Notes: This is my first dabble in the Dragon Ball Z section and in dealing with Cell. I've read so many of the "Cell meets a girl…" themed stories and after much needed planning, decided to write one of my own. I doubt that this story will develop into a romance. But, I've no idea what the future holds, so that could change. I hope that Cell is in character and that you enjoy my story.  

Disclaimer: Dragon Ball Z and its characters are the property of Akira Toriyama. 

Danse Macabre-Prologue

By Frozen Phoenix

Cell was bored. And though he would never admit to indulging such trivial perceptions, he couldn't deny his deep dislike for what seemed like endless tedium. He had been standing; arms crossed in front of him for an innumerable amount of time and felt no need to change it.

Giving his opponents ten days of preparation had been foolish on his part. Despite having limitless amounts of patience, Cell could feel the stirrings of what may have been restlessness. The urge to fight, to sufficiently crush all who were irrational enough to oppose him did bring Cell some consolation, at least his waiting wouldn't have proved to be fruitless.   

And as if in answer to his boredom, Cell began to feel the presence of another ki-signature, but dismissed it with disgust. The overt weakness was staggering, something with such limited power could only be human. The knowledge did little to improve his dismal mood.

When they had been a necessity for his first form, he had hunted them ruthlessly and at times with sadistic glee. However at the moment…they proved to be nothing short of useless. Means for entertainment perhaps, but more so billions of inane bodies that made the plan for destruction of their mundane planet all the more worthwhile. 

The ki was drawing ever closer. This human is either very brave or very stupid, Cell surmised. Most likely it's the latter.

Still if they wished to throw their life away by coming across him, that was their own prerogative. Cell had been in want of some diversion and most ironically, it, or rather she had finally made her way to the very edge of the marble stadium.     

~*~

To say that she was thin would have been a gross understatement. Her figure was gaunt, a pale and wraith-like caricature of living flesh. Clothing consisting of black pants and sleeveless shirt were torn and decrepit and her face, that which could be seen beneath wisps of greasy black hair was streaked with dirt and other nameless fifth.

Shivering almost uncontrollably as she moved closer, the young woman brushed a thin-fingered hand across her face, pushing her hair behind her ears and finally giving Cell a clear glance at her face. What he saw impressed him little.

Amid the grime and grunge, she glared at the biomechanical android, whose emotionless face reflected the slightest amusement.   

"Is there something that I can do for you my dear?" Cell queried cordially, his calm exterior undaunted despite the sudden and unruly appearance of his visitor.

The young woman's hate-filled eyes narrowed, her gaunt face twisted in an almost feral snarl. Cell watched with slight interest as she then reached into the worn satchel at her side and extracted a gun.

Holding the weapon with air of one who knows little of what they're doing, the girl, arm shaking all the while, raised it until it was nearly level with Cell's head.

"Die." She growled hatefully and with no amount of hesitation, pulled the trigger…

~*~