What if - Goku had spoken earlier about RoSaT

[Dicrossus]

If Goku had revealed RoSaT just after Future Trunks first arrived, and Z warriors used it in the 3 years period before androids appear, instead of training the way they did, they would have been stronger than the androids? Future Cell would be unable to become perfect because the Z warriors would be able to defeat 17 and 18?

[DBZAOTA482]

They'd have 4 years if training instead of 3... they might beat the androids but they die against Cell.

[Lord Beerus]

They crush the Androids but Cell slaughters them all.

[Blackstripe]

Uh...how? Cell wouldn't have the androids to absorb. He would be killed in Gingertown.

[ekrolo2]

They wouldn't be as strong as they are in the main continuity but certainly well past the point of being able to man handle 17, 18, 16 and Cell. With no big fight to attract Babidi, he'd never come to Earth.

[FoolsGil]

Uh...how? Cell wouldn't have the androids to absorb. He would be killed in Gingertown.

Unless he escapes, which he did. And goes off to eat people. Which he did

[emperior]

They would literally crush the Androids and Cell, no doubt.
Vegeta or Goku alone would be enough. RoSaT is said to greatly help training because of the gravity, the density of the air and the temperature.

[Kaboom]

If they simply used the RoSaT to get an extra year of tougher training, they'd probably be strong enough to defeat the Androids (perhaps even 16) when they debuted. Probably 1st-stage Cell too, since he'd never get to absorb the Android twins and transform.

But without the beatdown they actually received from the Androids, I wonder if they'd have ever been spurred to transcend/improve Super Saiyan like they did. That was the ticket to much more potent increases in strength, and without that they'd probably be pretty boned once Bobbidi showed up years later.

[Hitiro]

If they simply used the RoSaT to get an extra year of tougher training, they'd probably be strong enough to defeat the Androids (perhaps even 16) when they debuted. Probably 1st-stage Cell too, since he'd never get to absorb the Android twins and transform.

But without the beatdown they actually received from the Androids, I wonder if they'd have ever been spurred to transcend/improve Super Saiyan like they did. That was the ticket to much more potent increases in strength, and without that they'd probably be pretty boned once Bobbidi showed up years later.

Would that necessarily be the case? Goku was considered the person to attract bad guys. If he didn't die 7 years before the Boo arc wouldn't they have thought more enemies and eventually caught up or even surpassed their Boo arc selves?

[Hellspawn28]

They would be strong enough to beat #19 and Dr. Gero. If they killed off Dr. Gero then they would have destroyed his lab that had #16-18 inside. Piccolo and Kami would have fused into one and would have killed Cell. Goku would have seen Goten been born and everyone would live peaceful lives for 7 years. I'm not sure if Vegeta and Goku would have reach SSj2 or not. I doubt Goku would have become a SSj3 in the living world, but SSj2 is different though. If Vegeta or Goku can go SSj2 then they could beat Dabra.

[ekrolo2]

Given how weak everyone is, I doubt Babbidi would bother coming to Earth.

[fadeddreams5]

Actually, when and why did Babidi come to Earth? I've always been confused about that. So Buu's pod/seal was in this planet, no? Isn't that why he came? Since when did he linger around? O.o

[ekrolo2]

Actually, when and why did Babidi come to Earth? I've always been confused about that. So Buu's pod/seal was in this planet, no? Isn't that why he came? Since when did he linger around? O.o

Shit, you're right. The pod was on Earth, which means Babidi actually would come to Earth just to get it. Still, if the Earth's warriors couldn't give him the energy he needs, it's entirely possible he'd simply take the pod and leave without making a fuss.

[Hellspawn28]

I recall that Babidi and Dabra have been on Earth for a while before the Buu saga. Dabra did went to Earth around Age 474 to look for people to help bring back Buu and found nothing at the time. At Age 474, the strongest people on Earth where Roshi, Kami, Korin and Tao. None of them would be strong enough to bring back Buu or be powerful to beat Dabra.

[IDreamtIWasABee]

Goku, Vegeta, and Gohan are all as strong as they were at the Cell Games.

[Hellspawn28]

If they defeat Dabra and Babidi then they still have Beerus and Freeza. Freeza would be much weaker since I doubt he would train if Buu was never released.

[TKB21]

If they simply used the RoSaT to get an extra year of tougher training, they'd probably be strong enough to defeat the Androids (perhaps even 16) when they debuted. Probably 1st-stage Cell too, since he'd never get to absorb the Android twins and transform.

But without the beatdown they actually received from the Androids, I wonder if they'd have ever been spurred to transcend/improve Super Saiyan like they did. That was the ticket to much more potent increases in strength, and without that they'd probably be pretty boned once Bobbidi showed up years later.

I thought Goku first came to the realization that there was another level while either training for the androids or fighting against 19? Hard to pinpoint exactly due to the little information that we're given.

[Tectorman]

I don't think this is thread necromancy yet.

...

Assuming Goku thought of the Time Chamber before Trunks even left to go back to the future...

Trunks goes back to the future. The Lookout should still be there, and so should Mr. Popo. Kami being dead wasn't an impediment in the actual series, so it shouldn't be here, either. Trunks trains in the Time Chamber.

Based on Android 18's comment that Vegeta was different when he approached Semi-Perfect Cell as a SSJ and given that Trunks was almost as strong as he was, I guesstimate that Trunks training in the Time Chamber for one year in the future should end up even with or superior to Androids 17 or 18 (probably not Android 16, though). Not having any impetus to push past SSJ, Trunks would have neither the Grade forms nor would he have mastered SSJ. Of course, if he trains for two years, then he would probably be stronger than Android 16, so let's go with that.

Trunks emerges from the Time Chamber stronger than before. Given the walloping he got last time he confronted the Androids half-cocked, he refrains from facing them just yet. Instead, he goes back to the past to help out Goku & Co.

Speaking of which...

After his conversation with Trunks, Goku mentions the Time Chamber to everyone. Vegeta initially refuses based on pride. Given that they have three years, Goku has no need to use the Time Chamber immediately, and he trains with Piccolo and Gohan like in the actual series. The first to use it would probably be Tien and Chaotzu (with the results of his training in the Time Chamber leading Chaotzu to abstain from facing the Androids). After they come out, Yamcha and Krillin go in (maybe separately or at the same time, but they probably don't spar since they didn't give any indication of training together in the actual series).

Given Goku's invitation for Piccolo to train with him and Gohan, we know Gohan was his first choice of sparring partner, so he takes Gohan initially. The two of them train in the Time Chamber. Again, with no impetus to push past SSJ, neither the Grade forms nor mastering SSJ come into play. As in the actual series, Goku focuses on making sure Gohan can use SSJ before he uses Gohan as a training partner. Once Gohan can go SSJ, they train in earnest.

The combination of the strain of using SSJ and the rough environment of the Time Chamber triggers Goku's heart virus. With no enemy before him, Goku has no need to push himself like he did in the actual series. He and Gohan leave early, with Gohan flying down to Korin's place as soon as he's outside. He comes back with a senzu bean, which cures Goku for about five seconds. They learn that senzu beans don't work on viruses. Goku eats another bean and uses the five-second grace period before his symptoms flare back up to teleport home where the medicine is. He takes the medicine, laments that it isn't bacon-flavored, and takes it easy for a day or two. Since he didn't keep putting strain on his heart by remaining a SSJ, and since no fat Androids beat him up or stole his energy, Goku recovers much faster than in the actual series, and the heart virus plotline is entirely resolved.

Goku and Gohan go back into the Time Chamber. He and Gohan continue training as before, and while they don't get as powerful as they did in the series, they should both be easily at or above 16's level (and Gohan might be edging out above his father by this point).

They come out, and Vegeta catches wind of the great gains they got in the Time Chamber. He has SSJ by this point, but realizes he has to swallow his pride and take the help of the Earthlings to get stronger. He uses both of his years and (except for attaining Grade 2) ends up about as strong as in the actual series (which I would put at around the same level as Goku and Gohan).

The fateful day arrives and progresses like in the series (not finding the Androids, Yajirobe getting attacked, Yamcha nearly getting Yamcha'd, the works). Until it comes time for Goku to fight Android 19. Then Goku hilariously overpowers 19, leading Dr. Gero to conclude that he needs to disappear quick. He evades capture until he gets to his lair. Dr. Gero awakens 17 and 18 and they turn on him as in the series. They awaken 16.

Because Goku is present, the Androids fight immediately. 17 thinks he can go it alone, but 16's power sensors inform him of how strong Goku really is. Since the mission to kill Goku is paramount, 16 insists that all three Androids attack as one and brooks no argument.

Goku and Gohan can hold their own, and the arrival of Vegeta and Trunks just makes the outcome inevitable. 16 has a bomb strong enough to destroy the planet, but not strong enough to kill Goku (the bomb is made according to Dr. Gero's calculations, which do not take into account Goku's post-Ginyu Zenkai, his training in the Time Chamber, or SSJ; as such, it cannot directly kill Goku). If Goku does any teleporting at all during the fight (using Gohan's ki or the like to teleport), then 16 would conclude that the bomb is useless, as even destroying the Earth wouldn't guarantee Goku's death. His latent respect for Earth's wildlife leads him to dismiss the use of the bomb, but his primary mission to kill Goku (a mission he cannot complete) does not allow him to give up. 16 is destroyed.

17 and 18, having had no opportunity to display the mercy they were capable of in the series, are destroyed by Trunks before anyone can intervene (though Krillin was miffed). Trunks, now possessing the power to defeat the Androids in his time and assured that his power is actually enough, departs the present and goes back to the future. Having never heard of any creature called Cell ... (more on that later) ...

In the present, Cell emerges near Gingertown and devours the population. Kami asks Goku to look into that. Although initially confused by the nature of Cell's ki, Goku can handle anything Cell throws at him, including the Solar Flare (hey, he dodged it back when he was a kid). He destroys Cell, but Cell's core survives.

The core regenerates and Cell comes back. He Zenkais slightly, but not enough to take on Goku. Cell sets off on his plan to skulk about with suppressed power, slowly absorbing human energy until he can find 17 and 18. However, since Goku can be at full power on one side of the planet and teleport to the other side instantly, he is easily able to catch up to Cell and fight him again before Cell gets a chance to suppress his energy and hide like he did against Piccolo and Tien. Cell, not nearly engorged enough on human energy to fight Goku, is defeated again, this time with Goku taking care to destroy all of him. The present is saved.

And I'm not going to try and project this scenario further on. Dabra, Buu, Goku and Vegeta both alive and on the same planet without a common enemy to fight against? No idea. But let's take one last look at Trunks's future...

Trunks comes back to the future. He hears the report of the Android sighting, and goes off to confront them. Having no backup and not being quite as strong as he was in the series, Trunks has a rougher time of it, but still defeats them both. He finds Dr. Gero's lair in the future, destroys it (but not the sub-basement), and then helps to rebuild Earth's civilization.

Cell awakens and begins skulking about looking for 17 and 18. He does not find them, but he does find Trunks with the Time Capsule. He sneak attacks the unsuspecting Trunks and kills him. He then takes the Time Capsule, goes back in time...

And becomes the Cell that we're familiar with. That's right. This just became my head-canon to identify the timeline that Cell (the Cell we know, the one that eventually becomes Perfect) comes from.

[omaro34]

Uh...how? Cell wouldn't have the androids to absorb. He would be killed in Gingertown.

Unless he escapes, which he did. And goes off to eat people. Which he did

Solar flare is damn useful getaway technique.

[omaro34]

Piccolo should have known about RoSaT. He is linked with Kami who definately knows about that room, its his lookout after all.