Chapter 2: Majin
The force behind the blows thrown by the androids were truly impressive, Cell had to admit. As he got closer to the fight itself, he started actually feeling the shock waves as they exploded through the air. It was both a herald of great things to come, and a cause for caution. While he had considered himself capable of dealing with the androids individually, the two of them together were definitely capable of giving him pause. Sad as it was, he'd have to exercise discretion before absorbing them.
Appropriate as it would have been, Cell refrained from verbally expressing his annoyance and instead slowed his approach to a relative crawl. It wouldn't be wise to appear in a conflagration of golden light, or have a sonic boom alert them to his approach. Still, at least he wouldn't have to worry about raising or lowering his power level too much. The androids inability to detect ki would leave them blind as he drew in for the kill, as it were.
And Trunks was far too weak to bother worrying about. Even if the boy could feel his energy, what was he going to do about it? Tell his mortal enemies that another strong fighter was coming? No. All Trunks would think was that there was a chance be might be rescued from his beating.
And if he does think that I'm a danger to him, I doubt 17 and 18 would just let him go. Ha! In his condition, he'll be lucky to get away with his life!
With a smirk Cell stealthily dropped down to the rooftops of one of the few standing skyscrapers left in the city. He couldn't make out anything yet with his eyes, but he could definitely feel his targets getting closer. The ground rattled beneath him and every now and then he was deafened by a particularly loud crash. Oddly, there didn't look to be any blasts thrown about. Usually Saiyans threw those out like party favours; especially now that there was no way for their opponents to sense energy.
Maybe his energy is too drained for that? Cell thought, crouching low as he saw the blurry figures become clearer as they moved towards him. No golden aura, that must be it. But so soon? Guess the boy just is that weak.
Now would be the perfect time to strike, while the androids were preoccupied with their plaything. He could use the solar flare to blind them and then absorb whichever one was closest. The second one wouldn't be any trouble after that.
But, Cell opted to wait. Beyond simple curiosity in seeing how the battle would end, some degree of inherited sadism from Frieza or Vegeta was taking great pleasure in watching someone get the life beaten out of them. Catharsis by proxy? No, he didn't hold any particular feelings against Trunks. Schadenfreude then.
Cell waited, slit pupils dilating as the fighters approached. His heart beat faster, almost in tune with the crashes and booms splitting the air. All he had waited for was almost upon him; in no time at all he'd be Perfect. A singularly powerful blow blasted through the air and sent a broken body sailing diagonally upward through a fallen building. The body soared through the air at tremendous speeds for a few seconds before android 18 appeared over it and struck it with a double fisted blow that sent it rocketing back down to the ground.
It had only been a few seconds that Cell could clearly see the victim of the androids, but he was startled by what he saw.
That's not Trunks!
Cell's jaw dropped as the white armoured creature was treated to a brutal uppercut from 17 that sent its abnormally long head cracking up moments before it was sent flying back into the sky, where 18 was waiting for it.
Rather than bat it back down to her brother 18 caught the creature by the front of its armour. She didn't say anything as the thing panted and wheezed, which Cell found shocking on its own before the thing suddenly perked up. The bruised and distorted flesh of its head realigned into a more natural looking state, the absurd swelling of its eyes shrinking to non-existence. As its body was healed, its energy rose as well but not in a way Cell was familiar with. It was unsettling the lack of knowledge he had of what was going on.
He resolved to stay hidden while trying to come to a decision about what to do first. Find out more about the alien and its intentions or just go straight for absorbing the androids and finding out later? It would be child's play making the thing talk one he was Perfect if 17 and 18 could beat it this badly.
"And you're back to 100%." 18 said, smirking as she casually pulled her fist back for another punch. "Good to know that we didn't break you this time."
SMACK
18's fist hit the alien's head hard enough that even Cell felt inclined to wince in sympathy. It was honestly a surprise that it wasn't dead, even with an apparent regenerative ability superior to his own. It was hard to get a read on its ki, but it didn't feel too strong. It certainly wasn't as strong as a Super Saiyan, but it wasn't as weak as the members of Frieza's army had been. With that kind of strength, given how hard the androids were hitting it, it should have been dead already.
Unusual, but not too important. I doubt that it has any tricks left up its sleeve, or it would have used them by now. I'll find out what it is and where it came from when I'm done with the Androids. it'll make a nice detour, after I've achieved my destiny.
Cell stood up, extending his wings as he prepared to launch the attack that would secure his victory.
"You'll regret this, I'm telling you! When Master Babidi finds out, he'll-" The angry outburst ended as soon as it started, drawing confused looks from 17 and 18 and giving brief pause to Cell's preparations.
"Hey sis, is he zoning out or something? Think we hit him a bit too hard this time?" 17 called up, false concern for the condition of his newest toy discernible in his tone.
"What do you mean we? I punched him last!" 18 shouted down, before turning back to the absent minded alien in her grasp. "So long as he can still take a punch, it doesn't really matter." She stated, readying herself to deliver another strike.
"Yes, Master." The alien all but sighed before focusing its gaze onto 18 with a seriousness far removed from its frustrated yelping before. A smug grin spread over its thick lips before it spoke, "Today's your lucky day Earthlings, my master has decided you're useful to him."
"I don't care, my brother and I don't work for anyone." 18 responded, letting go and moving back from the alien. Before it could get another word out, there was a distortion in the air as 17 appeared next to his sister.
"You said it 18. But hey, Pui Pui? You can tell your master thanks for the offer when you guys meet up in hell. Or, we could thank him personally and you get to live another day. Your call, compadre."
17 brought his left hand up, a red blast filling the palm as 18 did the same with her right.
Pui Pui's grin widened.
Cell's aura burst from him as he bent his knees to leap into action.
He was just about to spring when 17 and 18 both clutched their heads and screamed. Immediately panic struck him, leaving him frozen as the two beings he needed cried out in genuine pain for what must have been the first time. Cell didn't know what was affecting them, or how to stop it. Did Pui Pui have psychic powers? He'd have to be absurdly strong to damage the androids with them, and that didn't match the pitiful performance he'd put up just now.
It doesn't matter how he's doing it, I have to stop it! If their internal components are damaged too badly even absorbing them may be useless!
The screaming came to an abrupt halt, and to Cell's further perplexion the twins were smirking in a way that no people who had just been subject to extreme pain should have been. Added to that, 17 and 18 both sported strange calligraphic 'M' tattoos on their foreheads that burned red before settling into a midnight black.
None of it made sense, and it left the bio-android wondering just what the hell had happened. He wanted to attack now and try to absorb them, but if he didn't like his chances before he certainly wasn't going to gamble with whatever strange change had overcome the androids.
"Majin 17, Majin 18, welcome aboard. You'll want to follow me to the ship, it's pretty well hidden." Pui Pui said, already starting to drift in the general direction they'd be going as if he hadn't been at the twin's mercy just minutes ago.
"Yeah sure, whatever you say. Listen, as long as Babidi can hold up his end of the deal I'm sure we'll be great friends. Right Pui Pui?" Majin 17 said with a smile, punching Pui Pui 'playfully' in the arm hard enough to make him wince and clutch his shoulder.
"R-Right." Pui Pui forced a chuckle as he rubbed at his arm, looking wearily from 17's deceptively innocent smile to 18's mirrored features. "This way, and you should call him Master Babidi if you don't want any trouble."
"Oh, there won't be any trouble." Majin 18 said as the trio started picking up speed away from the area. "I'm sure Babidi will understand that his strongest team members should get a few privileges here and there."
Cell couldn't hear any more as they shot off into the distance at a speed he couldn't hope to match, with Pui Pui being forcibly dragged along with them. He was left frozen on the spot, staring blankly at the space the androids had occupied.
"What just happened?" He uttered, rasping voice going unheard over the dead city. The energy he had been gathering for the high speed Solar Flare and barrier just fell away from him, wasted.
"Damn it!" Cell yelled, squeezing his hands into fists and doubling over in anger. "I was so close! Perfection was just a few steps away! I shouldn't have waited! I should have attacked!"
Gold light flooded from Cell as his rage boiled over, sending the skyscraper he'd stood on crashing into the streets in flaming pieces and making the ground quake for kilometres away. Cell was oblivious to the damage he caused as his aura grew larger and larger, devouring a good chunk of the city in its blazing incandescence as he poured his emotions out into it.
"That, Pui Pui, and, Babidi…They're the ones responsible! I'll find them and I'll make them pay for ever interfering!"
"If you wish to defeat Babidi, perhaps we could be of assistance."
The sound of a foreign voice ended Cell's tantrum all at once. His aura lessened into a mere fire cloaking his form as he searched the area suspiciously for who had spoken. His efforts were put to rest by the speaker's sudden appearance in front of him without any warning. Cell resisted the impulse to jerk back, determined to appear as strong as possible while he studied the newest mysterious figure. This one didn't look as plain as Pui Pui. He had lilac coloured skin and wore his silver hair in a mohawk, while wearing clothing that was rather elaborate. A blue button up jacket over a blue shirt with puffed up shoulders, and an orange sash tied around the middle. His pants were the same shade as his shirt, and fed into dark orange boots. What marked him as not being from Earth in Cell's mind were his pointed ears, which had round earrings hanging from them.
I can't sense his energy at all. What is he, another android?
"Is that so? Well, I'm sure you wouldn't mind telling me who you are first." Cell said, keeping his voice harsh as he crossed his arms. After what he'd seen, he was getting fed up with mysteries. This person had a slight increase in opinion for being of use in regaining his shot at Perfection, but that didn't make his presence any less irritating for Cell.
"There's no need for hostility, we have the same goal. I too, wish to see Babidi and his evil vanquished." He smiled mysteriously, placing his arms behind his back. "I am the Supreme Kai."
Cell's eyes widened in surprise before settling back into a guarded expression.
"Supreme Kai? What's that supposed to mean?" He said, not bothering to hide his irritation, gold flecks spitting from his aura.
"I'll explain while we wait for my assistant, Kibito, to return. He's following Pui Pui and the newest recruits back to their ship. After he returns, we can work out a plan for assaulting Babidi's ship."
Cell's cautiousness grew at the mention of another unknown being on the planet, though he allowed himself to relax externally. He didn't have a problem with the Supreme Kai's plan, and he needed to hear everything he had to say. Having more light shed on the situation would help Cell know what he was getting into.
It's no use going after the Androids if I'm in the dark about who they work for now, I suppose. But I can tell that this 'Supreme Kai' is the type who'd work better with Goku than someone like me… I'd better play it safe until I have 17 and 18 firmly in my grasp.
Cell's beak opened in a rare friendly smile as he did his best to bring the 'Goku' aspect of his energy to the fore. Just because he couldn't sense the energy of his supposed ally didn't mean that the reverse wasn't possible.
"I'm all ears."
AN:What a twist!
3 drafts I had for this chapter. The first from the androids POV, the second from Pui Pui's and now this one. Updates will be weekly from now on. Please review, constructive criticism is always welcome and so are questions.
And fyi, I really wish I'd chosen to just use omnipresent 3rd person so I wouldn't have to steer clear of Pui Pui's name -.-
