#16's Power Sensors and its comparison to Ki-Sensing

[Evil Vegeta]

What up, y'all!

I was recently reading some chapters from the Android arc. For some reason, #16's sensors got my attention. The ability to sense Ki and measure power in any capacity has always been fascinating to me. I think the main reason why this stood out is because it seems as effective as someone who's adept at sensing Ki. I never really got the impression Gero and #19's sensors were as effective.

No.17: “The atmosphere trembled just now. Could you tell? [ ] Was it a volcano, or a huge explosion?...It was far away, at any rate.”
No.16: “It’s on the outskirts of West City…Two gigantic powers are probably fighting…”

No.17: “So why don’t you tell us who’s fighting who, while you’re at it?”
No.16: “I don’t know. Neither is in my data. But one of the powers is large enough to rival you two.”
No.17: “What?! Looks like Doctor Gero screwed up again. Your radar is broken. There’s no power in the world that rivals mine.”

The very first example has him detecting two unknown powers fighting. Not just that, but he's able to see that Piccolo rivals the Androids.

Trunks: “I feel another stupendous ki…! There’s someone else!! Someone else I don’t know!!”
Kuririn: “It’s Piccolo!!!”
Trunks: “What?! But this ki...
Kuririn: Amazing…!! They really merged…!”
Trunks: “Merged?! You mean he and God…?! I heard they used to be one, but split up.”
Kuririn: “They were! And Piccolo was already incredibly strong, so simply by doing that…Th-this is a Super Namekian!!”
Trunks: “Magnificent. To think that he’d be capable of this much of a power-up...”

Vegeta: “One of those guys with mysterious, absurdly large battle powers has vanished…But the other one remains…It’s not No.17 or the other androids. They don’t give off any presence at all…W-who the hell is it…!?”

Both powers being unknown to #16 lines up with the others having no idea about them as well. Neither being in #16's data is similar to everyone having no familiarity with certain Ki.

#16 can't feel Goku's power on his sensors.

No.16: “According to my calculations, my power is about equal to Cell’s.”

No.16: “Wait…We’ll move once they’ve started fighting. It’s odd, though…Vegeta’s fighting power has gone up quite a lot since before…”

No.16: “Cell really did get considerably stronger…But Vegeta’s still better than him at everything!”

No.16: “Run, No.17! This enemy’s battle power is far too large!”

No.18: “He did it!”
No.16: “No, he didn’t. [Cell] has hardly taken any damage.”

No.16: “That’s not Piccolo!”
Note: Piccolo’s power seemed to go well beyond No.16’s data, which is why he believed it wasn’t him.

Now Herms' note seems to think it's because the power went far beyond his data. That's what I thought at first. However, looking at it now, he doesn’t have this same doubt when the significantly more powered-up Vegeta arrived to take on Cell. #16 just says Vegeta's power went up.

Since Piccolo's power was considered unknown by #16 and everyone that sensed him, it sounds like his Ki changed entirely when he powered-up. So I believe what would be considered Piccolo's "Ki-Signature" in #16's databanks also changed into a different signature when he unleashed his power. That would explain why Piccolo could become unrecognizable to #16 despite being right in front of him--while Vegeta is still Vegeta...only with a significant change in power.

What do you believe he's seeing? The numerical measurement of one's power only or possibly more? Don't mind me. I just felt like posting something.

 

[Papasmurf]

Considering that he's able to tell both Kamiccolo and Cell are individuals not registered in his databanks, it makes sense that he's able to see the numerical measurement of a power as well as if it lines up with an individual's ki signature. Vegeta ought to be incomparably stronger than his pre-RoSaT self if Trunks' surprise that he's going right into grade 2 is of any indication (which implies that he at the very least rivals initial 2nd form Cell). Despite that, he doesn't say that ki isn't Vegeta, which is a comment he makes on two separate occasions for Piccolo (post-Kami fusion). Has to be more than just numerical values here. He's able to tell Vegeta is Vegeta regardless of the power difference (similar to Gohan being able to tell Goku is Goku even as a SSJ3 in the Boo arc), but Piccolo's ki signature was changed significantly after merging. Galu also couldn't ascertain Piccolo was Piccolo after he merged with Nail in the Freeza arc.

 

[Evil Vegeta]

Yep. That's basically what I was thinking. The way #16 reacted makes it seem like Piccolo was an entirely different being.

From what we can see, #16's sensors seem much more unique compared to Gero's. Gero seemed to compare every reading to previous calculations, then seemed lost from there. #16 was just assessing everyone on the spot. I never got the impression Gero ever had a solid read on anyone's power besides Goku's when his power took a huge hit from the KMHMH.

Even though it's from DBFZ, I like how #16 states his sensors are unable to read Blue Goku/Vegeta's power.

 

[Papasmurf]

I was a little disappointed that Cell doesn't have a unique dialogue with Beers where he mistakes him and Whis for new androids built by Gero. He'd be unable to sense their ki after all.

 

[Papasmurf]

I was a little disappointed that Cell doesn't have a unique dialogue with Beers where he mistakes him and Whis for new androids built by Gero. He'd be unable to sense their ki after all.

 

[Evil Vegeta]

When Cooler was first released, Freeza said nothing to him even though Cooler had unique dialogue. You could tell it was an unfinished exchange. In the Kefla update, Freeza's dialogue with Cooler, Gogeta, and a few others was added. Hoping Cell has dialogue that just wasn't added because I feel like they missed out on a lot of opportunities (Beerus, Broly, etc) there.

 

[Papasmurf]

Is there dialogue between old Broly and new Broly?

 

[Captain Cadaver]

Yeah, it's definitely the numerical measurement of someone's Ki (ie. the scouter method) when considering #16 is a machine and machines function on a sequence of codes which numbers and calculations are always a part of, not to mention it ties well into the running theme of the Saiyan/Freeza Arcs (as well as the early Boo Arc to a minor extent) with the villains judging power purely through numerical readings. Poor Vegeta was wrong about Saiyans not being able to be measured by mere numbers .

As for explaining why his power radar is so much greater than #17, #19 or #20's, I'd chalk it up to a mix of superior mechanics/materials that resulted in #16's vastly superior physical power and #16 being fully mechanic compared to two of them having organic components and the only other fully artificial one being of a far older type without infinite energy.

 

[Evil Vegeta]

Is there dialogue between old Broly and new Broly?

No dialogue.

A dataminer had shown that there were unused clips with Super Broly talking. Unfortunately he has no actual lines in the game. Just yelling and growling like a madman.

 

[ahill1]

I'd point out the difference in the way #16 referred to them might have to do with him seeing Vegeta right in front of him, while initially Piccolo and Cell were fighting outside of their line of sight. Gohan also couldn't exactly see Goku when he turned SSJ3, also then hence his uncertainity. But then Piccolo was in front of #16 when fighting #17 and yet he insisted he wasn't Piccolo, so idk. Maybe #16 believed Piccolo gaining that much power was less likely than Vegeta doing so? I don't know, it's either that or Piccolo's signature also significantly changed, which might make more sense considering Kami's influence and Piccolo's arguable somewhat change of personality after the merging.

 

[Future Warrior]

I'd be interesting if #16's sensors were inspired by the Saiyan scouters.