SailorStar9:This is Chapter 9 of the Incomplete Cell Saga. Read and review.

Disclaimers: Only the plot is mine.

Chapter Summary: Piccolo and 17 continue their showdown, not known to them that the power hungry Cell is approaching fast. Piccolo is as strong as 17 but fatigue kicks in, while the malicious android's power remains undrained. Meanwhile Goku and Gohan impatiently wait for Vegeta and Trunks to finish their Super Saiyan training in the 'Hyperbolic Time Chamber'. Cell arrives at the battlefield, ready to attain his 'Perfect Form' so that he could absorb Ami and overthrow the Gods, it's all up to Piccolo now.

Chapter 9: He's Here

"For not even being an Android, you have fantastic power." Android 17 admitted. "It is certainly apparent you are not Piccolo Daimao. Of course, I have no interest in your identity. I only want to know where Son Goku is. As usual, I don't suppose you are of the mind to tell us, are you?"

"Your objective is to kill Goku." Piccolo remarked. "There's no reason that I should tell you where he is."

"Well then, shall we continue the fight?" Android 17 suggested. "I think you'll come to want to speak. This time, I'm fighting like I mean it."

"Your speed is decent." Piccolo remarked, having dodged another of Android 7's kicks. "But your punches don't seem to have enough weight behind them."

"What was that?" Android 17 demanded. "How nice of you to talk big, as you face the strongest man in history, Android No. 17." that said, he resumed the attack.

"That guy is really strong." Android 18 remarked, seeing the fight ending in another stalemate. "He's evenly matched against No. 17."

In Kami's Lookout...

"Piccolo, hang in there." Gohan prayed.

"Keep it up, Piccolo." Goku muttered. "Until Vegeta and Trunks' training is finished..."

Piccolo. Ami was in her Sacred Shrine in the midst of her daily prayers. I believe in you. Please, be careful.

Back in the battlefield...

Android 17 and Piccolo faced off again.

"Yeesh, how many islands are you going to destroy before you are satisfied?" Android 18 sighed after the resulting battle demolished yet another island.

At Kame House...

"Awesome..." Krillin gaped. "Piccolo still seems to hang in there."

"Dammit, are we just going to stay here like this?" Tien cursed.

"How can this be?" Krillin stammered.

"What's wrong?" Yamcha asked.

"He's coming closer!" Krillin stuttered. "At a time like this..."

"Cell?" Tien inquired.

"It can't be!" Yamcha was shocked.

In the air...

"I've waited a long time for this day to come." Cell grinned as he headed over to the battleground. "The day when I become my 'Invincible Form' and overthrow the Gods!"

Back in the battlefield...

The fight continued in the air.

"My, my." Android 18 remarked and she and Android 16 took off after the combatants.

At Kame House...

"What do we do, Krillin?" Yamcha asked.

"How can I answer something like that?" Krillin questioned.

"If this Cell monster were to absorb the Androids now, all of our hopes will vanish." Master Roshii remarked.

"Damn!" Tien cursed.

"Krillin, Bulma's calling on the phone for you." Chi-Chi shouted. "Come take it! She's saying something about having found a weakness in the Androids."

"What's that?" the male fighters chorused. "What?"

"That's right." Bulma confirmed. "No. 17 and No. 18 have emergency shutdown circuitry incorporated into their bodies. Once we shut off activity in those circuits, then no matter if they are Androids, you can destroy them easily, right? Yeah! I just completed a controller that will do it."

"Say, can we beat the Androids?" Yamcha pressed.

"Uh huh..." Krillin nodded.

"Beg your pardon, but could you bring it here right away?" Krillin inquired over the receiver. "Right now, Piccolo is fighting with them, the Androids."

"Sure, I'll leave right away." Bulma replied and hung up.

"Great." Tien noted. "If we destroy No. 17 and the others, Cell cannot become his 'Invincible Form'."

"Destroy, huh?" Krillin mused, recalling Android 18's kiss.

"What is it?" Tien inquired.

"It's nothing." Krillin stammered.

In Kami's Lookout...

"Father..." Gohan paced. "Cell has started to move!"

"Yeah, I know." Goku replied. "Still not yet? Vegeta is extremely gifted. He should have overcome the Super Saiyan wall long ago. Please hurry, Vegeta. What will happen cannot be undone."

Back in the battlefield...

"Our powers may be evenly matched, but there seems to be a gap widening between our stamina." Android 17 noted after another stalemate. "My energy will never drop."

Piccolo was gasping for breath, before he noticed Cell standing on a rock structure.

SailorStar9: Phew, another chapter down. Stay tuned for Chapter 10: Up To Piccolo.