The Stranger

In the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, Goku has been focusing his time on making his son stronger; the first few months he devoted to making his son into a Super Saiyan; then when Goku himself achieved Ascended Super Saiyan, he focused his efforts on bringing his son up to his own level.

GOHAN: "Dad, I know you're stronger than you were, but... why have we been focusing so much on my training? I thought the androids wanted to fight you..."

GOKU: "Oh I know, but this was just such a perfect opportunity for something I've been wanting to do with you for awhile now. And besides, I think I'm already strong enough to beat the androids."

GOHAN: "What? How..."

GOKU: "Based on what Nappa told me, their strongest guy is pretty good, but I think I've passed his level some time ago; I wouldn't worry about them."

Months later, Gohan manages to even surpass Super Saiyan Ascended with a new form, but Goku demonstrates its ineffectiveness, as the increase in strength and muscle mass is compromised by a great reduction in speed and mobility. Gohan asks if this means further training is pointless; "Well" his father responds, "that's rarely the case, I find. But I think after another month or so, you'll start seeing diminishing returns, the way I have lately; when that happens... it will be time."

17: "I'm sorry, what was that?"

CELL: (laughs) "It is nice to have a little family reunion like this, isn't it? But I'm afraid time is of the essence for me, and we'll have to... get down to business."

18: "What is that thing?"

16: "Genetic signature is a match the biomechanical project of Dr Gero. However, this is not consistent with current data on said project being both at a far less developed stage and terminated by collateral damage in previous conflict..."

17: "Uh, you want to rephrase that big guy?"

CELL: (approaches 17) "I am here to achieve my purpose, to become perfect..."

16: (stands in his way) "I am aware of this design; and you will not complete it while I stand."

17: "Okay, still don't understand what's going on here."

CELL: "Let me put it another way then - I. Drink. People."

TRUNKS, TIEN, NAPPA: "What?"

18: "Oh god, that's disgusting..."

CELL: "Oh no need to get riled up, good sister; after all... you're already inside of me."

16 socker punches the creature in the face, sending it skidding through the dirt several yards away. (Cell, "Okay, that was unexpected.") The ginger android falls upon the would be attacker, and their fight begins; its a surprising even back and forth match - Cell lands several punches, but 16 lands several of his own, including managing to rocket launch one of his fists into the creature's face at point blank range. The monster tries settling the fight by plunging his tail into the redhead's neck, only to find it doesn't work, and gets tossed around the makeshift ring for his troubles. It's only with a great deal of effort that the thing is able to pull itself closer, managing to grapple its adversary.

The other gathered fighters watch the fight unfold:

NAPPA: "I don't remember him being this strong when we fought."

18: "'Fought' is putting it generously. The big guy didn't want to blow up half the planet when he fought Goku."

17: "Fortunately, he knew enough about how he worked to make some... changes."

18: "We found a mechanic he could talk through the procedure; that extra stength and speed is the bomb's energy being re-routed through his main fighting system..."

At that, the struggle tosses the two fighters just feet before the talking spectators. Cell's inner monologue surveys the situation: "Damn, we're too evenly matched; and if this goes on, this thing will be able to wear me down." His eyes dart to Tienshinhan, and he smiles: "On the other hand, if I could give myself just a little boost..." His tail darts out and grabs the human warrior before anyone knows what happened.

The prick of the tail pierce's Tien's arm, and the screaming brings Trunks and Nappa in to the fight. The tail drops Tien, catching his breath, as 16 continues to grapple with the strange creature. Cell screams: "No! I'm too close! I will not be denied perfection now!" The tail plunges down again, and there is screaming.

Trunks, Nappa, and 16 scream "NO!", and before the human is even absorbed the monster manages to break out of the redheaded android's grip. When the absorbtion is complete, the fighter's are building into a rage, but 16 is the first to lunge at the creature again... only for him to be thrown to the ground, and Cell to fall on top of him, grabbing the android's head.

Just as Cell is about to crush 16's head, a leg swings in and knocks his arm away; the creature looks up smiling to see it's his target, Android 17. 16 yells at his brother to leave, but 17 says he's not leaving his friend alone; as they talk, Cell raises his tail, expanding the opening. Trunks and Nappa lunge forward as well, going Super Saiyan... but before they even reach him, Cell's tail has fallen on its prey.

They're knocked by by blasts of lightning; an explosion of green light envelopes the land around them; a massive surge of ki that illuminates nearly half the earth's atmosphere. On the other side of the planet, at Roshi and his guests can feel the incredible surge of power; even Bulma notes, "I can't feel power levels, but I can feel that". Back at the battleground, when the gathered warriors can raise their eyes again, they see the monster... has transformed.