I've been getting some inquiries into Frieza and Cell's power level. Frieza is going to explain things in this chapter a little more, but here is where they stand: Past the Frieza saga, the whole numbered power level thing gets confusing to me so I will just compare them to others.
Frieza: Piccolo's power level during his fight with 17. (Still pretty weak, but definitely stronger than the average Super Saiyan)
Frieza (Demon Burst x5): Semi-Perfect Cell power level. (Big power jump, big effects on the body.)
Frieza (Demon Burst x10): Ascended Saiyan power level. (Bigger power jump, bigger effects on the body.)
Cell: Basic SS2 power level. (So, yes. He would be able to take on Gohan since he hadn't been training much over the past seven years. Vegeta and Goku's SS2 is a whole other situation though.)
Titan Village (20 miles north of New Gatti Town & 60 miles south of Babidi's Spaceship)
Frieza sat atop a small boulder. He watched as Cell fired off random blasts throughout the destroyed village, vaporizing what was left of a few homes. The first two cities were interesting, but now he had grown awfully bored with destroying. It wasn't exactly his style to rampage across a planet like this. He preferred to show up, cause a little carnage, and then retreat back into space to watch the fireworks as he destroyed the planet. This type of methodical destruction was what he had the Saiyans for. Then again, Cell does have Saiyan cells inside of him. I guess that's why he takes so much pleasure in this, Frieza thought.
As his mind drifted, Frieza thought back on how he and Cell had first arrived. They had been in the middle of a rousing game of torture the guards, with Frieza in the lead of course. Just when things were really getting fun, Cell and Frieza had just appeared in this dark chamber. The first faces they saw were that of Babidi and Dabura.
"Welcome to the world of the living. My name is Babidi and this is my associate, Dabura," Babidi said.
Cell and Frieza stood and gave each other a knowing look. Things like this would happen in hell from time to time. Illusions of freedom would occasionally plague some of them and then after being treated like a guinea pig, they would be dropped back in hell. Frieza said, "Just point us the way out of here. We have a game to get back to.
Dabura smiled wickedly while Babidi said, "This is no illusion. Look above and you will see all the proof that you need."
Cell and Frieza both looked up and didn't see anything. They were ready to make a crude remark and then something dawned on them. They didn't see anything! Their halos were gone, which meant that they had to be alive.
Before they could speak, Babidi said, "This is only temporary, but I am willing to make your new lives more permanent if you two are willing to do something for me."
"Of course," chuckled Cell sarcastically. "There is always a catch."
"Mind your tongue when Master Babidi is speaking," barked Dabura.
Cell narrowed his eyes at Dabura. The tension was beginning to rise quickly as the two monstrous fighters glared at each other. Trying to ease things, Frieza stepped in front of Cell and said, "What do you want and what do we get out of it?"
Babidi snickered slightly before saying, "All I need from you two is to retrieve some energy for me. What do you get out of it? Revenge against the Saiyans."
Cell had stopped his stare down with Dabura at Babidi's words. He and Frieza both gaped at Babidi as they both said, "How do you know about them?"
"All things will become clear if you accept my offer," Babidi said.
Cell and Frieza took a moment to speak amongst themselves. They weren't sure if trusting Babidi was a good thing or not. Ultimately, they decided to go along with it though. They figured that between the two of them they would be able to take on any foe. Stepping forward, Frieza said, "We accept. Now what do you want us to do?"
Babidi smiled and placed his palm facing the two villains. With the declaration of his magic words, Frieza and Cell were instantly teleported to an icy wasteland by Babidi. While the duo looked around in bewilderment, Babidi's voice seemed to fall from the heavens.
"According to the info that I have on the both of you, you can live in harsh environments for extended periods of time. Right now, neither of you are strong enough to fend off the Saiyans, so for the next six months you will live here and train. If by the end of the six month period, neither of you have reached a satisfactory power level then back to hell you go. Also, don't even think about running away. You will be back in hell before you know it. Make good use of your time, gentlemen. I will be seeing you in six months."
With that Babidi's voice and all connection to the outside world was gone. It was a little overwhelming to just be dropped there so suddenly. Frieza tried to piece together exactly what all had transpired and when he was about to turn to Cell for confirmation, he was struck in the face and sent flying through three large glaciers before landing on a patch of frozen water. When he looked back up he saw Cell floating above him with his golden aura blaring. "What are you waiting on Frieza? We only have six months," he said.
Frieza endured six months of the most intense training possible at the hands of the drill sergeant-like Cell. Even after all of that, he didn't feel much stronger. It wasn't until after those six months, when he and Cell got back to Babidi, that Frieza felt stronger. Soon after they returned and Babidi dubbed them worthy, they were both brought under his influence with the white "M" on their foreheads. Frieza could instantly feel Babidi's power boost surging through his veins. He felt like he could take on a whole team of Super Saiyans.
That wasn't all that Frieza had picked up, though. While training, Cell had showed Frieza a technique called the Kaioken. Apparently it was the technique that had allowed Goku to keep up with him on Namek before he turned Super Saiyan. Though Frieza was far from a master of the technique, it did teach him a lot about energy control and pushing your body beyond its limits. It was a lot like how Frieza forced his body to transform except the Kaioken was a temporary means of powering up as opposed to transforming. With this similarity in mind, Frieza was able to develop a technique that he dubbed Demon Burst. It was similar to the Kaioken, but the defining difference was that Demon Burst put a lot more strain on the body while providing a lot more energy. He had also learned how to manipulate his 100% more efficiently. He no longer needed to pump his muscles in order to achieve this power level. He felt completely unstoppable now.
A woman's scream of terror brought Frieza out of his thoughts. Cell's pleasure or not, Frieza was bored. "Shouldn't we be getting back to Babidi?" he said, indicating to the container of Gohan's energy he held with his tail.
Cell momentarily stopped his destruction and turned to face Frieza. "Let the little cockroach wait," he replied. Quickly he turned his head to a wrecked building. Thinking he saw some survivors beneath it, Cell threw a ball of energy at the building, completely destroying it. He continued with, "For all we know, he'll send us back to hell when we give it to him. Might as well enjoy ourselves now."
"Babidi promised to set us free."
"Frieza, you more than anyone should know that a promise binds you to nothing. At least this way, he can't send us back until we deliver the energy."
Frieza was about to say something when he heard the sound of an engine. He turned to see someone trying to escape in their hover car. Just as the car started to escape over a hill, Frieza emitted a glittery bullet-like beam from his eyes at the car. Before the car could completely round the hill it was caught in a fiery explosion.
"Someone has learned a new technique," chimed Cell.
"It was my brother's. He was always such a showoff," Frieza replied. He was ready to say something else, but his attention was caught yet again. Looking over Cell's head, into the sky, he could see someone coming into view. They were coming straight for him and Cell. Frieza said, "Look. We have a visitor."
Cell turned around just as Shin landed. Truthfully, Cell had been feeling someone trailing them for quite some time. He figured it was Vegeta, but was quite surprised to find that it was the competitor from the tournament. "I know that you and I were set to fight the next round, but being here brings an all new level to stupidity," he said.
"I am not here to fight the both of you," said Shin. "I only want that container and the whereabouts of Babidi."
With a smile, Frieza feigned innocence and said, "We have no idea who Babidi is?"
Shin scoffed. "The M's on your foreheads are tell-tale signs of your subordination to Babidi."
Cell turned back to Frieza and said, "I think we've been caught with our hands in the cookie jar." Turning back to Shin, Cell said, "Okay. We're working with Babidi, but we are not his subordinates. What business of that is yours?"
"I have to put a stop to him," Shin said, tightening his hand into a fist. "You have no idea what terror he is trying to unleash. This is a horrible, wretched monster that he wants to walk this world again. And I refuse to sit idly by while he completes his mission. Now I ask that you give me that bottle and leave this place." He reached out his hand in hopes that Cell and Frieza would oblige.
Cell and Frieza both looked at Shin's outstretched arm for a moment before bursting out in laughter. They began mocking him for his seriousness.
"Fine," Shin grunted to himself as he pulled his hand back. He closed his eyes and focused while Cell and Frieza continued to laugh. Tuning them out, Shin attempted to read their minds for Babidi's location. Cell and Frieza instantly stopped laughing. Feeling Shin crawling around in their brain, the duo turned serious and using their own telekinetic abilities, threw Shin out of their minds. They glared at him while Shin looked at them in complete awe. No one has ever done that to me before. My psychic powers have always been second to none, he thought.
"It appears that you were mistaken," both Frieza and Cell said telepathically to Shin, making his shock grow.
"There isn't a being alive that can outdo my psychic abilities," Frieza said.
"Adding the Namekians' psychic abilities in with Frieza's makes me quite the telepath as well," said Cell.
As Shin's shock passed it was replaced with a smile. "It appears that this isn't going to be as easy as I had predicted," he said as he began channeling his energy. "It is extremely rare that I have to do this, but now you two get the pleasure of witnessing my power." His blue aura surrounded him as the ground cracked beneath him. "For the sake of formalities, my name is not merely Shin. I am the Supreme Kai, the remaining survivor of my closest colleagues. They perished at the very hands of the monster that you two aim to help." The debris from the surrounding village began floating into the air as Shin's power increased. "Well if I can't get what I need out of you by reason then I will get it out BY FORCE!" With a roar, Shin completed his power up, blowing the remaining debris from the area.
Cell looked pleasantly surprised by Shin's power. He was much stronger than Cell would've ever given him credit for. The Saiyan cells inside of him yearned to test the limits of Shin power. With that in mind, Cell said, "He's mine, Frieza. Stay out of this."
"What?! Why do you get to fight him?" protested Frieza.
"Because you got a good fight out of Krillin. I on the other hand, had to fight the walking refrigerator."
Frieza grunted, but conceded. "Fine. Don't take too long."
Cell stepped forward with a confident smirk on his face. They stared each other down for a moment before charging at each other. With their fists thrown forward, the two fighters clashed fist to fist, forming a large crater beneath them.
Back at the tournament grounds, everyone continued to stand around in anticipation of Videl's revival. Goku stood by Gohan, Vegeta, Piccolo, and Krillin while watching the mesmerizing mist fall on Videl's body. Goku had been so entranced that he didn't notice Bulma walk up to him.
"So how bad is it, Goku?" she said.
Goku blinked a few times as he let Bulma's words sink in. "Huh…um…how bad is what, Bulma?" he replied.
She rolled her eyes before saying, "Don't play dumb, Goku. We have two insane monsters running amuck over Earth right now. Surely they've started attacking people."
Goku's face became solemn as the realization came back to him. "They've attacked about four areas so far. I'm not sure of the names of the other places, but I know that they've attacked Siam Island."
"Siam Island!" Bulma gasped. "The island has a population of over 100,000!"
"It did," replied Goku.
"Well what are we doing here! We need to be rounding up the dragon balls!"
"No, Bulma! Not now. Frieza and Cell are still on the loose. I can't run the risk of any of you coming into contact with them. Besides, wishing people back before they've been dealt with will be useless. Wait until we get rid of Frieza, Cell, and Babidi."
Bulma grunted as she took a moment to decide if she actually wanted to do as Goku wished. Conceding, she said, "Fine, Goku, but shouldn't you all be leaving."
Before Goku could reply, Kibito's standing drew everyone's attention.
"I am sorry, but I cannot continue. The Supreme Kai has begun battle and I must be by his side," Kibito said.
"What about Videl?!" Hercule barked as he jumped to his feet.
"To heal her requires time that I cannot afford to give. I am sorry, but I must go," he said as he turned to leave. Before he could get his feet off the ground, Gohan was in front of him.
"You said that you would help her," he said as he stared daggers at Kibito.
"I said that I would do what I could. I never guaranteed to save the girl," Kibito replied. He tried to step around Gohan, but Gohan instantly appeared in front of him.
"Cell and Frieza are very high on my hate list right now and you are not too far behind them, so I suggest you make some kind of miracle happen before things turn ugly for you," he hissed as he stared into Kibito's eyes.
Kibito was so shocked that he didn't have the will to move. Staring into Gohan's piercing black eyes seemed to paralyze him. Before Gohan could make good on his threat to Kibito, Goku appeared between the two as he stared directly into Gohan's eyes.
"I don't know what has gotten into you, Gohan, but I advise that you stand down before things turn ugly for you," Goku said as he stepped forward to challenge his son.
Gohan stared his father down for a moment before stepping back in a sign of obedience.
Turning back to Kibito, Goku said, "I apologize on Gohan's behalf. Videl means a lot to him. Is she completely gone or does she still have a chance?"
"I have managed to repair some of the tissue damage, but honestly I haven't the slightest idea if she can be saved. Maybe if I had more time, there would be a small possibility, but I'm afraid time is something that I cannot offer you," Kibito replied.
"Is there something special about your healing powers or can anyone heal her?"
"Anyone with healing capabilities should be able to take over from where I have started."
"Good," Goku replied. Turning to his friends, he said, "You guys go with Kibito. I and Gohan will take Videl to Dende. Hopefully he will be able to help her. He and I will catch up with the rest of you when we are done at the Lookout." Turning to his noncombatant friends, he said, "Things have turned bleak out there you guys. I have asked that Bulma refrain from searching for the dragon balls until we get rid of Frieza, Cell, and this new threat. I'd hope that you all stay here for the remainder of the tournament. I very seriously doubt that Cell and Frieza will come back here."
Watching the despair fall upon his friends' faces, he continued with, "Don't worry you guys. We've taken care of Frieza and Cell once before and we'll do it again. And as for this new threat, it will just be business as usual. By the end of this day we will all be gathered at the Kame house, reminiscing over this crazy mess." Goku was always such an optimist.
As everyone seemed to brighten up slightly, the fighters took their positions to head out. Goku walked over to Videl's body and scooped her up into his arms. Looking at Hercule, he said, "We will take care of your daughter, Mr. Satan." After watching what they did at the Cell Games, Hercule didn't have much else choice, but to believe Goku's words. He stepped back to give them space while Gohan stepped up to put a hand on Goku's shoulder.
With one final wave to his friends, Goku, Gohan, and Videl disappeared. Everyone took a moment to give best wishes to Krillin, Piccolo, and Vegeta before they flew off with Kibito.
Left standing in the ring, they watched as the four figures disappeared in the distance. Once gone, 18 said, "Can we get this tournament over with?"
The announcer looked at her and the others as he tried to process everything that had just happened. It was a little too much for him so he said, "Just give me about a fifteen minute break."
As he scurried off, 18 glared at his retreating figure. Turning back to everyone, she said, "Well what are you all looking at? Get back in the stands. The tournament resumes in fifteen minutes." With that, she walked back to the holding area, leaving everyone completely baffled.