DISCLAIMER: I own neither Dragon Ball or DC Comics.


Beyond the known universe, a being looked surprised. Though nothing new was happening, he could feel something spectacular about to happen on Earth. He didn't know what or when, but he knew it was going to change everything.

So he did what he was doing since the beginning and kept watching. Soon enough, his answer will be revealed to him. One thing's for certain, though. Whatever it is, it will definitely help him escape this prison.


Morning dawns. The people in the continental United States wake up to their 9 to 5 shifts and schools. They aren't in fear. They talk, laugh, sing, even play. With the exception of those living in the Midwest and East coast, life goes on as normal, save for the influx of criminal activity as super villains move out of the East. This increase though is negligible, as they now have the constant and persistent force of nearly the entire Justice League.

Though the police may be good spotters to alert the Justice League about Cell's whereabouts through secured audio channels, they can do little else to stop him. At most, they are there to slow him down enough for the superheroes to arrive. Even the army, though not sent due to the unhappiness it would bring to the populace, would be putty against such a powerful enemy. It is the Justice League that time and time again have to save the people from Cell on top of handling the regularly occurring villains of the world. However, time and time again Cell manages to escape their clutches due to his wide array of tricks and vast knowledge stolen from the absorbed. You could be one moment with your hands in his throat, then a flash would disorientate you, and a few seconds later he would be gone. Despite this, there have been many times when the Justice League had him cornered with no means of escape. In these moments, the Justice League will turn upon itself.

In the Justice League's watchtower, there is no difference between night and day. Not only does the outside look relatively the same, but they work practically nonstop around the world. In fact, the watchtower is mostly empty, save for the few that passed out after a mission or those like Bulma that work inside the watchtower itself.

Batman sat in the League's mess hall alone. He was far too into thought to even think about eating the food in front of him. He thought about the times before the arrival of these new trans-universal travelers, where everyone was happier and life was much easier. The tower has become little more than a place to gather your equipment for your next dispatching an hour later. There has been little time to talk with the other League members or even go home. And now that he thought about it, he wasn't even sure when was the last time he even saw Alfred, Damian, or Barbara. He even feels guilty for the moments where he risked the safety of Gotham just to hold a temporary alliance with Luthor. Perhaps, things should go back to a simpler time...

The mess hall doors open. J'onn quietly walks towards Batman. He wasn't even aware he was there until J'onn tapped his shoulder.

"It's time," The Martian quietly spoke. He looked at Bruce for a bit longer before walking out.

Once Martian Manhunter left, Batman threw the untouched food away and walked out after him. The corridors in the watchtower were dimmed a bit to ease the eyes of the members who have to work nonstop. The two senior League members continued their journey through a flight of stairs to reach the top level of the watchtower. Through there, they walk towards a door that has to scan them before entering.

Superman, Flash, Wonder Woman, and Green Lantern sat around a table. Everyone's faces look weary, despite having the luxury of a long sleep just for this meeting. Martian Manhunter and Batman took their seats respectively.

"We've been waiting a week to have this meeting. I'll make it simple." Manhunter began loudly, wakening the six to attention.

"We won't be any use if we're fighting amongst ourselves. We need to decide this now."

J'onn raised his hand up.

"Who here agrees that we should kill Cell instead of apprehending him?"

Flash's hand shot up first, with Superman and Green Lantern's hands raised up afterward. J'onn himself lowered his hand.

"I don't like this any more than you guys do, but dammit, he killed Cyborg! He killed a man that used to sit next to me right here! He killed Victor! He even killed Captain Atom!"

Superman watched Flash's temper flare up, a rare occasion. When he looked at his eyes, he knew of that same anger, that same rage that Cell has instilled in him too. Hal Jordan saw this too.

"Flash is right," Superman said, looking at the senior members before him. "Cell did kill one of our very own, several in fact, but we shouldn't base our actions on our personal losses. Cell murdered 50 to 60,000 people in the United States, a bigger death toll than almost every villain we've come across. The people will want him dead. I, want him dead."

"I agree," Green Lantern chimed in. Everyone redirected their attention, Batman, especially. "His actions are unheard of and reprehensible. He should die."

"That's funny, You're strong enough to face him and yet you haven't even seen him yourself." Batman strongly replied.

"You haven't either."

"There's a difference. While you were answering other alerts and conversing with the Green Lantern corps, I'm the one actively financing and managing this manhunt. At least I'm doing something."

Hal was about to open his mouth in protest before J'onn raised his hand up again.

"Who is in favor of not killing Cell?"

Only Batman raised his hand, while Manhunter continued to keep his up.

"No matter how well you can disguise it," Batman fixated on Superman. The two locked eyes for a moment before reverting their attentions. "You're all only seeing the bloodlust in your actions. I know you all want to kill Cell, and I would be in favor of it if it wouldn't cause something worse to happen."

"And what would that be?" Superman's eyes flared red, something that only Batman noticed.

"The disintegration of the Justice League."

While everyone was astonished by Batman's words, Superman couldn't help but chuckle.

"All that intelligence of yours really means nothing, does it? We have over 100 active members, we're too big to just dissolve like- "

"It will be replaced with a dictatorship."

Superman knew exactly what he was talking about. He stood up, alarming some of the members beside him. Even the Flash, one that was agreeing with him moments earlier, was scared of what he might do.

"Do you honestly think I'm anything like that Superman?"

Batman stood up and walked right in front of him. They stared into each other's eyes. They can see the anger and weariness in both of them.

"The Superman that took over the world and killed Green Arrow and Shazam?"

The two stood there in silence. Everyone remembers what happened two years ago, where they were transported into a universe of cold injustice. A universe where Superman's regime proved supreme and their rebellion's survival hinged on the strength of their intact Justice League. No one wants another Superman like that, one haunted by past grievances and rules the Earth with an almighty fist.

An eternity stretched on and then some before they both sat down in their respective seats.

"Now," Martian Manhunter started, dragging away from the whole incident. "Since we are equals, we shall act according to the majority."

Manhunter turned to Wonder Woman, who was quiet throughout the discussion.

"What do you think Wonder Woman?"

She had a good reason to say nothing. She was perplexed about the situation ever since she sat down. Her mind usually leans on the idea that killing Cell would be of the greater good, but what Batman recently said made her drawn between two sides.

"I don't know J'onn…" Wonder Woman weakly responded, still entranced in her thoughts. She briskly recollected herself amongst her peers.

"I'm neutral on the subject." She said confidently.

"Then we will wait until we are about to leave for your response. After that, we will raid Cell using our strongest available heroes by night according to Eastern Time. Any objections?"

An uneasy silence loomed the air. Tensions were remarkably high, as those who desire to kill Cell look down on those who oppose them. Even J'onn J'onz played this game. He eventually ceased himself of such pettiness.

"Then we're dismissed."

Everyone raised themselves out of their seats and walked out the door, it automatically opening for Flash first, who naturally wanted to leave in a hurry. Superman was the last to leave, his eyes fixated on Batman one last time before walking away. Martian Manhunter too was going to leave before Batman tapped his shoulder.

"Do you truly believe we shouldn't kill Cell?"

"Yes. His death will only ignite further disorganization amongst our ranks."

"Can I trust you?"

Manhunter was at first hesitant, but he replied with a questionable yes. Batman walked the Martian a little farther away from the door and clicked a few buttons on his scouter. The scouter was bombarded with dozens of sequences of alien text, most of them Batman had recognized by this point. Once the sequences stopped, surveillance cameras in the meeting room would look as if Batman and Martian Manhunter left. Batman double clicked the scouter, calling this time for a specific audio channel, a call to someone tens of miles away. The other end of the call began with the sound of liquid falling to a surface.

"Hello?"

No voice replied back, only more of this liquid sound.

"Luthor?"

Manhunter looked at Batman bizarrely.

Did he just call Lex Luthor?

"Luthor!" Batman hissed.

The liquid sound stopped.

"What? What! Can't you see I'm pissing here?" A flushing sound can be heard right after his statement.

"Are you done with the experiment?"

"I've been for days now."

"Then why haven't you told me?"

"Now you see, I could've contacted you," Miles away, Luthor was washing his hands in one of his elegant bathrooms in Texas. "But I wasn't done with everything you asked me. Getting all my contacts in order can take a while you know."

"I hope you're done with that, we need to deploy everything we've got today."

"Today?"

"Today," Batman replied.

"Fuck, I'll call you back once I'm ready."

"You have about twelve hours. I'll come to you."

Luthor ended the call on his phone. He gazed at himself in his mirror and noticed that he's still wearing his red silk pajamas. As evil and corrupt everyone says him to be, one cannot discard the fact that he's fighting for good. Mostly for self-preservation, sure, but still good. Luthor couldn't help but chuckle in the mirror of the notion that he just might be up for redemption here.

Nevertheless, he cracked his achy back and smiled at his chiseled physique in the mirror.

It was time to collect some debts.

Meanwhile, Manhunter was still confused about the entire situation.

"Is this what you wanted to show me? That you're allying yourself with a criminal?"

Batman turned his attention away from his scouter and towards Manhunter.

"This is not some permanent alliance. He can create the weapons we need to end Cell without Superman."

"Without Superman?"

"Look, Wonder Woman doesn't look like she'll vote for our cause. Without her vote, the Justice League won't help us."

"This is just too much."

Manhunter walked towards the door with his head hung low. A good part of him feels that Batman is right, but to go against the Justice League? To go against the Justice League with criminals by their side? What will they look like to the people? To the Justice League?

"You know what I'm saying is right J'onn. I need to know if you'll be on my side."

J'onn stopped walking. He looked down for quite a while before turning towards Batman.

"Give me time to convince Wonder Woman. If she doesn't vote for us… I'll join you."

Batman nodded. Manhunter kept walking to the door before he heard Batman speak once more.

"We're not the only ones who think like this. If I can get everyone together, we'll defeat Cell and save the Justice League."

"By causing even more instability. Right."

J'onn walked towards the door while it automatically opened for him. He left, leaving Bruce to his thoughts.


Rain pours upon the east coast of the United States. The east was ravaged the most by Cell's wrath, as he literally carved paths in the land while absorbing whomever he pleased. Its people are frightened, abandoned by their local superheroes and under the constant care of the government. The few that survive Cell's destruction live in government provided tent centers usually nearby the destroyed city, as Cell isn't known to return to old places. The people clanged on to this hope in such dark times.

Some saw this rain as a bad omen, a warning to leave as it never rained this bad before since he arrived. But it wasn't like there was anywhere else to go. They were trapped in their tents like sitting ducks.

Cell went unusually fast on this feeding. Though mastering his absorption made him drink humans away almost instantly, any normal feeding would still take about 30 minutes. This took 10. Instead of flying away to the next tent center, Cell flew a bit away and sat in a prairie. A tree stump in the distance called for him, so he sat on it.

There just something that beckons me there… He thought as he looked up to the sky. Rain droplets drizzled down his face while he pondered.

He turned to his east. Past recollections of humans long gone tell him that Metropolis lies there. Captain Oswald, a man that he absorbed many months ago, is his true drive here. There was something else in the cargo truck he was in. That thing just might be what he needs to achieve perfection. He could even feel its power from as far away as here, a power that felt suppressed for so long. The only obstacle in his way is the fact that the cargo was supposed to move to Luthor's headquarters in Metropolis, a city virtually flattened a while back.

Doesn't hurt to try…

Cell got up, scratched his crown-like head and flew eastward.


"Lost communication? What do you mean lost communication!"

The senior Superman towered above Electro-Man, whom already lost respect for Superman.

"I-I just did, okay? He must have destroyed the tracer. The best I can do is give you track his last location."

"That's your best? I let you live so that you can try your best? You little sh- "

"Hey!"

Martian Manhunter pushed Superman aside. The three were fortunate enough to be secluded in the meeting room. Manhunter gave him a stink face before fixing his attention to Electro-Man.

"He doesn't mean that, we've just been having a long day."

"I get it, no hard feelings."

"Give us his latest location."

Electro-Man hesitated before removing his scouter. A 3-D image of the United States map projected from the scouter's screen. There were numerous yellow dots in the east coast with tame stamps, representing places that Cell was sighted. The latest of these places was coincidentally the most eastward.

"This was about a few hours ago, so we aren't too far off."

"It doesn't matter how soon your time was," Superman began, walking up to them. "Cell could fly anywhere in a matter of seconds if he wanted to."

"True, but judging by all the timestamps, Cell has really concentrated on the northeast. He might be up to something. It's a miracle that he hasn't invaded the city of Gotham though."

"Maybe that's his plan. Pick around the surrounding area before going for Gotham city." Martian Manhunter replied, folding his arms.

"I don't know; he's really hitting close to Metropolis than Gotham city."

"There's nothing of value left in Metropolis. It's destroyed."

Manhunter's words irritated Superman. He wanted the slap the Martian pest for dare speaking negatively about his city, but he showed his restraint.

"Then it's settled then," Superman said, clearly agitated. "We'll send some to Gotham while bringing the brunt of the League to Metropolis."

Superman abruptly moved away from the table and left. Since no one wanted to oppose what he dictated, Manhunter and Electro-Man exchanged a few glances at each other before leaving themselves.


Hours went by around the world. The day slowly turned to evening, with the daily work shift coming to a close. Aboard the watchtower, several superheroes started to gear up for the impending battle. Superman himself studied the Earth's surface from a window. No matter what happens today, he'll protect that green and blue marble to the death if he has to, for Lois's sake.

"Sir."

Electro-Man walked to Superman's side. He was a bit nervous from their last conversation, but mostly okay.

"Call me Superman," The man replied, still staring at the window. "We're equals. Sorry about what happened earlier, I wasn't feeling okay."

"It's alright." Electro-Man genuinely replied back. Truth be told that despite the many flaws Superman has, Electro-Man sees past them. A few mistakes blotch his vision here and there, but for the most part, he only sees the hero in him.

I've been meaning to ask you to allow me in that invasion plan of yours."

"No offense," Superman light turned his head towards the young hero. "But you'll only get in the way. It's why Batman isn't included."

"I know... My uncle was killed by him when he massacred Winchester. If I don't at least try to avenge him..."

Superman turned completely to see the look in Electro-Man's eyes. The passion, that rage inside of them made Superman think of the young lad entirely different. To Superman, he just might be more than a spineless accident.

"Fine. Just get ready."

The fire in Electro-Man's eyes brightened. He scurried off to gear up his weapons. The young superhero managed to walk past Wonder Woman, where they locked eyes for a moment. Wonder Woman herself was heading to the research labs. She opened the door to see Bulma typing away with Trunks by her shoulder.

"Everything okay?" Trunks asked, her mother far too distracted to notice the Amazonian princess's arrival.

"Yup. We're preparing the strike force now; you should start preparing yourself."

"Alright, but what about you? Have you made that decision yet?"

"Not quite." She replied, scratching her head.

"I'm still indecisive. What do you think?"

"If I were you," Trunks started. There was a certain determination in his words that made them carry a lot more value. "I'd want to tear that monstrosity to pieces. It's creatures like those that plagued my world and killed all my friends and family. We need to strike before Cell does something drastic. Or worse... achieve his goal."

"I see. Thank you."

Wonder Woman walked back and out of the lab, leaving with what she came for. Trunks was going to leave after her to ready himself before Bulma managed to get to the door before him. She closed the door behind them.

"Whatever you do, don't kill Cell."

"What? Are you crazy?"

"These people aren't accustomed to killing people like we are, especially Batman. This league they have going on won't survive something like that."

Trunks turned to his back.

"…Fine."

"No," Bulma turned Trunks to him, their blue eyes gazing for a moment. "Promise me."

"I promise mom."

Meanwhile, Wonder Woman continued to walk down the watchtower's corridors. She noticed Martian Manhunter walking at the other end of the hallway. The two exchange a glance before the Martian decided to walk with her.

"There's something I need to explain to you," Manhunter said. The statement piqued her interests.

Once Wonder Woman nodded in agreement, the two stop dead in the middle of the hallway.

"Your choice can very well change the entire- "

"I get it J'onn."

"No, you don't. Let me tell you this. Batman and Superman are tied together by a thin thread. No matter the choice you make, it will end badly. Choose the side with the least casualties."

Manhunter took one last grandeur at the Amazon before disappearing into the corridor. The weight applied to Wonder Woman was so much that she could barely move. It was moments like these where she longed for Hippolyta, her mother, for her guidance. Alas, Themyscira is too far away, her own demons so much closer.


Superman watched the heroes before him come and go into the teleporter. Each one looked more restless than the last, with dark bags under their eyes to prove it. Superman almost felt guilty that he gets to stay in the watchtower while everyone has to do all the work. Part of him wants to just go back to the easy days before even a Justice League, where he'll just hear a crime going on in Metropolis and rush to the rescue. Alas, Metropolis is gone. He heard through the grape vine that Lois and his friends are still alive, a joy that Clark praises in silence.

Batman was another thing in his mind. All fingers point to Batman definitely doing some lucrative business, but he can't for the life of him conceive of something he might be doing. Despite these thoughts, he still thinks of Batman as his friend. Despite the power struggle between them, they've always settled their differences eventually.

Yeah... things will sort out eventually.

Another person entered from the teleporter. Superman was very much surprised to see instead of the regular folk, a man that rules the seas: Aquaman.

"Aquaman? It's been a long time old friend."

"A long time indeed."

The two shook hands with vigor, warming Superman's heart a bit. Aquaman looked so much younger than he did, and that's purely because he hasn't been around these past months.

"How goes things in Atlantis?"

"Good. I made the most out of my leave by building up the kingdom. It's also the reason why I came back."

"So you've heard the news."

"Both news, actually. I've also heard Metropolis was destroyed recently. I'm sorry."

Superman was mentally staggered by such a hit. He recollected himself to hide away the fact.

"I've also heard of whispers about a monster named Cell, a creature from another universe that's killed tens of thousands on the surface. He must be the same person that destroyed Metropolis I presume. Such a threat is as much of a threat to the seas as is the surface world, so I've come to help you kill it."

"Then you'll make a good asset to the strike force."

"Strike force?"

"We're assembling a squad of the best people we can bring out without too much of a hassle. We're leaving as soon as Wonder Woman gives the okay."

As on cue, Wonder Woman walked in with a rather cleared conscience look. She nodded to Aquaman, which he did the same.

"I've made my decision. When we're done with Cell, we'll kill him."

"Good, so I guess we're leaving now."


Cell was at the very doorstep of what used to be one of the greatest cities on Earth. Metropolis, once teeming with millions of people and a sanctuary for ''Earth's Greatest Hero''. is now nothing but a desolate husk. Cell snickered at the thought. He enjoyed destroying this city, watching its people cower while he absorbed the lot of them. He would do it again had it not interfered with his current plans.

A little pillaging of the land was in order before he came here of course, but now he will do what he came here to do. He flew to Luthor's old headquarters based off the information Captain Oswald gave him, leading him west of the city. He flew over to find it gone, it's foundation the only thing remaining. Had he not received the information given, he wouldn't have even known this was Luthor's HQ.

"Pointless." Cell muttered to himself before turning to fly away. However, one thing caught his eye before he could take flight.

It was hard to see under all that rubble, but something was definitely leading down. He touched down and walked over to the destroyed headquarters. An airwave cleared out most of the blocking rubble, revealing a stairwell down. Though he hesitated to venture forth, something else kept him invested. A massive power level was down there, one that closely matched Superman. Such a being is exactly what he needs to finally complete his quest. Cell walked down the steps with a certain gusto, a sense of achievement if you will. He knows he has already won.

Booster Gold, despite the advanced 25th-century gadgetry such as his legion flight ring and power suit, is no match for Cell. He wouldn't dare even get near the guy, seeing how he made quick work with Geo-Force and Adam Strange. He was overly confused when Electro-Man expressed his wishes to go fight him again, despite telling Gold the hellish nightmare that is Cell a week prior. Nope, he'll leave that work to the Supermen of the League. Instead, he'll be a messenger boy.

Carter walked over to Batman's private quarters, a luxury only given to the seniors. It irks him how he has to sleep in a bunk bed for the past few weeks. As the old custom, he knocked on the door. No answer. He knocked on the door again a bit louder. No answer again. He was just about ready to call his mission a bust before realizing he really wants to see what Batman has inside there.

"Skeets?"

Booster's robotic companion was surfing the internet the entire time. He was lucky enough to decipher what Gold wanted based on the loose words he heard.

"I'm on it!"

Skeets hovered by the server box that receives ID cards in order to get it. He pierced the box with something that came out of the back of his body. After a few seconds, the sound of static could be heard before the door opened.

To his surprise, there was nothing of value there. Just about everything he expected of someone who hides things well. One thing wasn't hidden well, though, a tiny disc on his bed that you can insert into your scouter. Booster Gold had his own blue scouter to match his costume, a peculiar device that he likes to keep in his list of technologies. It might not be the most useful thing in his arsenal, but it's sure as hell the coolest looking. Booster slid the disc inside of his scouter and waited a bit for it to play.

"If you're listening to this," Batman's gruff voice rang, always a terrifying delight to hear in the morning. "Then it's too late."

"What I do is for the good of the Justice League and for the people. I am the one who severed the tracer's connection. If you, Superman, are listening to this when I expect you to be, I'm already there."

The disc ended. Booster shakenly removed it from his scouter.

"Holy…"

Booster fumbled with the disc a bit in his hands before running out of Batman's quarters. The shit he has in his hands just might get him out of his bunk bed arrangement.


Just as Batman expected, Booster listened to the disc when he expected him to. He was already in Metropolis with an array of villains beside him to boast. Both him and Luthor stood against Amazo, Zoom, Gorilla Grodd, and Black Adam stood before them. The two sported a slim battlesuit, one black and gray and the other gold and the other gold and purple respectively. Everyone was drenched in the rain that recently started to pour. While Luthor was impressed by the turnout, Batman frowned. Something was missing.

"Where's the clone?"

"He'll be arriving shortly. I'm giving him a bit of an upgrade to bring him up to speed."

"Even with him, do you honestly think this will be enough?"

"It's the best I can do bats. Most people are afraid to go against Cell."

"Precisely," Grodd added, scratching his head. "Or at least that's the word around these days. I only came so that I may harness this Cell's abilities. That, and to see if it really was Batman on our side."

"We're not on the same side." Batman snapped back.

Luthor pointed to Adam and pointed at the stairwell Cell went into prior.

"Find out what Cell is doing down there, but be silent."

Black Adam nodded, flying down into the stairwell. The rest of the squad looked at Luthor for their orders, despite each one having their own agendas.

"So, the hell do we do?" Zoom said, flailing his arms in frustration.

"You stand right where you are," Batman said, walking towards him. Zoom was both confused with his orders and why Batman is the one delivering them.

"Once Superman arrives; we need a force ready to stop him at this location."

"Makes sense," Grodd chimed in. "But three men isn't going to stop a dozen."

"How do you know how much there are?"

"Look at the sky... simpleton." Grodd murmured the last part.

Gorilla Grodd pointed at the moving dots almost too far away from peripheral vision. They were indeed much more than the three of them. These dots slowly became shapes. The first of the shapes to fully take form and touch down to the ground is Superman. Even from the distance that separated them, Batman saw that Superman's eyes adorned the purest fury in them. The four villains wanted to just run from the sight of Superman, but a silent agreement made them persevere.

"YOU!" Superman uttered as he pointed his finger at Batman.

Superman walked up to Batman with his strike force right behind. Another standoff ensued, where Superman fruitlessly tried to intimidate Batman. The scars on Batman run far too deep for that to work. The man of steel noticed that he only achieved in scaring everyone else, so he calmed himself. He wouldn't dare make the first punch for the sake of his reputation.

"Allying yourself with these malefactors? Really? A new low- no, even worse. This is treason. That tape you 'accidentally' left in your room confirms it. "

"As smart as you are Superman, I don't expect you to see the bigger picture."

"And you even allied yourself with Luthor! My own nemesis!" Superman shook his head.

"There is no bigger picture. I'm giving you one last chance to stop this now Bruce. Surrender now, and we'll arrest those criminals behind you. We can defeat Cell together and save the world."

Batman's eyes brightened up. He made a quick glance at Luthor. He nodded and then started to walk away. Though Flash was just about ready to snatch the billionaire criminal up in practically an instant, Wonder Woman held him back.

"I can see it now, the real reason why you want to kill him."

Superman's eyes twitched.

"You're scared, scared that he might become stronger than you."

"Scared of what he might do to Lois!"

Superman snapped. Batman is one of the few in the Justice League that knows his true identity. The idea of Bruce practically revealing it aloud, putting Lois into the mix, struck the final chord. The world around him closed itself in, leaving nothing but him and Bruce. He lunged at him with all the hate he could muster. He could feel forces pulling him back, but he blew them away like an afterthought. One punch sent Batman flying away. He yearned to reach him, to fly over and strangle his mangled body more, but the forces surrounding him were too much.

Reality snapped back in. Gorilla Grodd had his fists pounding Superman over and over again. A haze grew over him. The beating was stopped by Aquaman, who rubbed Superman's head to pry him awake.

"The hell just happened?" Superman asked with a lisp, his vision still blurry.

"Chaos. While you were out, the Martian betrayed us."

Superman turned to his side to see Martian Manhunter battle Green Lantern. He lounged at the lantern with an enlarged fist. Hal made a cinder block construct a second before it was too late. Manhunter tried to break it apart, but the Flash intercepted him.

"Where's Batman?"

When he was given no answer, he took the arduous journey of turning to his side. Aquaman was gone, now a distance away battling Grodd. A strong force lifted Superman's body up. Superman was looking dead at Amazo, his eyes, and body unmoving.

"Just so y'know, out of everyone here, I like your powers best."

Amazo threw Superman away and blasted him with heat vision for good measure. Wonder Woman came a few seconds too late, bashing Amazo with her shoulder. Amazo lurched forward, now with a new disfiguring mark across his back.

Amazo twisted his body around, cracking his neck and hands as he did so.

"Amazon! Let's dance."


Although they were far away from the battleground, it was obvious that the inevitable fighting as begun. The explosions and eruptions from the battle were like whispers in the sky, carried softly by the wind. This battle irked Supergirl and especially Trunks. Wonder Girl, Superboy, Supergirl, and Trunks flew in union towards Metropolis. The four were there to defend Gotham in case of attack, but were called in to reinforce Metropolis once Cell was revealed to be there. Rain slowly trickled down, a sign that they've entered the Metropolis area.

Superboy's scouter blinked. He double clicked it to hear a cesspool of chaos and destruction.

"Those reinforcements can be useful right now!" Green Lantern yelled. He constructed a giant hand to match Manhunter's, creating an airwave explosion.

"We're on our way. We'll be there shortly." Superboy closed the transmission.

"They need our help more than ever guys. Let's move at full speed."

The crew moved at top speed, with Trunks turning into a Super Saiyan to go even faster. Trunks's scouter flashed as well for an incoming call. He double clicked it to hear the sound of computers humming.

"Now's a good time."

He ended the transmission. Trunks hesitantly flew past the four and raised his hands.

"The hell are you doing?" Wonder Girl stammered.

Though she hasn't actively fought Cell before, she eagerly took a good amount of alerts left vacant by its usual takers. The idea of this royal rumble happening only miles away was enticing enough, but fighting Cell takes the cake. Trunks was slowly looking more and more easier to hit to the ground and fly past.

"I can't let you guys go any farther."

"Trunks, what are you talking about?" Superboy asked, confused about the whole situation. Same as everyone else.

He steadily flew closer to the Saiyan hybrid in a friendly manner. Trunks still kept his stance, and once he felt Superboy got too close, he smashed him into the ground.

"Have you gone insane?" Wonder Girl asked, readying herself for the challenge before her.

"It's for the greater good that I don't let you all reach Superman."

"Damn right! I always knew you would betray us one point or another!"

Wonder Girl whizzed towards Trunks and bashed his head with her knee. She punched him several times before being stopped and pushed back by an energy blast. She allowed it to move her before deflecting it into the sky.

She might not be as strong as Supergirl, but she's at least a bit over Superboy's strength. A quick power level scan shows that although Trunks has the highest relative strength, the three combined could defeat him. Once she noticed that Superboy was flying towards Trunks, she made her own advance. She made a glance at Supergirl, whom only stood there shocked.

Supergirl watched as the three exchanged blows that pretty much broke the sky. Trunks's golden aura danced in the rain while he kept the two superheroes on the defense. In truth, Supergirl admired this multiverse warrior. He had such a calm and collective attitude, an honorable person that gets the job done as fast as possible. The parallels she can draw between him to Batman and Superman is uncanny.

Trunks punched Superboy square in the face. He flipped numerous times before smashing the ground beneath him. He got up and watched Wonder Girl hold her own against Trunks. Individually, the Saiyan hybrid's skill and technique alone outweighs them, rivaling those like Wonder Woman and even Superman. Fortunately for him though, this isn't the first time he's went up against opponents stronger than him. When he had a clear shot, he burst heat vision from his his eyes, exploding across the Saiyan's chest. Both Wonder Girl and Supergirl were surprised that Superboy resorted to such deadly tactics. While Wonder Girl took this as a sign to become deadlier herself, Supergirl continued to watch.

The truth is, Supergirl wasn't too sure of siding with Superman at all. The idea of just killing Cell, while definitely for the greater good, can be fatal in the future. Supergirl knows Kal-El well enough to know that he will be killing Superman out of fear. And when that happens, he'll allow it to take over his life. He would outlet the anger that the fear gives him, and the world will suffer for it. That's not a future she wants.

Trunks was losing his upper hand. Battered and bruised from the continuous fighting, his guard began to show a lot more vulnerability. Not only that, but his Super Saiyan state that fascinates Supergirl is straining his body. His loss is an inevitability if she doesn't help.

She lunged forward with her fists raised, all the while telling herself that this is for the greater good.


While the Justice League fought amongst themselves and their enemies, Cell was already closing in on his destination. He could sense the massive power level getting closer and closer, its strength while dormant is still frightening to feel. After a long road of stairs and abandoned hallways that he floated across, only a tall gray wall made of unknown material stood in his way. Though he knew that he could blast it apart relatively easy, even he wasn't that dumb to go dive into something he doesn't know about.

Cell could remember a computer terminal nearby, one that will give him a grasp of just what's behind that wall. A password that he could loosely remember brought him to a blueprint screen with him and Doomsday side by side. Surprised, he scrolled down.

PROJECT DOOMSDAY

This project was originally supposed to be deployed a while ago to kill Superman. The introduction of an outsider with unknown origins named Cell has changed plans. PROJECT DOOMSDAY now has a revision. With the extraction of some of Cell's cells (Odd enough to say), DOOMSDAY will be subjected to genome editing with the addition to the cells extracted from Cell. With weeks still left in the editing process, we hope to enable some of Cell's known abilities such as a more powerful regeneration and perhaps absorption.

CAUTION: DOOMSDAY Has NOT been properly sedated. Opening the wall or removing the sedative gas will immediately remove him from hibernation, causing him to become HOSTILE. He perceives ALL life with hostility, especially towards CELL and SUPERMAN. Conventional weapons will be ineffective; retreat immediately if the wall is broken or punctured.

UPDATE: PROJECT DOOMSDAY is to receive biological components from PROJECT SUPERMAN. Genome editing is to be done as covertly as possible.

"I never really was one to weary caution when I don't even know the threat." Cell said to himself while walking back to the wall. He opened his hand.

Cell hesitated. The being inside that wall is certainly stronger than him. Absorbing this Doomsday wouldn't be a cakewalk, but at least it would be easier than absorbing Superman.

After assuring himself, he charged his energy ball. He could feel the presence of someone while he did so. After a while of faking he was charging it, he dissipated it.

"Black Adam, I take it?" Cell said while he looked at him at the corner of his eye.

"I can't tell if you're Shazam or Adam in this bad lighting."

"I've come to stop you," Adam said, taking a step forward into the light.

"So you are Black Adam." Cell said confidently. Adam continued to walk closer, his fists balled up.

"But unfortunately, you're far too late."

Cell was about to throw an energy ball into the wall before another figure appeared behind Black Adam. The crimson red part of the costume almost made Cell thought it was Superman, but the lighting made him able to discern it was Shazam.

"Adam!"

"The boy!"

"Oh, brother…"

Before they could fight, Cell pushed the energy ball into the wall, causing it to collapse and break the wall into pieces. A thick fume of gray sedative gas hammered the three, making it impossible for Cell to see his prize. Slowly, a large, dark silhouette arisen from the smoke. Two red eyes appeared from the smoke, staring directly at Cell. The beast made a thunderous roar, one that could be heard from as far as where Trunks is.

The smoke disappeared to reveal Doomsday reaching towards Cell with his massive body.

"KILL CELL!"


The battle topside was becoming increasingly tenser. Many worried from the roar they heard earlier that Cell managed to get what he wanted.

Flash and Zoom raced across the city several times over in less than a second. Red streaks trailed their bodies as they ran in a union. They were building momentum before they land the first punch, one that will likely knock out the other.

"Great speed Wally, you almost can match mine." Zoom boasted during the few seconds they ran.

"Too bad yours is fake."

The two broke union and separated to the two ends of the city. The ran straight through the middle, meeting at the dead center of the city. They collided, making a powerful shockwave that destroyed the ground around them.

Above them, Electro-Man and Green Lantern fought Martian Manhunter. While Hal Jordan gunned the Martian down with a lightly constructed machine gun, Electro-Man shot several electric bullets. They aren't nearly as impactful as the bullets, but the stun effect it gives can at least help out. Martian Manhunter was struck by one of these, stalling enough for Green Lantern to adjust his aim and shoot directly at Manhunter. The result was Manhunter being blown a mile away from the impact.

"Good aim." Green Lantern said as he flew towards Manhunter. A month ago, Electro-Man would've died just hearing the Lantern talk to him.

Superman and Wonder Woman were back to back when Gorilla Grodd and Amazo pounced on them. Amazo pushed past Grodd's sluggish ape run and hungrily fought the two alone. Amazo traded blows with the two strongest superheroes while taking their powers at the same time. Wonder Woman was about to land a blow to his weak spot when Grodd lunged at her. He smashed her to the ground, and in an animalistic rage, bore his fists into her several times. Before she could retaliate, he brought her close to his face.

"Fool! Your own mind will be your undoing..."

Wonder Woman felt her body slip into an odd numbness, one that made her powerless to fight back. She tried to punch the gorilla, but her fist only slowly brushed his cheek.

"And now," Grodd raised his fist up. "The- "

An explosion erupted from Luthor's headquarters. Two figures lurched out from the dust the explosion, followed by two who flew out and into the sky. The two figures in the sky watched as the two figures below fought each other. When the dust cleared, Doomsday picked up Cell's mangled and unconscious body and threw him to the sun. He roared with a feeling of victory, turning his attention to the many beings around him.

"So that's what Cell looked like," Grodd mumbled. He drove his fist into the ground, believing that it was the Amazon's flesh.

Once he realized Wonder Woman was long gone, he spat out a curse and ran to help out Amazo. Shazam and Black Adam were still watching Doomsday's movements in the sky and waited to see if he might attack them or their respective allies. Doomsday's body radiated a green glow. His skin had a more greenish tint than his original design, with his eyes redder and his body overall larger and more beast like. After a few seconds passed, Adam and Shazam glanced at each other before realizing they were literally a yard away. They attacked one another at a picosecond's notice.

Luthor and Batman watched the entire fight a short distance away, atop one of the last buildings left standing.

"So this is your finished experiment." Batman said, still sore from the punch Superman gave him.

They watched as Doomsday frantically looked for the only other thing he's designed to kill.

"You knew that this was going to happen, didn't you,"

"Yes, but I have my reasoning."

Luthor and Batman watched as Doomsday turned his attention to Superman.

"I kill... you... Kal...El!"

"Why? Why create such a risk just to stop Cell?" Batman's tone became angrier.

"Like I said, I have my plans. Did you honestly expect me to blindly follow yours when you never even told me them?"

Doomsday rushed past Amazo and Gorilla Grodd and pile drove Superman into the ground. Grodd and Amazo stared dumbfounded at the display of raw strength.

"You'll just have to trust me."

There was something disheartening that Batman felt in his words.


For Trunks, the rain that poured on his face was exactly what he needed. It washed away the blood on his knuckles and face. Below him, Superboy and Wonder Girl lied unconscious on the dirt. They didn't go out without a fight though, which was why things had to turn bloody. Not that Trunks wasn't distressed by it. With a huff, he reverted to his normal form.

"So what do we do know?"

Trunks turned towards Supergirl. Though she looked confident and strong enough, she was frightened of herself that she actually helped beat her own friends. It was way easier for Trunks since he hardly knew them, but Supergirl had befriended them for years. But what's done is done.

"We move steadily. Conserve energy, y'know."

"..."

Trunks started to fly away, but he stopped dead in his tracks. The guilt was too much to bear.

"I can't even imagine what you must be feeling right now. I'm sorry that I dragged you into this, but we have to keep moving. Who knows what's happening over there."

When no response came, Trunks started to fly off on his own. Supergirl followed behind him, but not without gazing at the bodies of her friends one last time. Something told her that they just spared them from going through a lot worse.


Fortunately for Cell, Doomsday didn't actually throw him into the sun.

Cell's body lied on the street in a pit of his own purplish blood. Most of his right arm was missing, as well as a chunk of his crown like head. There were so many bruises in his body that it ached him to breathe or even regenerate. He coughed up a bad batch of blood lodged in his throat.

He can remember the many battles and massacres he involved himself in through the months he took residence in this universe, as both the perspective of the victim and the predator. He even remembered the first time he met Superman, his worst enemy. There's just something about that name now that brings out his hate. Unlike everyone else he fought, he was the only one that held back his power, he could tell. Every hit he felt from that man felt repressed, like there was a much larger force just waiting to be used. Even when he was angry he didn't use all his power. Because of that, he doesn't even care if he loses to him. He wants to see his full power more than he wants to see Goku's.

Minutes pass. His body returned to a much healthier state, cleaning up his skin and restoring his arm and crown. He could hear the sounds of the battle going on like whispers. Once was able to get up and check his surroundings, he realized that he was far from it. In fact, he wasn't even in the city anymore, just some grasslands nearby.

While he stood and heard the battle far away, Cell made the widest, craziest, most villainous smile he ever made in his life. A good thought popped in his head.

"Perfect…"


"KILL SUPERMAN!"

Doomsday pounded on Superman dozens of times, giving him no chance of respite or breath. Wonder Woman was a decent distance away from the beating, still dazed from the effects of Grodd's telepathy. Pain's never stopped her from saving someone. She blindly rushed to Superman's aid. When Amazo saw her approach, he raised his fists in defense. She gave him her all, hitting him so hard that he created a tunnel down the Earth's surface. She looked at Grodd, who raised his arms up in surrender.

A short trek away, a certain billionaire gave the middle finger to a certain gorilla.

Wonder Woman rushed to Superman's side. She used the element of surprise and grabbed Doomsday from behind, gripping his arms tight. Superman stumbled up and used heat-vision to blow his head off. His head was still entirely intact despite a ground zero blow, minus a few burn marks here and there. Doomsday threw Wonder Woman off her back and into the unexpected arms of Superman, while he pounded them both into the ground.

Once they both were planted firmly in the ground, he plucked them both like seeds. Wonder Woman was knocked unconscious, but Superman still had life left in him. Doomsday flung Wonder Woman away while throwing Superman into the air. He spiraled for a bit before taking the brunt of Doomsday's fist. What Doomsday didn't account for though, was the amount of strength Superman still had left. Not only was his fist countered, but he was met with one of Superman's fists, causing him to soar over a mile away.

Superman flew to Wonder Woman, where her body lied unconscious and a bloody mess. There was a certain disconnect he felt while looking at her. Normally, he would be feeling anger and hurt, but now it's all gone. Only an unbridled fury is his drive, but he'll ignore it for now. He scoped the city around him.

Shazam and Black Adam were fighting evenly, with Adam slowly gaining the upper hand. The ruthlessness of his attacks put Shazam on the defensive far more than Adam. To the far right of that battle Manhunter had to deal with both Green Lantern, Electro-Man, and Aquaman. Grodd could do nothing to help as he was incapacitated by Aquaman earlier. While Martian Manhunter is a formidable opponent since he's on par with Wonder Woman, it's only a matter of time before he's out of breath and becomes intangible to escape. Zoom and Flash were fighting across the city relatively evenly too, zipping across the city a couple times over before exchanging blows. Flash's use of the speed force unlike Zoom is what's giving him a better edge.

To his far left though, just at the corner of his eye was none other than Luthor and Batman, watching the battles around them too. A seething rage took over his mind. As he almost unconsciously flew towards them, Luthor pointed at something in the sky, something that caused Batman's eyes to widen. It was doomsday, who roared as he flung himself dead at Superman. The result was an explosion bigger than any done that day.

Superman felt dazed again. His body was pinned to the ground, so any form of escape would be rather difficult. He tried punching at the beast, but he hardly felt it. He retaliated though with a massive blow to the face, almost breaking his neck and splattering blood across the street. One came after another, blurring his vision and battering his body. After a while, he was sure he was going to die. Everything became slower. Batman's eyes were still widened, staring dead at Superman. Despite Luthor trying to keep him at bay, Batman ran towards him. Trunks and Supergirl entered his vision and also looked distressed, Supergirl especially. They both flew to Superman's aid. But there was something else too.

Luthor started to smile, running in Cell's direction. Everyone's eyes turned from distressed to surprised. The pain stopped. Doomsday's stopped hitting him, his red eyes looking surprised as well. Trunks's face blistered with anger, brandishing his sword out and attacking something behind Doomsday. He was about to connect before Luthor took out something of his own, some small dart that pierced Trunks's skin. A strong cast of electricity erupted throughout his body, causing him fly away and spasm in pain.

Doomsday started to look a bit off. Once a body that used to tower above him a minute earlier now appeared to be malnourished and weak. Doomsday cried out in a fit of pain before moving away from most of Superman's peripheral vision. Behind him, was Cell. He had the same smile as Luthor whilst everyone else watched in horror. Doomsday let out one last bloodcurdling yell before disappearing altogether. Only Cell remained, and he looked much more vibrant than ever.

Batman beat Luthor to the ground. A force carried Superman away. He could barely move his neck, but he could tell by her presence that it was Supergirl. Batman was near him too, being carried off by Trunks. They all landed towards the cluster of super villains and heroes. The same people that were fighting each other minutes ago now watched Cell glow an aqua-green hue. Their mutual enemy and the fear he brought made the opposing parties go back to the reason why they came in the first place.

Reality went back to its normal speed. Cell's body was bulking, his muscles growing to a massive mass. Superman could hear Cell blurt cries of joy as a glowing sphere appeared and grew around him. Luthor was nearby Cell when this happened, the ground around him nearly collapsed before he used his jetpack to escape. He too harbored a similar looking smile, odd enough. The clouds stopped raining and turned almost pitch black, with thick, black clouds moving in to replace them.

A new, distinct force banged on Superman's heart. Guilt, a lot of it. Batman felt the same thing too. The consequences of their war has been become reality. He would give everything to right this wrong, everything he has to stop Supergirl from looking so scared. Batman dropped to his knees, banging his head on the ground. While Superman looked at the assortment of different faces though, Trunks had one most different to everyone else. His face screamed anger and determination. He flew from the group and yelled a war cry, transforming into a Super Saiyan.

Superman hung his head low. He knew Trunks would fail.

Trunks took one fist and plunged it into the massive sphere that surrounded Cell. Cell himself was shrouded in this greenish sphere, but that didn't dare deter Trunks. He gave it his all, pushing his energy to the limit and beyond. The closer Cell's figure got, the more determined he became. The figure within the sphere wasn't going easy though. It roared a thunderous roar, blasting Trunks away with just the mere electricity the sphere conducted. His efforts were ultimately pointless.

"I can't fail! I won't fail!"

Trunks locked his arms in place, switching and turning his hands around as fast as he could.

"Burning attack!"

He pushed a sparkling orange orb into the green sphere. The orb penetrated the sphere, coming close to Cell before being closed in and broken apart. Trunks turned back to the group behind him.

"Guys! Help me! We can beat him if we attack together!"

Trunks let out dozens and dozens more energy blasts, each making absolutely no impact. The green sphere only became larger, large enough to blow Trunks away by the overflowing energy. The young Saiyan was flung right back to group. They looked at him with such despondence that he didn't even try to get back up.

Cell's power could be felt everywhere, from the massive waves of the Earth's oceans, to the tremors and small earthquakes that just magically began. All around the world people screamed in terror and fear for what might come next. Some interpreted it as their God's beginning of the end. Others tried to pinpoint the problem to a particular person, such as that new Cell villain terrorizing the United States.

Even the watchtower suffered the effects of Cell's transformation. The tower shook violently, its small crew cowering to the floor. Bulma was forced to hide under her desk during this quake. She had her own personal curses she silently gave to Batman and Superman.

Eventually though, the sphere slowly disappeared. In enveloped upon himself into a blinding blue glow that traced around Cell's body. The sky cleared from the threatening clouds, leaving it looking daytime despite being late at night. The tremors ceased, relieving billions. They knew nothing of what truly caused the tremors, nor what just might happen next.

The glow disappeared from Cell's body. He looked unrecognizable, appearing as a smaller, pale-skinned being that looked like it wore the last Cell like a fur coat. Two bug shell like wings covered his now retracted tail. His demeanor was rather calm and collective. He planted his feet to the ground, flexing his biceps and chest. Once he was done testing out his new body, he grinned at all the super villains and heroes before him.

Perfection has finally arrived.


YES! YEESSSSSS! Our lord and destroyer has arrived! Things are about to get FAR more interesting. Yes, I know that I'm a bit late, and yes, I'm sorry. I actually finished the story on the 1st of June, but I wanted to keep tinkering the story until it was like Cell—perfect. What I gave you just might be the best chapter I've ever made, or at least it felt like it is. Hope you enjoyed it!

ITS OVER 9000 WORDS! AAAAGHHH! 23 pages in Word!

Since it's summer and I have hardly anything to do, I'll shoot for June the 20th (yes, this is a silent update... ssshhhh...). But I feel soooo uppity about this chapter that I might even make it sooner! So yay for everyone! Next chapter will also include an updated power level listing, so stay tuned for that.

UPDATE: I just noticed that I've been making this story for a year now. It's weird knowing that I was creating my first chapter of this story a year ago. So much as changed since then, including my writing. I now have a new drive to keep this story going until the end!