TV Special
Description
In the alternate future timeline depicted in Dragon Ball Z: The History of Trunks, the character designated as A-17, also known as Android 17 or Cyborg 17, is one half of a pair of devastating antagonists. He is an artificial human created by the Red Ribbon Army's Dr. Gero. Originally a human youth, he was kidnapped and unwillingly transformed into a powerful cyborg, stripped of most of his humanity and given limitless energy. In this specific timeline, he and his twin sister, A-18, were activated following the death of Son Goku from a heart virus. Without Goku to challenge them, they quickly turned on their creator, killing Dr. Gero, and then proceeded to systematically eliminate Earths defenders and terrorize the planet for over a decade.
The personality of this future version of A-17 is defined by a cold and profound cruelty. Unlike his counterpart in the main timeline, who displays a rebellious but playful apathy, the future A-17 is a pure sociopath. He treats the annihilation of humanity as an enjoyable game and shows no capacity for empathy, mercy, or remorse. He is utterly ruthless, destroying cities and killing innocent people without provocation, simply for his own entertainment. His motivations are not complex; he seeks only to exercise his power and inflict suffering, having been programmed by Dr. Gero to harbor a deep-seated hatred for humans. He and his sister view the worlds heroes as nothing more than amusing obstacles to be eliminated.
In the story, A-17 serves as the primary physical threat and symbol of hopelessness. He is first seen in flashbacks having already killed most of the Z-Fighters, including Piccolo, Vegeta, and Krillin. His role in the present narrative of the special is to dominate and ultimately end the resistance led by the young adult Gohan. A-17 and A-18 together attack a city, leading to a brutal confrontation where they mortally wound Gohan, causing him to lose an arm. Their final assault on Gohan occurs in a rain-soaked battle; A-17 and his sister overwhelm the one-armed Super Saiyan, killing him with a coordinated barrage of energy blasts. This act directly triggers the transformation of the young Trunks into a Super Saiyan, setting the stage for Trunks eventual quest to change the past. A-17s unshakeable confidence and overwhelming power make him an immovable object that defines the tragedy of Trunks world.
Key relationships are limited and insular. His primary bond is with his sister, A-18, with whom he fights in perfect synchronization. They are partners in crime, sharing the same goal of destruction and watching each others backs in battle. There is no love lost for their creator, Dr. Gero, whom they kill almost immediately after being activated. They regard the Z-Fighters with utter contempt, seeing Gohan not as a rival but as a persistent annoyance to be crushed. A-17 shows no respect or fear for his opponents, only a detached amusement in their futile struggles.
A-17 in this timeline undergoes no significant development or change of heart. He remains a static force of malice from his activation until his final destruction. The only evolution is in his tactics, adapting to fight a grown Trunks years later, but his personality and motivations never waver. He is destroyed years after Gohans death by an older, significantly more powerful Future Trunks, who has returned from training in the main timeline. In their final battle, Trunks dispatches A-18 with a single energy blast, and despite a moment of panicked pleading, A-17 is similarly obliterated, bringing his reign of terror to an abrupt end.
The notable abilities of A-17 are considerable, making him a near-unstoppable threat in his timeline. His primary asset is his cybernetic body, which grants him an unlimited supply of energy. This means he never tires and can fight at full power indefinitely, a massive advantage over organic fighters whose ki depletes. He can fly and possesses superhuman strength, speed, and durability far beyond the level of a Super Saiyan from that era. His signature techniques include the Android Barrier, a defensive energy shield that can also be used offensively to damage surroundings. He can fire a variety of energy waves, including the Finger Beam, a rapid barrage of narrow rays, and the Full Power Energy Ball. One of his most devastating team moves, used with A-18, is the Accel Dance, a brutal combination rush of punches and kicks that ends with a powerful energy volley, which was the technique used to kill Future Gohan. His power, while immense, is ultimately surpassed by the trained Super Saiyan Trunks, but for most of the special, he is an invincible engine of destruction.
The personality of this future version of A-17 is defined by a cold and profound cruelty. Unlike his counterpart in the main timeline, who displays a rebellious but playful apathy, the future A-17 is a pure sociopath. He treats the annihilation of humanity as an enjoyable game and shows no capacity for empathy, mercy, or remorse. He is utterly ruthless, destroying cities and killing innocent people without provocation, simply for his own entertainment. His motivations are not complex; he seeks only to exercise his power and inflict suffering, having been programmed by Dr. Gero to harbor a deep-seated hatred for humans. He and his sister view the worlds heroes as nothing more than amusing obstacles to be eliminated.
In the story, A-17 serves as the primary physical threat and symbol of hopelessness. He is first seen in flashbacks having already killed most of the Z-Fighters, including Piccolo, Vegeta, and Krillin. His role in the present narrative of the special is to dominate and ultimately end the resistance led by the young adult Gohan. A-17 and A-18 together attack a city, leading to a brutal confrontation where they mortally wound Gohan, causing him to lose an arm. Their final assault on Gohan occurs in a rain-soaked battle; A-17 and his sister overwhelm the one-armed Super Saiyan, killing him with a coordinated barrage of energy blasts. This act directly triggers the transformation of the young Trunks into a Super Saiyan, setting the stage for Trunks eventual quest to change the past. A-17s unshakeable confidence and overwhelming power make him an immovable object that defines the tragedy of Trunks world.
Key relationships are limited and insular. His primary bond is with his sister, A-18, with whom he fights in perfect synchronization. They are partners in crime, sharing the same goal of destruction and watching each others backs in battle. There is no love lost for their creator, Dr. Gero, whom they kill almost immediately after being activated. They regard the Z-Fighters with utter contempt, seeing Gohan not as a rival but as a persistent annoyance to be crushed. A-17 shows no respect or fear for his opponents, only a detached amusement in their futile struggles.
A-17 in this timeline undergoes no significant development or change of heart. He remains a static force of malice from his activation until his final destruction. The only evolution is in his tactics, adapting to fight a grown Trunks years later, but his personality and motivations never waver. He is destroyed years after Gohans death by an older, significantly more powerful Future Trunks, who has returned from training in the main timeline. In their final battle, Trunks dispatches A-18 with a single energy blast, and despite a moment of panicked pleading, A-17 is similarly obliterated, bringing his reign of terror to an abrupt end.
The notable abilities of A-17 are considerable, making him a near-unstoppable threat in his timeline. His primary asset is his cybernetic body, which grants him an unlimited supply of energy. This means he never tires and can fight at full power indefinitely, a massive advantage over organic fighters whose ki depletes. He can fly and possesses superhuman strength, speed, and durability far beyond the level of a Super Saiyan from that era. His signature techniques include the Android Barrier, a defensive energy shield that can also be used offensively to damage surroundings. He can fire a variety of energy waves, including the Finger Beam, a rapid barrage of narrow rays, and the Full Power Energy Ball. One of his most devastating team moves, used with A-18, is the Accel Dance, a brutal combination rush of punches and kicks that ends with a powerful energy volley, which was the technique used to kill Future Gohan. His power, while immense, is ultimately surpassed by the trained Super Saiyan Trunks, but for most of the special, he is an invincible engine of destruction.