Having understood that he was going to have to deal with Gero and Cell one way or the other, Raditz let out a breath.
His work in this lab was mostly done by now, he'll send some drones to take samples later on, now he should go out.
"They have stopped fighting for a while now, did they win?"
Raditz mumbled, while he was searching for Gero and Cell, the z fighters went ahead and stopped fighting sometime in between.
Raditz was glad nobody had died yet, he didn't know what the deal with Trunks's timeline was, but when all the z fighters died, everything went to shit.
He had tried to sense planet Namek back in the future, but it couldn't be sensed, somehow the series of events of z fighter's dying results in Namek going undercover or getting wiped off the map, how this happened was something Raditz didn't know.
So he chalked it up to butterfly effect, maybe Goku had been to Namek off screen, and would have saved them from a sudden disaster, or maybe dende leaving results in a series of events which saved Namek, something which didn't happen in the future.
Regardless of what it was, Raditz knew the future was messed up, almost as if this timeline itself wasn't supposed to exist anymore and should end.
And he didn't want the same thing to happen to the present.
*Swish*
So putting two fingers on his forehead, Raditz initiated instant transmission and appeared before Nappa.
Who was panting while sitting on the ground, and looked up with relief and a little bit of guilt when he sensed Raditz arrive.
"What happened to the androids? Did you get rid of them?"
Raditz asked the resting z fighters, and recieved his reply from Nappa.
"We managed to take down 19, but 16 left."
"After knocking us down he used the solar flare and left, we can't sense him so we don't know where he is now."
Goku who was panting excessively and was getting cared for by Gohan, also began speaking slowly.
"Huff, what do we.. do now?"
Raditz folded his hands and pondered after hearing Goku's question, and then let everyone know his idea.
"There's more to it than meets the eyes, I'll tell you everything I know in a second, then we will think of a way."
"For the time being, I'll get Vegeta."
*Swish*
Teleporting before Vegeta who was beaten up way too badly, Raditz swiftly knocked him out.
*Thump*
Watching her opponent's body fall down, 18 also stood in place and blew her stray hairs away with a playful look.
"He kept on telling me he was a super elite, if this is how a Saiyan Super Elite is, then what are you?"
"Super Elite 2? Ultra elite? Or is it Godly elite?"
Rolling his eyes at 18's somehow weirdly accurate statements, Raditz gestured at Krillin to come out, the dude was hanging out in the background, unable to decide what to do.
"Oh Raditz, thank god you are here! Vegeta wasn't stopping!"
"And what happened to the androids? Is everyone okay?"
While Krillin asked a bunch of questions, 18 had also walked upto Raditz and softly held his bicep.
No, this wasn't her wanting to have some fun in the middle of a battlefield with a bald dude watching, it was her knowing Raditz needed to touch someone to initiate instant transmission, and taking the lead in making it easier for him.
Krillin also ran upto Raditz by now, who held onto his shoulder, used telekinesis to pick Vegeta up and put him on his own shoulder.
"They are fine Krillin, I'll tell everything in a second, but 18, you and your brother are probably gone for good."
18 raised her eyebrows at those words, but she didn't feel too much sadness, this wasn't her or her brother, this was another version of them.
And she didn't even know them, much less meet them, so she remained silent and didn't comment on the information.
Raditz saw that and ignored it too, there are too many more important things to do now, than comment on 18's heartlessness.
"Ready?"
*Swish*
Teleporting before the group, Raditz told everyone.
"Grab onto each other and one of you hold me, I'll take us to capsule corporation"
The z fighters picked themselves up and grabbed onto the person nearest to them, with Goku holding onto Raditz's back.
"Ready?"
*Swish*
Teleporting once more, Raditz arrived at the garden of capsule corporation, where Panchy was watering flowers.
"Hmm?"
Turning to look at the large group of people who appeared out of thin air, Panchy didn't look the least bit surprised, even if she had no idea what happened in the first place.
She had an attitude like that towards everything, very much like an airhead Bulma.
"Raditz! Would you and your friends like some snacks dear?"
Asked Panchy with her hand on her mouth, smiling merrily, Piccolo and some of the serious z fighters only twitched their eyes with a little bit of shame.
Raditz knowing the disposition of his mother in law, just nodded his head and said kindly.
"Sure, that would be great, can you please call Bulma for us? We have somethings we want to discuss."
Giving another big smile, Panchy said while turning around.
"Sure thing, l'll be right back dear."
As Panchy left, the z fighters scattered around the garden, some sat on the grassy ground, some perched atop the fence, some shamelessly held onto Raditz.
"18, find yourself a spot."
Raditz looked at 18 who was still holding onto him, and said lightly.
18 just smiled and said nothing, simply letting go of Raditz, she went and settled on the ground besides him.
She didn't know anyone here, the best place for her was besides Raditz, whom she's supposed to be working for right now.
After 18 left, Raditz also sat down and caught his breath, and it wasn't long after that Bulma came along.
"Raditz, you are finally back, why didn't you meet me when you returned!"
Bulma complained a lot but mostly she just went upto Raditz and sat besides him, she wasn't a fool, she could sense this wasn't the correct mood.
Touching his nose Raditz smiled awkwardly.
"Sorry, had some issues with ultra instinct, had to visit Master Roshi then had to leave for the androids immediately."
Bulma huffed but didn't say anything anymore, she wasn't a moron who would be furious on her partner for something not in his hands.
Goku meanwhile sneezed, wondering if someone was feeling sorry for him somewhere.
'Weird.'
He thought, before putting the thought away for the food that Panchy just brought for everyone.
The z fighters also followed along with Goku's enthusiasm and quickly began eating their share, the sad atmosphere that was surrounding everyone was thus elevated amongst the laughter and taste of the food.
Raditz also joined along and enjoyed the first feast after the battle, then after everyone was nearly done with their food, he spoke the first important thing in a while, starting the discussion.
"I have some idea on what has happened, Bulma and I have cracked some of Gero's tech."
"Cell, the most powerful android has been activated, and he's currently missing, we might have a problem in our hands."
The warm atmosphere cooled down almost instantly, everyone stopped their fun and listened carefully, Raditz couldn't give them the information he brought out of the future yet.
Now was a good time to get that and then they will formulate a plan on what should be done to counter this hidden threat.
Advanced chapters ahead on patréon
www.patréon.com/ImagineMaker