"There's no way..."Vegeta argued. Kami looked amused.

"Vegeta, this is the Hyberbolic Time Chamber. Why can't you believe it?"

"This looks like a lavatory. I doubt we can increase our power with squatts…" Vegeta chuckled to himself. Trunks kept silent, but skepticism was etched into his eyes. Piccolo had his arms folded. "Are you sure this works Kami? I mean have you tested it?"

Kami smiled. "No. I have not. But trust me when I say this is the only way you will survive the Androids. If you fight them when they are at full power as Cell says, then you will all die. It does not matter to me which choice you choose, either way I will not have interact with you for a measure of time.

Vegeta tilted his head up. "What stops you from never opening that door after a day is up?"

Kami's smile disappeared. "You choose how long you train. When you are ready to come out, your power levels will be sensible. I will then open the door, and you will emerge a year stronger than you are now."

Vegeta was ready to pursue question but Piccolo said, "Enough! Is the Prince of Saiyans afraid or not? Because for every minute you argue, the Androids are preparing to kill us. Now you and Trunks enter, or I will."

Vegeta scowled, but moved towards the door. Before opened it however, he appeared in front of Kami's face, nostrils flaring. "If you betray us old man, I will personally kill you before the Androids rip you apart. Are we clear?" Kami held his gaze. "Challenge accepted."

Vegeta glared, but opened the door and walked in. Trunks caught it as he walked in, stopping to nod to Piccolo, and then Kami. "Thank you." He continued in, the door closing with a slight click. Kami looks to his former half. "Where are you headed now?" Piccolo looks up. "I'm going to question Cell. Without Vegeta, I may be able to get something out of him."

Kami slowly nodded. "Be careful Piccolo, he is very dangerous." Piccolo smiled. "I know. But so am I."

He left Kami to himself.

"So...Piccolo, how you been?" Cell asked as if the two were best friends. Piccolo ignored him. "Why Cell?"

"Why what? Why am I the way I am?"

"Yes. Why don't you just help us?" Cell narrowed his eyes. "Why should I? You have nothing to give me. And as an Android, it is in my programming to become the strongest ever."

Piccolo snorted. "No one is invincible."

"Once I absorb the Androids, I will be the most powerful."

Piccolo raised an eyebrow. "You aren't stronger than them now. What was your plan?"

"Absorb enough human life force to put me on par with at least one of them, and then absorb the Androids. It would make sense for me to absorb 17 first because 18's power would not allow me to take on 17 alone. I would let you all fight them, and then defeat the Androids at the end, absorbing them, finishing off all of you once I was complete, and leaving the Earth completely to me."

"You know you just explained your whole plan to me. Why?"

"Because I intend seeing my destiny fulfilled."

Piccolo laughed uneasily. Why did Cell have such a determined expression renting on his face? "You aren't doing anything from that chair."

Cell looked down. "Not anymore."

"What are you-" Piccolo suddenly froze as he felt his heart rate rose. While he didn't sweat, he almost could understand disease. "You are going to untie me." Cell ordered. Only, it didn't sound like that. It resounded, embedding itself into his conscious, repeating like a bad memory. Slowly, heavily, Piccolo began moving his feet towards Cell, who smirked as he watched his freedom.

"What's happening?!" Piccolo shouted urgently. Cell laughed, his beak like mouth moving up and down. "I am using my Parent Function on you. When Dr. Gero made me, he used your cells to help mine as he did with Vegeta, Goku, Frieza, his father, and Gohan. However, Gohan is ill, Frieza is dead, and his father is not in play. So I can only really control you three." "Luckily," Cell waited until Piccolo was done before ending with, "I only needed you." He smiled and stood up, snapping the cords that held his tail in check. Piccolo silently watched wide-eyed as Cell freed himself. "Oh you didn't think that those ropes could hold me? I just knew fighting two Super Saiyans and yourself was a fool idea. Now, I shall have a good headstart."

Piccolo grunted and struggled to move, but now he was gripped, unable to tear away. "So what now? You absorb me?"

Cell laughed, voice ululating a one who'd been drinking hard for years. "I don't want to absorb you! What would I be doing if it weren't for you? You freed me Piccolo." Cell walked forward, till he was face to face with a piece of his Creator. 6 ft 9, tail lingering behind, Cell stared Piccolo down, his lizard slits gleeful. "Taking care of a kid who's not yours must be stressful. But you know, a little good night sleep can change the world. So I'm going to hit you, and your going to sleep for hours. Night night Piccolo!"

Cell struck him down, fist connecting with jaw.

"Oh..." Piccolo groaned, vision bobbing all over. His arms, chest, and legs felt like they were comprised of cement that weighed a ton each. Even rolling onto his back took him several minutes. "Damn you Cell._" he thought, struggling to pick himself up. How had he gotten so cocky? He should have gottenhe had back up and played itself. Rethinking over the whole conversation, Piccolo wondered why he'd even started it. Asking Cell to help them?! Ha! Piccolo felt enough self-loathing; it made him sick. As control returned, he wiggled his fingers and then shot up. Cell. Cell. Cell. He was out there now, and people would pay the price of Piccolo's Penance. He could almost hear the screams, wait he could hear screams?!

The door flew off its hinges as Piccolo burst through. "Kami!" He yelled. He tried sensing for his other part. Instead of power though, Piccolo could feel pain, and suffering. But, it had long sense faded. And with horrifying realization, Piccolo realized that Cell had absorbed Kami.

"No!" He shrieked to the world, but only thunder greeted him, black storm clouds gliding across the horizon. The pain of losing his elder brought him to his knees. He was alone. On Earth, in the Universe. He was truly the last Namekian. No one had survived Namek, and yet he, one of the least capable, now carried his people's legacy? It wasn't right. It wasn't fair. And like Namek, he wasn't strong enough again. No...there was someone he could save. The last person he cared for. Checking Vegeta and Trunks's time left( it read 19 hours), Piccolo leaped off Kami's Lookout, and headed towards Capsule Corp.

It funneled, his turban whipped, but his face remained impassive. He would not fail again. Within a minute, Piccolo could see the signature blue and yellow coating of Capsule Corp. Outside in the yard, Bulma's mother and father stood obliviously gardening. As Piccolo set down diaphanously, the elden still did not notice him. Leaving them in peace, Piccolo slipped inside. The walls were long and well lit, casting numerous shadows off of Piccolo's lean physique. His footfalls echo slightly, but they don't register to him. He's a man on a mission, lost in his own thoughts. He let Cell escape, and now everyone was endanger. Anything that happened now was because of his arrogance. A bellow of agony jolted the Namek from his Pessimistic views. "Gohan!" Piccolo called out, rushing down the hall. Grunts and a muted, "Hold him down!" Made Piccolo turn left. On the first door, Piccolo peered in, but it was only the kitchen. Shadows reflected off the wall of the door up ahead, spurring Piccolo into action. "Gohan!" He yelled, breathing hard. Huddled around the bed were Goku, Chichi, Krillin, and Bulma. Piccolo silently strode in, eyes downcast. Since he'd last seen him, Gohan had lost a lot weight, his arms and chest distended. His eyes were still however, and his breathing calm. "Is that internal bleeding?" Piccolo asked. Bulma shook her head. "His stomach has stopped rejecting food, and the virus likes to cause as much misery as possible. Gohan's digestive track isnt fully formed, so it's attacking his heart. And with constricting blood supply, his intestines are shriveling. Hence the discoloration and distention." Piccolo closed his eyes in tacit pain. Gohan has to go through this?

"You haven't even heard the best part." Goku said sarcastically. "Tell him Bulma?"

"What is it?" Gohan's second father asked. He moved his eyes from each face. Finalky, he settled on Bulma, who squirmed. "Bulma, what's wrong?"

Bulma in took a shuddering breath. "Gohan has a week."

"We have to do something Piccolo." Goku whispered. After Bulma spoke to Piccolo, and the pulse in his head had cleared and made it possible to again stand, Goku pulled him aside. This was their conversation.

"We have to do something Piccolo." Goku whispered. Piccolo glanced at him. "I'm listening."

"Cell has the cure. Cell is currently killing hundreds of people. We kill two birds with one stone by ending him and taking some of his cells."

"How do we collect these cells?"

"I'm sure I can punch some blood out of him. I will not lose my son."

"Goku, if Cell has my abilities, then he can regenerate from anything we throw at him. "Goku grimly smiled. "Say that after I go Kaio-Saiyan. Piccolo we have to at least convince him to help us somehow."

"Goku I already tried that. He cares nothing of helping us unless we give him the Androids." Goku gave a start. "When did you talk to him?" Piccolo gave a quick recap on the events at the Lookout. Goku was silent, eyes faraway. "So we do it. Vegeta and Trunks will go after the Andriods while we train. Once we beat them and Cell absorbs them, he will be vulnerable. It is then we all strike together, and defeat him." Piccolo smiled. "Well we still have around 18 hours before they get out. Wanna kill some time?"

Now it was Goku who was listening. "What do you mean?"

"Goku, let's go see our monster..."

The two flew hurriedly, not telling anyone where they were headed. The explanation would too long, and too controversial. Dark skies with retches of lightning paved the way as Goku and Piccolo headed for Yurohagisha, the city Cell was last known to be terrorizing. Goku offered to Instant-Transmission them there, but Piccolo didn't want to startle Cell. Flying towards him with no malicious intent would not make him nearly as wary. Inside and to himself, Piccolo hoped it would not be them that Cell terrified; he'd absorbed at least 2000 people since he'd been freed. Goku meanwhile had gone to dark places, places of murder. What would he do if Cell refused even the Androids? He wasn't sure his Pacifistic nature could handle rejection. He would do anything for Gohan, and if that meant submitting to the demons of a Saiyan, then he would embrace both his son and the devil within him. A lightning scarred the air and burned the nostrils to the smell. In Goku's eyes intense, unmoving pupils stared ahead. On the horizon was there destination: Yugohagisha. derelict-looking buildings and pristine, modern skyscrapers. Yet, it was silent. From any other city of that magnitude, the mind-numbing cacophony of voices, cars, and overall life would be easily audible to the Saiyan and Namek. Now, they only heard whimpers, and Cell's laughter. Uping the speed, Goku and Piccolo tore through the streets, sensing parked cats and strewn clothes all over. Touching down to the vortex of air beneath their feet, Goku and Piccolo surveyed a Cell's back to them. "Cell!"Goku announced. The serpent turned towards them, looking significantly more menacingly than a day ago. And in his arms was an old woman. Her blue eyes were wide with horror, and she silently pleaded with the Z-Fighters to save her.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of meeting two of my parents?" He asked, dipping into a mock curtsy. Goku stepped forward. "Release the woman. She's too old to give you any real energy." Cell licked his lips, smirking. "Every little helps."

"I saved your life. Piccolo and I both saved you. You owe us this much."

"I owe you to nothing. We had a mutualistic relationship, you don't give a damn about whether or not I live. Ask me the real fruit of your burden." He said therapeutically. "Fine," Goku balled his fists, "I need you to save Gohan."

"Give me the Androids."

Goku showed his first true sign of madness. "Save my son or so help me I will end you now!" Goku roared, training an open palm on Cell,who looked only mildly surprised. He cocked his head. "I'd survive it. Anyway, I wish nothing for your son. I want the Androids. Give me them, and any treatment you need to run on me to save him I'll allow." Piccolo finally spoke up. "Why put yourself in such risk?" Cell smirked again. "By that time I will be the most powerful being in the Universe. You could do your worst and I'd still live. So I'll let you save Goku's son, and then let you have one day before I destroy this miserable planet."

Goku was breathing hard. After a minute, he conceded. "Fine. We'll get you the Androids."

"Excellent!" Cell said cheerfully. "Can you believe it?! Three of the most powerful beings on Earth working together. How about we commemorate with a sacrifice?" Before Goku and Piccolo could react, Cell snapped the woman's neck. Horrified, they watched her body fall, mirroring her final expression. The two were speechless. Cell took the opportunity to say, "You were right Goku, she didn't have a lot of fight in her. See you two around." Cell took off, leaving Goku and Piccolo alone in the dark, the woman's dead eyes staring forever In their direction.

I'm back guys! Thank you for all the follows, just everything, and I will be hard at work cranking out the next chapters. Live Long, Read Longer- LLL