads towards the future of the Red Ribbon, and the world! If you accept, that is." Gero added.

    Frappe was taken aback. Sure, he and Gero were partners, and two of the best scientists in the Red Ribbon's Scientific Field, but the fact that Gero still chose him to join on this incredible journey was some of the best news of his life! Frappe nodded rapidly, and couldn't contain his excitement, and broke the professionalism between them by pulling Gero into an embrace. This caught the other scientist off guard, and he awkwardly patted his comrade's back, which quickly alerted Frappe to the small scene he was creating. As he quickly released Gero with a small flush on his face.

    Gero chuckled a little before turning to some machines, pulling out a small, worn out notebook and a set of blueprints. "Alright, partner... let's get to work." Gero said, and the two began the project.

"Project A"

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    Seventeen years have passed since that day. Gero was droning along as he continued to tinker with the finishing touches on what he started that fateful day. He looked down at his hands as he began to think about what had gone on earlier this day.

    Doctor Gero and one of the results of Project A, Android 19, had attacked the greatest enemy of the Red Ribbon, Son Goku, as well as his group of friends. Goku was inflicted with a heart virus, and the job was almost complete, had it not been for that 'Vegeta' from before, who destroyed Android 19 without a second thought. Gero began to once again question his allegiance to the RR. He had been for some time now.

    Gero closed his eyes as he recalled seventeen years ago. Four days after he learned he got the green light on Project A, he had started to notice, through a television he occasionally watched in his living quarters, that it seemed people didn't really respect the Red Ribbon Army. Rather, it was fear. Genuine fear from the destruction of buildings, and the slow takeover of the world. Gero was sickened, however he couldn't say anything to anybody. He knew the slight hint of rebellion would mean Gero would be severely punished if not outright killed. So, he kept his mouth shut, but continued to look into what the Red Ribbon's true intentions were.

    His research did not make much of an impact, however, as two days later, a small boy with a bizarre monkey tail named "Son Goku" would attack the army and destroy their entire base of operations, including the laboratory. The fact that Gero survived was nothing short of a damn miracle... or, at least from the perspective of somebody who would have wanted to survive. Gero trembled just thinking about it. Gero was wondering however if killing Son Goku was truly justified, however. While yes, it would be the ultimate revenge for the end of the 'magnificent' Red Ribbon Army, did they really deserve the satisfaction of his demise, by the hand of the last man standing for them.

    Gero shook his head. It did not matter at the moment. He still was ready to activate the results of his life's work. He opened up two of three pods, activating the androids inside. They each slowly stepped out of the chambers that held their previously unconscious bodies. Gero marveled at the pure realism of his creations. Gero watched as Android 17 looked at him, then slightly bowed his head. "Good morning, Doctor Gero." 17 said simply afterwards. Gero could see 17's eyes shifted a bit towards his hand, and could tell there was a slight hint of deception in the way he was behaving. Something about it just felt off to Gero. He felt the same way when he saw 18 come out and act in a similar manner. "Good morning, Dear Doctor." She said to him upon exit of the machine.

    Gero kept a tight grip on the remote in his hand, making sure neither Android could get anywhere near the control. Gero could already see his previous flaws coming into effect here and now. These two were once ordinary teenagers, so naturally they are sassy, and don't choose to treat Gero with respect since he kidnapped them and inhumanely forced them to go through with his plans and experiments. Just thinking about that fact made him sick with himself and his previous allegiance.

    Gero sighed at their disobedience and simply looked to the front door. "Our old plans to kill Son Goku have been changed..." Gero explained to his two creations. They both seemed very confused by the statement, but Gero continued to explain. "For years, I had wanted to kill Goku. He ended the reign of the Red Ribbon army seventeen years ago, and he did it as a child no less. However, I never really questioned why I wanted to kill him." He said, before noticing the two teenaged cyborgs were getting bored with his monologue. "-to keep it simple, I believe I will be better off if we decided to become allies with Son Goku. Perhaps my scientific knowledge could be better used alongside him and his exploits." He added before he noticed at the very last second that Android 17 was reaching for the remote. Somehow, Gero managed to step out of the way, and pointed the remote at the two of them.

    Android 17 appeared annoyed that his stealth operation didn't work, and when he saw the remote pointed at them, he stepped back once, slightly nervous of Gero's look. "Clearly I was wrong to believe you two were ready to wake up. I will have to run more tests." Gero managed coldly, before pushing a button on the remote twice. As soon as the second click rang into the air, 18 threw a blast at the third and final pod, which caused Gero to immediately begin panicking as the two teens fell to the floor, almost appearing dead. That was not the reason for Gero's grief, however.

    The scientist desperately pressed the button labeled "activate". After a few seconds, the larger Android inside opened his eyes, and Gero sighed in relief. Android 16 began to leave the chamber, and due to his less human upbringings, being more robotic, he was much more willing to cooperate. Together, the two of them put the teenagers back in their pods for further testing in the future. Once that was done, Gero turned to face 16, with a solemn look. "Come, sixteen. We need to go and find Son Goku..."

    "To Kill him?" The robotic man asked, surprisingly curious sounding for a monotonous behemoth of a man.

    "no. To befriend him" Gero explained calmly. But, before they could leave, a small bald man poked his head past the wall.

    "s-sorry... I was supposed to come find the lab and report it to the others. B-But after seeing what happened, I could bring you to come see him, as long as you promise there's no funny business going on." the man warned. This man. Gero remembered his name was 'Krillin'. Or at least he fit the description of the child from all those years ago. Gero simply nodded.

    Gero fidgeted awkwardly for a second before he and 16 began hovering in the air. Soon, the three began flying to, supposedly, where Son Goku and the rest of his friends were. Gero began to feel nervous about it. About the start of his new life.