Dr. Gero

Dr. Gero was once a brilliant human scientist and the chief architect behind the Red Ribbon Army’s advanced military technology. A founding member of the organization, he designed its weapons and initiated its android research division alongside his colleague, Dr. Flappe. Though the Red Ribbon Army was ultimately defeated by Son Goku, Gero harbored no loyalty to its goals alone—his true ambition had always been to replace the flawed, emotional human race with a perfect, artificial one.

Gero fathered two children with his wife, Vomi—one of whom was a promising Red Ribbon soldier named Gevo. After Gevo was killed in the line of duty, Gero's obsession with artificial life deepened. He would later design Android 16 in his son's image, giving the android immense strength but programming him with a peaceful nature to avoid risking him in combat.

Following the fall of the Red Ribbon Army, Gero vanished into seclusion. Using a ladybug-shaped surveillance drone, he observed the battles of Earth's defenders for years: Tien, Piccolo, and the Saiyans—collecting vast amounts of data. When Goku left for Namek, Gero ceased his surveillance, believing he had gathered enough information to account for any future growth in power. Unbeknownst to him, he had underestimated the Saiyan potential—particularly the transformation into a Super Saiyan.

In his mountain laboratory, funded in secret by Magenta, Gero began building the ultimate android army. The earlier numbered models—Androids 1 through 12—were discarded for reasons ranging from flawed personalities to weak combat performance. One, Android 8, had a kind disposition and was deemed a failure, though he was spared. Most of the others were dismantled. Android 19, based on a doll from an enemy command center, was constructed entirely from synthetic materials and programmed with unyielding loyalty. Gero entrusted 19 with the task of transplanting his own brain into an android body, thus becoming Android 20. This new body was designed with an energy-absorption system rather than an infinite power core, a limitation possibly made for better control and stability.

For his next experiments, Gero abducted two delinquent siblings—a boy and a girl—who would become Androids 17 and 18. Unlike the earlier models, these two retained their human personalities, which made them unpredictable and rebellious. Gero eventually deactivated them out of fear they might turn on him. Android 16, though completed, was also sealed away due to Gero's emotional attachment and concern for its safety.

During this time, Gero made a monumental scientific discovery: the potential to synthesize the cells of Earth’s mightiest warriors into a new bio-organic being. Using DNA from Goku, Piccolo, Vegeta, Frieza, and King Cold, he designed Cell—an ultimate lifeform capable of evolution and perfection. Recognizing that the process would take too long, Gero assigned a hidden underground supercomputer to continue the project in secret.

In his android form, Gero attempted to unleash his mechanical creations upon the world, seeking revenge against Goku and the Z Fighters.

Appearance: Dr. Gero's appearance consists of slightly tanned skin, blue eyes, a large bushy white mustache, and long hair. He also has a Red Ribbon Army logo located on the hat that hides his visible brain after he turns himself into an android. Dr. Gero's mechanical body also lacks the eyebrows he had in his old, organic form, instead having a pronounced brow. His clothing is black, with orange sections at the upper arms, and light-yellow sleeves at the lower arms. His pants are dark brown, and his shoes are black and white.

Personality: Dr. Gero is a calculating and remorseless scientist, wholly devoted to his vision of mechanical perfection. Emotionally detached from others, he is willing to go to any lengths to realize his goals—including kidnapping innocent civilians and forcibly transforming them into cyborgs. His hatred for Son Goku runs deep, rooted in the total destruction of the Red Ribbon Army, an event that left him obsessed with vengeance.

He holds immense pride in his intellect and technological prowess, often displaying arrogance even in the face of overwhelming odds. Gero places absolute faith in his creations, convinced that their enhancements would instill obedience and loyalty. However, beneath this confidence lies a flicker of unease—evident when he reluctantly activates Androids 17 and 18, fully aware of their animosity and the risk they pose to him.

Though driven by cold logic and ruthless ambition, Gero was not without the capacity for sentiment. His affection for his deceased son, Gevo, remained a rare vulnerability; it compelled him to design Android 16 in his son’s likeness and imbue him with a gentle disposition. This act, uncharacteristic of his otherwise ruthless nature, reveals that Gero’s pursuit of artificial perfection stemmed not only from ambition—but also from grief.

Abilities: Flight - The ability to fly without the use of ki.

Energy Absorption – Also known as Life Drain 20. Android 20 has special pads on his palms that allows him to absorb life-energy from his victims by grabbing them.

Photon Shot - The user fires an energy wave from their hand, specifically from their Energy Absorption pads.

Ruthless Blow - After or while absorbing someone's energy, Gero pierces them in the chest with his hand.

Bionic Punisher – A powerful beam shot from both eyes which is strong enough to devastate an entire city.

Photon Wave – From his energy-absorbing pads, 20 releases a massive wave of explosive energy that can level an entire valley.

Photon Blast - Android 20 holds out his hands and fires a purple energy sphere at the opponent, inflicting massive damage.

Pesky Fly - First, Dr. Gero laughs and claws the opponent up into the air. Then, he jumps up to grab the opponent by their leg and throws them away. Finally, Dr. Gero teleports behind the opponent to knee the opponent twice down to the ground, inflicting a great deal of damage.

Rolling Crush – Android 20 kicks the opponent up and grabs them in mid-air to perform a spinning piledriver.

Power Break – Android 20 kicks the opponent up in the air, then he punches and kicks them down again, and finally 20 kicks his opponent in the back when he is down.

Amenbo Island is an island located off the coast of the Southern Continent, nine miles southwest of South City. Its capital, named Papaya Town is located at its center.