Fallen Hero

CHAPTER 1: Divergence

"Farewell my friends", Trunks said as he entered his time machine and began its launch sequence to return to his own timeline. He gazed and smiled thankfully at each of the Z fighters with the exception of Goku who had selflessly sacrificed himself to save the Earth. He had come to understand why his mother had held the man in such high regard and coming to respect and admire the earth raised Saiyan as well.

"Stay safe and good luck!" he said as the machine began its ascent. He waved goodbye to Gohan and the rest of the Z fighters one last time as his machine began to fade from view. As the time machine began its final launch sequence, a single fly desperately made its way towards the machine. Why was it desperate? It was one of the few remaining Cell Collectors designed by Gero to observe and collect information and cells from the world's greatest fighters. It had survived the destruction of Gero's super computer with few others, and was currently running low on power but the device seemed determined to reach the time machine and acquire the unique data it would present, unable to resist the draw due to its programming. It managed to come into contact with the glass dome just as the time machine faded into the stream of time and was unable to acquire a decent grip on the sleek glass dome and was promptly launched in the opposite direction of Trunks and the time machine and into the past. An array of colors sounds and energy passed by the device's optical sensor and almost as quickly as it had entered, it ended and it was promptly expelled out of the time stream. It had fallen out of one of the few holes that Trunks' time machine had punched into the stream of time in his attempts to save the past and prevent the future.

The tracking device's circuitry was slightly damaged from the unprotected time trip and landed on top of what seemed to be Trunks' time machine before it was capsulated and trapped inside with the time machine. After several hours the device found itself free from the capsule and began to fly off to examine where it had landed. It began to examine the present power levels and comparing it to its internal data finding the present power levels far lower than its accumulated data. It's optical sensors noted the destruction was similar to its own data and but noted small differences in the current landscape compared to the data of what it should have been. As it finished it's observations, it made its way towards Gero's lab as it once again began receiving the main computers signal which in turn charged its batteries.

"To think I'd have to deactivate them for their continuous rebellious behavior! I would be better off taking away their free will all together! Bah! If only it wasn't so difficult!" Dr. Gero fumed as he turned and left the room that held the pods that contained a now sleeping Android 17 and 18. He clenched the remote in his old frail hands as he went back to his computer downstairs to work on his ultimate creation, a being that would become the pinnacle of power, the ultimate lifeform, the perfect being. Cell.

As he reached his computer he noticed an influx of data. "Interesting..." he muttered as he skimmed through the data. His eyes grew wide at the sight of the purple haired youth and his power level causing him to frown. Frieza's power level was already enormous and this boy had completely overpowered the alien overlord and his father with little to no effort! And according to the data Goku had this ability too!? He would need to start working on Android 16 and boost his power cell capacity to try and compensate for this unknown youth as well as Goku's new power level jump. He might as well boost Android 17 and 18's as well while he was at it and try to find a way to make them less rebellious. Gero was about to leave and get ready for his operation that would make him into an android when he received yet another influx of data which caught his attention and made him confused. Gero did not like feeling confused but this data had to be wrong or the device faulty as it was saying it was from 3 years into the future! Not only that but it had an id code of a device still in the field. Promptly Gero began to furiously type into his computer to verify the data he was receiving and was shocked to see it was in fact from the future. With the data confirmed to be from the future Gero began to examine it extensively. He had to see how it was possible and soon found himself immersed within the data.

When he was done examining the data Gero could feel a mixed sense of pride and disappointment. His ultimate creation, Cell, had succeeded in defeating Goku but had also been defeated in of itself by Goku's child, Gohan. However, he also couldn't help but feel awed at just how powerful Cell would truly become when he attained his perfect form as it surpassed even his highest calculations! Even his android's power far exceeded his estimates; then again it had seemed ALL of his calculations were wrong to an extent. Had it not been for their transformations, the Saiyan's power levels would have been spot on and once more with the warning of the impending attack from the strange youth giving them time to prepare also muddled them. All in all it was all shocking that such power was indeed attainable but what truly shook him was the boy's power. He had known from endless observations that Gohan had a deep well of power hidden within him but the true magnitude of power held within the boy far exceeded even his highest calculations!

Gero was once again fuming with anger at his own apparent incompetence but then he realized one very important detail. He now had the DNA of both Perfect Cell and Super Saiyan two Gohan. With the data he now had and the necessary genetic material he could easily make Cell so much more powerful he could even accelerate Cell's growth and bypass the absorption phases completely rendering 17 and 18 a moot point! Gero stopped as he glanced back at the data as a far more sinister plan began to brew in his mind. Knowing he would get his revenge even after he was dead didn't satisfy Gero. It would feel empty even if he took the precautions to live now if only to witness it himself. No, now he wanted Goku to truly suffer. Not the heroic death he had been allowed. Then it dawned on him.

"The boy!" he nearly shouted as he turned his attention back to the fuzzy video footage. Gohan would be the key in making Goku suffer! But how to go about it? The boy was pure of heart wasn't he? How could he corrupt the boy? Could it even be done? Countless questions, ideas and plans began to bombard Gero's mind as he tossed ideas away only to bring them back and tweaking them before throwing them away again only to repeat the process several times over. Turning him into an android would be a mistake since he didn't know if the boy would retain his immense latent power and Gero didn't want to chance losing it as it had made the boy unpredictable and difficult to calculate his growth. Frowning he began to pace as he tried to think of a way to corrupt one of the Earth's purest protectors. He stopped in his tracks an idea dawned on him and he smirked. It could work. He turned and left as he finalized his plan and several back up plans before he made for his lab upstairs where Android 19 was patiently waiting for him.

"19, it's time." he said as he went into his lab and pulled the plans out for an energy absorbing model android along with the self-powered model that he had used on 16, 17 and 18. According to the data from the future he had been easily outclassed by not only his own androids but the Z fighters as well. But the self-powered model would be extremely hard to gain control over and adapt to as the human body seemed to reject it harshly during the first phases of integration. He had learned that much when he had created and observed 17 and 18 while 16 had no complications due to him being purely robotic. Those two however, barely survived the process and they were still young and full of life which meant it would be suicide for him to try and use the self-sustained model. Combing them would be impossible as the two types were never meant to be merged and were completely incompatible and even if he could it would be pointless as the self-sustaining model rendered the Ki absorption module obsolete. Try to make the self-sustaining model more suitable for himself would take several years to complete. That was time he didn't have, not with Goku and his friends training. With a frustrated sigh, he handed 19 the plans for the energy absorption model.

"I want you to use the largest power cell we have as well as the fastest Ki Absorption Module*" he said as he got himself onto the table and began hooking his body up with various medical equipment. He had hoped to save his higher quality technology for future androids.

"Don't forget to wire the Ki dampener into the power cell. Those fools have become too reliant on the ability to sense ki. Also I want you to wire Ki dampeners all over the lab." He lectured as he lay down on the cold hard metal table. He suddenly remembered King Kold's ship and immediately wanted to examine the tech. He could use the tech to upgrade his androids to be able to combat this new Super Saiyan form. Though, they wouldn't need the increase if he could grow Cell to be in his final form rather than having to integrate the power cells of 17 and 18. Then again it would be wise to have them be stronger should any unforeseen complications arise.

"Also, while I am recuperating, I want you to go and salvage as much of technology you can from that wrecked ship. I want data logs, scrap metal, star charts, everything! I want it all!" He added as he glanced over to his most loyal android once before he put a small oxygen mask over his face and turned on the sleeping gas and let the unconsciousness take him. He would 'acquire' Gohan after he was fully recuperated.

Yo, Ddoms here! Bet yall thought I was dead. I ain't. I've been very busy with things in life in general and *cough*reading fanfiction*cough*. Anyway sorry for the super long wait for the rewrite for those of you who may or may not have been anticipating this. However I will not be updating until at least next month at the earliest should circumstances allow(I have up to chap three written and done with others lined out). I will be posting a poll on my page for you all to choose what fic I will be focusing on since I can't seem to decide. You will have three choices between this fic, my D. Grayman fic, and a new idea I've had brewing in my mind for some time now. It should be up in a few days so keep an eye out.