How did Cell know Geros Shutdown remote was destroyed?

[TobyS]

There's a panel where Cell is fleeing from Piccolo, around the time he passes Vegeta and he says, according to my translation

"what concerned me most was the remote shutdown switch for 17 and 18 if they were no longer operative destroying even those two would be a simple task for anyone... ... but luckily for me no such switch exists..."

How could he know? He is suprised by everyones power so it's not like he was watching.

[Bloodthroe]

He might just be aware that Dr. Gero's lab is destroyed and assumed the remote along with it. Sounds like a bit of sloppy exposition on the writers part, though.

[TobyS]

He might just be aware that Dr. Gero's lab is destroyed and assumed the remote along with it. Sounds like a bit of sloppy exposition on the writers part, though.

But he hatched near Ginger town, I don't think he's been over to Geros lab. It's probably exposition as you said, although I like to find an in universe answer where possible. I guess assumptions all we can go on. One reddit user suggest he's in contact with Geros computer but I don't think so, wouldn't it warn him about the plans on the desk and shit or want to protect baby cell or anything.

[Mireya]

Well, he stated the androids from his time were defeated by Trunks, somehow. Maybe he associated that with the remote control... As for why he assumed that no longer existed, I don't know. I'd imagine he thought Trunks would get the control from Gero's lab, that in his timeline he knew somehow it wasn't destroyed when Gero was killed due to different circumstances, maybe... while he knew it was in this timeline. Weird though, I've no clue. Because if he thought that the controller was made by Bulma, he wouldn't rule the possibility. So him having data on these specific events (assuming it wasn't destroyed in his timeline) would be my way to explain that as weird as that sounds.

[TobyS]

Perhaps simply knowing both the dragon team and androids were alive meant Gero wasn't.

The only way he could send the androids on them is with the remote, and the only way he lives is to shut them down.

Perhaps he shouldn't have confirmation the androids are alive but I guess he sensed the dragon teams chi drop, and I guess Piccolo would have mentioned if they won.