Hello guys, thank you for all the reviews/follows/faves! This chapter was a little odd to write. I had a good amount of fun doing it but there were a few tidbits I was unsure over. Especially towards the end of the chapter, things take a different turn. It's definitely an experiment and I wanted to entertain the idea of a different sect of Earthlings. So yeah, there's that. Anyway, please have a gander at the update and enjoy!

Chapter 21 Confrontation at Coral Cove

That's exactly what she did.

Cixi bolted away from the insect-like foe. She wasn't sure what to do but she knew she had to try to place some distance between herself and the monster. She'd have to think up some sort of plan to fight him off and she'd have to do it quickly. If she failed to do that, she'd end up dead before she knew it.

As she fled, she couldn't believe what was actually happening. She knew the monster she encountered had to somehow be Cell. However, he looked totally different to what she was so accustomed to seeing. The girl reasoned to herself this had to have been one of his other forms. The only one that she had known was the form she was used to seeing on a daily basis. Cixi was aware that he had two, earlier forms but never knew what they looked like. She had never seen his previous states and she was convinced this was the one that had feasted on so many souls some years earlier.

But it also made no sense with how this was possible. A wild thought occurred to her; maybe this was a new Cell that wound up in this particular timeline. She recalled how her father, the Cell she was familiar with, was an invader from another future and she had a hunch perhaps this was another infernal wanderer. Now this Cell was here and was ready to devour what little life there was and begin his own quest for perfection. If she wasn't careful, there was a possibility that she'd end up consumed.

Cixi could sense that this Cell was stronger than her. She knew this fight would most likely be one sided and she would have to be smart with this harrowing scenario. If her theory was correct, she saw that she'd probably have to do what she could to defeat him. If his intention was to feast upon any survivors, she couldn't allow that. She'd do what she could to prevent that from happening.

What made matters worse was that her father was currently absent. It had been some months since he left the planet and he was still gone. Cixi actually felt as if she needed his help with this. Two Cells were bad enough and she had a hunch this newcomer was far more likely to kill her than the other.

Cixi veered to the left when she saw him suddenly appear in front of her. She made the sharp turn and narrowly avoided yet another jab from his tail. Cell closed in on her and again attempted to stab her. However, she remained on her toes and her reflexes hadn't failed her yet. Again and again, she dodged and weaved past the needle-like tip and she hoped she wouldn't end up making a fatal mistake. She knew that the moment she was gored, it'd be over.

When he tried to stab her for the umpteenth time again, Cixi twisted herself to the side and grabbed onto the tail with both hands. Forbidding him any time to react, she used all of her strength and swept him off of his feet. Cixi then roughly tossed him aside, wanting to place a safe amount of distance between herself and Cell.

Cell was only flailing about in the air for a moment before he caught himself. He oriented himself and gracefully landed a few dozen feet away from her. His tail twitched and he could see the girl tense up.

"I can't let you live and go free," she said.

"Well, such big words from a shrimp!" he laughed. "Can you back it up? Frankly, I don't think you can."

"I will! I have to! And I see I have to do this alone."

"Is that so?"

"I know exactly who you are. I hate to burst your bubble but you can't be here. One Cell is enough for this universe and there doesn't need to be another. You came here from another future, haven't you? That's how the one I know got here; he used a time machine. I know his story and I'm sure it's identical to yours."

His eyes widened enormously once he heard those words come out of her mouth. His beak-like mouth dropped and Cell appeared to be utterly astonished. Cixi would've laughed at the spectacle if she wasn't so anxious and afraid of what the future might hold. His stance was frozen and it looked like to her that he was stricken into surprise and was unsure how to handle this. The bio-android was caught completely off guard and was totally flabbergasted.

"How do you know my name?!" he demanded. His tail twitched and flailed about furiously as his shock tightened its grip on him. "You're not supposed to know that!"

"I told you, there's another Cell here and I know him," she said. "He told me his story and so I know you."

A surprisingly deep bellow originated within his chest and came up into his throat. His clawed hands balled up into fists and he was clearly irked by this turn of events. He leered ominously at the tiny warrior who stood in defiance of him.

"Tell me how this can be!" he commanded. "I'm tempted to just make a meal out of you right here and now but I want to know more before I do that! How is there another me here?"

"I told you," Cixi repeated, "it's because of a time machine. He first came to this time a long time ago and laid low before he showed up a little later. He absorbed a lot of people, got a hold of two androids, got his Perfect form and completed Doctor Gero's mission. He killed Goku and his friends and now he's running around the universe, destroying it."

"I don't believe this!" His fists were shaking as his anger became more prevalent. "This is either some fabrication or I have horrible luck!" He snarled. "Perhaps that time machine I used suffered a malfunction that I wasn't aware of and it brought me here… I hid underground for a few years and I never once suspected this could've happened. I thought it was odd that I felt very few Earthlings once I reemerged. In fact, you were the only one I sensed that was closest to me and I lured you in here to confront you. I've got more questions for you, little one."

This Imperfect Cell chilled her and made her unsettled in his midst but Cixi decided it was wisest to keep him busy and answer his questions. She'd try to plan on what to do from there. Currently, he wasn't interested in absorbing bio-extract and she was extremely grateful for that. If she could distract him from his mission, she'd do it. At this point, she was hoping that maybe the Super Saiyan boys would sense what was going on and swoop in and take care of him for her.

"I'll answer them for you," she said, nodding her head and showing him her compliance.

"What's your name?" he asked.

"Cixi."

"Hmm, doesn't ring a bell. I don't remember the good Doctor supplying me any data on you. You're nothing more than a kid from what I can see. But you are obviously trained if you were able to dodge me as well as you did. You're an Earthling but there's something a little off about you from what I can sense." He cocked his head to the side in contemplation. "I can't put my finger on it, Cixi. Do you think you can enlighten me more?"

Cixi swallowed roughly but she nodded again. She'd be truthful. There was nothing to hide as far as she could tell. Her compliance might guarantee her survival and buy her more time in the process.

"Excellent," he chuckled. "So you said my other self succeeded in his mission and fulfilled Doctor Gero's will… That's all well and good but it's rather unfortunate for me. That Cell denied me of my purpose." He blinked. "Who are the other three powers I sense on this planet?"

"One is a frost demon named Sleet and the other two are called Goten and Trunks. They're the sons of Goku and Vegeta."

"How interesting! My other self allowed the Saiyans' sons to survive?"

"That's right. The four of us are alive and training here so we can provide him with a challenge for the future. That's our only purpose."

"Aw, isn't that sad for you?" He snickered and he folded his arms across his chest. "But what about you? Who are you exactly? I can see why he spared you but I sense there's more to it than that."

"My mother is named Orey, she's an ordinary Earthling." She almost dared to crack a snide smile at the much taller life form that was standing before her. "Cell is my father."

His eyes grew again at her claim and he looked thoroughly puzzled for a few moments. Cell shook his head in dismissal and he glowered threateningly at her. He growled thunderously at her claim and that made her smile melt away almost instantaneously.

"You're lying!" he snapped. "I would never procreate with one of those insects! And I'm sure no other self would stoop to do such a ridiculous antic!"

"I've only officially began my training two years ago," she retorted. "My power was only truly discovered at that point. For all those other years, it was just laying under the surface. I've worked very hard but I know I still have a long way to go. If I was a pure Earthling, my progress would've been a lot slower."

"I find that ludicrous and I can't wrap my head around such a notion."

"Same."

Her stomach felt like it dropped into her feet as he suddenly erupted into laughter. It was an unsettling and chilling outburst that made her pose into a defensive stance. Cixi only held her ground, prepared to deal with anything he dished out.

Cell took a few steps closer. His feet squeaked loudly as he did so. While he advanced, Cixi carefully retreated backwards.

"Oh, you've been a wealth of information, Cixi," he said. "Honestly, you've been so helpful and I thank you for that. Now, allow me to reward you appropriately for your assistance."

His tail moved at an impossibly fast speed and there was no way she could dodge it in enough time. It only revealed to her that he had been assessing her up until that very moment.

Cixi cried out in alarm as his tail constricted around her waist and pulled her to his side. The young hybrid extended her hands and shot out a spray of energy blasts, aiming for his face. Cell merely held a hand out and deflected the small stream of blasts, rendering her attack to be completely ineffective. The tail wrapped a little tighter around her, causing Cixi to yelp in pain.

He drew her closer to the point where she thought she could see the small blood vessels in his eyes. Cell's stare narrowed but intensified as he studied her petrified features. That beak somehow contorted into a smile.

"I suppose I must be on my way if what you say is true," he went on. "I wouldn't allow any trespasser or usurper to persist in my realm and I'm sure the Cell you know thinks the same. I am an unwelcome stranger and I've wasted precious time. Once more, I must revert to a lesser shape to see if I can still use that time machine and leave this dump. However, I just woke up from being underground and I am awfully hungry. If you truly are my other self's daughter, then this will be sufficient vengeance. He denied me of perfection. So I will inconvenience and deprive him of a sparring partner." He laughed. "No hard feelings, Cixi!"

Before he could make another move, Cixi felt herself being released from his grasp. Cell's footing was lost and the bio-android was sent into a spiraling skid across the ground. He continued this flight for a few seconds before it was ultimately stopped when he collided with a mound of metallic rubble.

Cixi looked to her right, spotting her savior. Sleet was shaking his head, looking as if his brains had been rattled from the ferocious head butt he dealt to Cell's side. The blue Arcosian then turned his attention to her.

"Get up," Sleet urged as he extended a hand to her.

The girl smiled brightly at this turn of events. She happily took his hand and the Arcosian lad hoisted her back up onto her feet.

"I owe you," she said.

"You can pay me back by not dying and leaving me on this forsaken planet alone," he retorted. His eyes narrowed as he eyed the debris that temporarily buried the Imperfect monster. "What the hell is that thing?"

"It's Cell. But it's not the one we know. It's Cell from another timeline."

"You've got to be kidding me!" Sleet sounded dismayed and astonished by her reveal. "Tell me you're lying!"

"It's complicated but I'm sorry. If we make it out of this, I'll explain it to you."

"There're two of those bastards we have to worry about?!" When she nodded her head in confirmation, Sleet roared in exasperation. "I won't stand for it!"

The rubble and debris that Cell was covered in suddenly erupted. Once the dust cleared, the creature was standing up once more while a golden aura enveloped his frame. He held his ground but his hateful leer was focused on the two pint sized fighters who stood in opposition to him. They held their ground and he noticed that although both looked a bit shaken and were clearly intimidated, they wouldn't be backing down either.

"Two challengers?" he asked. "I wasn't expecting that. Good, that means I can have a refreshing meal of bio extract before I disembark on my trip!"

Cell started to power up. A gust of wind came up around the smaller beings and they had to shield their eyes as his aura began to grow far larger and much brighter. They could hear and feel the ground beneath them quake and develop fissures as they could only guess what he was going to unleash upon them. His cries became deeper and more guttural to their horror.

Yet they wouldn't permit him to dig deeper into the wellsprings of his power. Together, they flew towards him, determined to forbid him from powering up. They had to try to eliminate this threat before it could escape or kill them.

"Upstart brats," he growled.

He ceased his powering up and braced himself for the right moment to strike. Once they got close enough, he sprung his trap on them.

He gave them no time to even back off as he grabbed each their heads in one hand. They screamed through their muzzles and floundered about in an effort to escape. Momentarily, he squeezed their skulls, eliciting cries of pain from them and it felt as if their craniums were about to splinter from the pressure. Then he brought both of their heads together, causing them to smash into one another. Both Cixi and Sleet went limp from the impact and he tossed them aside curtly.

Once they stopped rolling across the ground, signs of life came from them. Cixi managed to roll over onto her back and her vision was clouded and dizzy. Sleet's face was still in the dirt and he clawed at the ground beneath him as he tried to even find the strength to stand up.

"C'mon..!" Cixi said in a drained voice. "Get up before he kills us!"

She managed to sit up and she was able to make out the shape of Cell making his way over to them. Cixi scooted over to Sleet's side and nudged him forcefully, trying to snap him out of his dizzy stupor.

"Get up!" she half begged and half commanded. "I don't want to die and neither do you!"

Cell was closing in and Cixi's panic was becoming full blown at this point. In desperation, she outstretched one arm and quickly charged up and launched an energy wave to deter or slow him down. To her terror, he only deflected it and continued advancing towards her and Sleet.

Luckily, Sleet managed to stand back on his feet a few seconds later. He grunted and rubbed at his throbbing forehead, trying to stave off the sharp pain he was grappling with until the end of this confrontation. Angrily, he glared at the bio-android and he growled deeply.

"I will remove that ugly head clean from your shoulders!" he howled.

Cell only frowned at that those words and made no move as Sleet launched himself towards him. The Arcosian boy's tail began to radiate with a red energy again and he was poised to behead him with his attack. Cell paid no mind to this incoming attack and continued making his way over to where Cixi stood.

Indeed, Sleet's tail directly made its mark on Cell's neck. But it merely stopped and didn't move another inch nor did it create even the smallest knick on his flesh. Sleet's eyes widened in dismay at this foiled attack and he attempted to back off to reassess the situation.

But Sleet had no chance to retreat as one of Cell's clawed hands roughly grasped onto his tail. He applied pressure and the loud, clear sound of his tail vertebrae shattering rang through the air. Sleet cried out in agony from the fractures and he fought wildly to try to free himself.

"Get out of my way," Cell said icily.

After giving him a single, cruel, hard stare, Cell forcefully tossed him aside and released him from his crushing touch. Sleet flew through the air, seized with pain and could do little as he crashed into crumbling structures and abandoned equipment in the shipyard. The blue frost demon's flight lasted a few more seconds before he collided against the metal siding of a cargo container. Once he made impact, he stopped and collapsed to the ground in a heap, with his face down.

As soon as Cell refocused his attention on Cixi, he was met with a bluish-white energy wave that was rapidly closing in on him. He only braced himself and allowed the Kamehameha to impact him since there was no time at all to deflect it.

When she saw Sleet attempt to attack him, Cixi knew she had to try something. While Cell was occupied with him, she tried to hastily charge up a Kamehameha and make use of her time. To her luck, she managed to charge it, launch it and actually land on her opponent. A cloud of dust and debris obscured her vision of Cell.

She heard and saw Sleet get injured at the hands of his opponent. It angered her and she yearned to bury her fist into the monster's stomach. Despite wanting to survey the damage she dealt to Cell, she dashed away to go find and check on Sleet's condition and see if she could tend to his wounds.

The girl only managed to dash a dozen feet before she felt something wrap around her wrist. She screamed in alarm and whipped her head to the side, seeing Cell's tail constricting around it. She fought back, trying to free herself from his grip but when that happened, she felt the pressure increase, causing her to gasp in pain. That warning caused her to cease the struggle momentarily while she looked back at him now that the cloud of dust finally settled.

To her dismay, her Kamehameha dealt no significant damage despite the direct hit. She could see that the impact caused him to get a little disheveled and some of his armor had dirt and soot on it. However, his body was completely intact.

Cixi's fear swelled again and as much as she wanted to break free, it'd be at the cost of a broken wrist. For now, she decided to bide her time and wait for another opportunity to be provided and attack him.

"Not bad at all, kid," he commented. "It's clever of you to take advantage of the situation like that. You're a quick thinker but too bad you don't have the power to match your wits."

"You have to leave, there's nothing for you here!" Cixi responded.

"Soon enough, don't worry. I only wanted to tenderize my food a little before eating is all. Your friend looks like he's down for the count so he's easy pickings. You're next, girly."

"I don't think so, you overgrown grasshopper! Eat this instead!"

Cixi was poised to launch an energy wave at his head with her free hand. She extended her hand and she could feel her energy scintillating and collecting in her palm.

Just as she was about to launch it, her attack was disrupted. She felt herself being roughly relinquished from his tail once more as a blur appeared from nowhere and tackled Cell, sending him spiraling across the shipyard. She gasped out loud as she saw the green creature fly briefly through the air before he was stopped by being impaled through his chest by a piece of metal jutting from the frame of a charred and mangled crane.

Cixi didn't even have a chance to look to identify this third party when she felt and saw his imposing and familiar shadow looming over her. She could sense him once more after this long absence and never in her whole life did she find herself so happy to welcome him. A wave of relief came over the child and she felt her confidence restored with his presence.

She didn't protest or argue when she felt his hand land on her shoulder and then turn her around so he could look at her. Cixi gazed back at her rescuer.

"You saved us!" she said.

Cell said nothing as he looked her over and examined the wounds she received in her scuffle. His eyes gleamed angrily as he saw the bruising that was already starting to show up on her wrist. Bloodied cuts on her exposed flesh and the swelling on her forehead were also standing out and as he observed her wounds, stray sparks of electricity began to dance over his frame.

"This isn't your fight," he said. His tone was severe and deadly. "He's mine."

Cixi's attention was directed back to the invader who was breathing heavily and was prying himself free from his impalement. She cringed at the amount of blood oozing from the wound. Once he wrenched himself from it, he regenerated the grisly injury and it closed quickly up.

The trespasser could only look at his complete self in sheer terror and dread. As soon as he appeared, he knew he most likely wasn't going to get out of this alive. His eyes were unblinking and totally trained on the other Cell. He was petrified of looking away even for the fleetest second. If he did, it was possible he'd be terminated within the blink of an eye.

"I made a mistake," the weaker bio-android announced. "I'm sorry and I will be on my way. Please, just let me go! I see I don't belong here!"

"I know you, don't play me for a fool," the most powerful countered. "When I look at you, I want to throw up. I can't believe I was once so ugly and pathetic." He started to walk over to the Imperfect creation. "I've heard enough of your intentions as well. Even if I let you go, you might want to return to this timeline and get vengeance on me for inconveniencing you. I was here much longer than you have been. I absorbed my androids fair and square and completed my mission. Maybe I would've let you go so you could claim another timeline… But instead, you planned on making a meal out of my student who also happens to be my daughter. You see, I will not forgive you for that."

As he was closing in on him, the invader decided to take his chances and run. When he turned around to try to fly away, he immediately bumped into his pursuer. He attempted to back off but the other Cell firmly clamped down on his neck with one of his hands. He held the weaker version in his grasp, choking him ferociously as he did so.

"I said I was sorry..!" the Imperfect one gagged. "I didn't believe she was yours!"

"I don't care," the other said through gritted teeth. "You will not ruin this for me. You will not squander all that I've done!" Without even glancing at Cixi, he addressed her. "Sweetheart."

Cixi was having a hard time understanding all that was playing out before her. She barely noticed him speaking to her until a few seconds later passed and the shock was starting to loosen its hold on her.

"Yes?" she answered in an almost mousy tone.

"Do me a favor," he resumed. "Take your friend and fly away from this place. Go as quickly as you can and don't stop. I'm going to reduce this town to a smoking crater and make sure not even a single cell of his survives the impact."

The more basic Cell cried out in alarm and terror upon learning of his Perfect self's intentions. He flailed about in reckless abandon, desperate to escape his grasp. He knew there was no point in fighting back against a titanic power such as this. Even escape seemed impossible to him but at this point, he was operating on pure instincts. They commanded him to flee.

Without saying another word, Cixi hastily retrieved Sleet. He was unconscious currently but she scooped him up into her arms and rocketed away from the shell of a settlement that was Coral Cove. She moved as quickly as she possibly could, putting all of her energy into running away. She had no desire to be caught anywhere near the blast's radius and end up becoming collateral damage.

Cell still held the trespasser in his grip and wouldn't act until he felt that Cixi was at a good distance away. Patiently, he waited, feeling her place more distance between her and the city. His eyes were pinned onto his counterpart and his stare was frosty, ruthless and furious.

"Sorry, I can't have you running amok," he said to the creature. "This is my world and I like it as it is."

"Mercy!" the other Cell cried. He clawed at his captor's arms and tried to pry himself free in vain again.

"Mercy is last thing I would give to myself."

Cell's golden aura flared up and blue strands of electricity spider webbed over his form. He roared explosively, calling upon more of his power to summon enough to be sure to wipe this intruder from existence. He would have to be careful with this maneuver. He'd have to use enough power to completely extinguish the other's life force completely but exercise enough restraint and manipulation in order to keep the Earth intact.

A wicked smile formed on his face and he raised his free hand. He extended his pointer finger and a small orb of energy started to form above this fingertip. Steadily, it grew larger and it almost looked like the sun. It was roiling like a star and it grew larger as each second went by.

The weaker Cell's eyes were widened in dismay and horror as he realized how little time he had left. This destructive orb was destined to consume him. Survival was at an all time low at this point.

Without warning, the most powerful released him and abruptly punted him skywards. Cell allowed the attack to enlarge more and kept it perched on his fingertip. He watched, amused, as his counterpart sailed upwards and showed no signs of stopping or regaining control of his mad flight.

A few seconds later, he deemed it was powerful enough. He also didn't want to give him a chance to recover and possibly dodge the attack. With a flick of his finger, Cell sent the blazing Supernova at his rival.

(…)

Cixi looked over her shoulder when she could've sworn that the sun was somehow rising behind her. The sun had officially set a few minutes ago but now it seemed as if the universe had suddenly gone mad. When her eyes lain upon the orb of flaming death that was in the sky, a sharp gasp came from her mouth. As much as she wanted to stop and observe it, she still wanted to get as far away from it as possible. Judging by how large it seemed to be to her, it was going to cause a massive impact. She only hoped Cell knew what he was doing.

A moment or so later, the Supernova exploded in the air. The light it gave off caused her to shut her eyes tightly as the luminosity was so intense. Almost immediately after the brightness was emitted, the shockwaves came and caused her to lose control. Cixi held onto Sleet tightly and attempted to stabilize herself in the midst of this devastating blow. The shockwaves travelled past her and she felt that undoubtedly, the rest of the world and its population would feel the tremors. All would know that he had finally returned to Earth.

In fact, the explosion felt like it was even brighter than the sun itself. Cixi still kept her eyes shut but to her, it felt like even that wasn't enough to shield herself from the brightness.

She managed to regain control of herself and she made a beeline for the forest where Sleet dwelled. She planned on taking him to the small shelter he crafted for himself and tend to his wounds as needed. At last, she reopened her eyes so she could get a bearing on her location. The forest was just up ahead and she started to descend. The light was starting to steadily dissipate but it still looked like it was in the middle of the day.

At last, she made it to the forest floor and she set Sleet down on a small patch of soft moss. She knelt down beside him and lightly slapped his cheek to try to wake him up. Cixi could feel that he was still alive but only unconscious and for that, she was thankful.

"Sleet, wake up," she entreated.

He remained unmoving at her voice and touch. She was somewhat worried that he wasn't stirring but again, she could sense that he wasn't dead.

A few seconds later, she decided on trying to rouse him. She figured it was wisest to leave him by and not try to wake him up. She was sure the invading Cell was most certainly dead and wasn't a danger to them anymore. As long as he was deceased and gone, she was content. Refuge was finally available to her.

Cixi took a seat at the foot of a tree and rested her spine and the back of her head against its trunk. She could feel the pain of her wounds settling in as her adrenaline started to wear off. Subtly, she winced as the pain increased steadily. For now, she ignored them, choosing on trying to decompress from the altercation instead. She shut her eyes and decided to try to recover in peace and quiet.

Only a few serene, silent minutes went by when she sensed someone's energy. She bristled momentarily but upon feeling it was Cell, her defenses lowered. Her eyes opened up again, seeing him standing a few feet away from her.

"He won't be coming back," he announced. "I felt his life force totally vanish. However, I've suffered a mighty cataclysm as well in the past and miraculously survived that so I will remain on Earth for awhile to make sure he doesn't resurface. It's all just to be safe. He can come back from literally one cell so long as it is intact. Not only that, any near death experience he goes through substantially increases his power. I'd rather be safe than sorry with him."

Cixi believed that there was literally no way something could possibly survive an attack like that. As of that moment, there was no technique that she had seen that was as destructive and frightening as that. To hear that there was a slim chance that he could possibly regenerate made her feel ill. It just seemed impossible that he could withstand a fiery fate of that magnitude. In fact, she hoped he would teach her that technique one day. She desired to use such a move. She believed that the power would've been incredible to feel.

However, she placed her confidence in Cell. Even if his other self did emerge from that blow, she knew he would try again and this time ensure that he would stay dead.

"What was that attack?" she asked. "It was unbelievable!"

"It was courtesy of Frieza," he smirked. "He used a technique called the Supernova. But I modified that move a bit and added my own twist to it. I call it the Solarnova. Sounds scary, right?"

"If you didn't show up, Sleet and I would've been long gone," Cixi acknowledged. She nodded her head and found herself truly thankful for his interference at the last moment. "So…thanks for saving us."

Though she was ever mindful of his true nature and his potential to be vicious and heartless, she knew it was appropriate to thank him anyway. If he hadn't arrived in enough time, she knew for a fact she would've died. Cixi very much wanted to survive and he had delivered her from the jaws of death.

"Of course," he replied. "I stepped in because I knew you were powerless and there was no way you could've won. You fought my weaker form but yet you were still helpless before him. Remember your fight on Desolus? I forced you to fight on your own without my help because I knew you could do it. You were close in power to him so I wanted you to apply yourself. As for what had just happened?" He shook his head. "You still have a ways to go. Yet I can sense you've improved in my absence. You didn't waste your time at all."

"I did train," she said. "I trained with Sleet and we've been working on getting stronger. But I guess it wasn't enough."

"I can tell. But you stuck around to fight even when you knew it was a losing battle for you. You didn't give up so I can applaud your tenacity. You were very brave."

Cixi wrinkled her nose. She wasn't sure what to think of this apparent approval and praise he was giving her. She didn't know if this was genuine or if there was something more sinister to his words. It felt good that her effort was being recognized but she wouldn't let it get to her head. The child knew she had to train even more and become stronger. Failure wasn't an option.

"It was a trap," she explained. "I felt the energy of someone I never felt before but he tricked me. I also heard some lady begging me to help her but I never found her..."

Shame burned in her as she reflected on it. She also didn't want to admit that she was frightened during that whole confrontation. It was too eerie and morbid for her.

"I can imitate the energy of those who comprise of my being," Cell revealed. "I haven't done it in so long because I saw no need for it. And I can perfectly mimic the voices of those I absorbed. Chances are, he used the voice of someone he consumed to lure you closer to him. This encounter was an invaluable learning experience for you, wasn't it?"

It made perfect sense to her now. Cixi could only nod back at him. She only hoped the trespasser was truly dead and wouldn't reemerge. She didn't know if she was going to be as lucky the second time.

"How long did you watch before you stepped in?" she wondered.

"Long enough, that's all you need to know", Cell answered. "I was able to teleport here in enough time and I'm glad I did. I was quite far from Earth and it took a good amount of focus to make it back here. I could sense something wasn't right even from that distance and I decided to investigate." His eyes turned to Sleet's unmoving form. "Leave him be and let's go home. I'm sure your mother felt that shockwave and saw that light and I bet she's probably a frantic, anxious mess."

"He built a shelter around here. Let me take him to there and I'll go with you."

She half expected him to tell her to let him lay there. But he gave her a nod, silently granting her permission. His arms folded across his chest and he looked at her expectantly.

"Hurry up," he said.

(the outskirts of Verdant Forest, northwest of East City; 11:30pm)

"The Woodsmen were well prepared. Perhaps we shouldn't have dared to enter their territory. But I didn't think they would be so close to the borders of this huge forest."

"Yes. They must've anticipated our arrival or heard of us. We've lost some of our brothers and sisters. But we will find others to replace them. However, not many have the guts to follow us."

The small group of three dozen Earthlings quietly yet swiftly walked through the thick grass of a meadow that lay just before the expanse of Verdant Forest. They kept low as they travelled, using the tall grass as cover as they retreated from the direction of the deep and dark woodlands. There was a chance their enemies could still be pursuing them and they didn't want to make themselves targets. Their numbers had dwindled and they didn't want to risk losing any more members of their group.

Initially, the entourage had planned on camping and residing somewhere within the forest temporarily but before they could even walk half a mile into the woods, they were mercilessly attacked. The tribe that guarded and resided deep within Verdant Forest, those that were simply called the Woodsmen, gave the travelers no warning and assaulted them. A few of the travelers were killed by hidden snipers in the canopies. Others had been mauled to death by the tamed wolves and small, carnivorous dinosaurs the Woodsmen used for their hunts. A grand total of twenty of the trespassers had been slain. The survivors attempted to fight back with the guns and weapons they had but they could hardly even see their enemies in the dark and instead chose to retreat.

They quietly talked amongst themselves as they followed the river snaking through the meadow, still keeping their heads low. The company faithfully followed the lone, tattooed figure of a woman who guided them during their flight at the front.

"It is obvious we are welcome nowhere," another member spoke. "The cities shun us and even out here in the wilderness, we are martyred. Perhaps the Woodsmen are on good terms with the other settlements and they warned them about our possible coming?"

"They persecute us because they do not understand, my disciple," the tattooed female chimed in.

"Lady Painted, we are reviled and they disagree with us. They see us as barbarians."

"My dear Calm, you know why they chastise us."

The Painted raised her hand high in the air, signaling her entourage to halt. They did so almost in perfect synchronization and they stopped in their tracks. The woman deemed they were far enough away from the forest and the Woodsmen were most likely not in pursuit. She knew that the sylvan dwellers very rarely left their home and wouldn't venture out too far to pursue her and her group. They were patient yet vicious defenders.

The tall woman then turned around, facing her followers. Her long, dark purple hair almost looked black even with the generous amount of moonlight that was shining brightly. Her amber colored eyes were fiery and filled with unwavering dedication and pride. She raised her tattooed arms up in the air, displaying the curious black spots and speckles that ran down both of them.

"My brothers and sisters, devoted and faithful members of our gathering," she addressed. "We are the only people on this planet who have embraced the reality that has been set before us. We are the ones who have survived destruction. It is clear that we have been destined to live! Only fellow Earthlings attack us but that is because they see as heathens. They do not understand. We only take what we need for our rites and we give our thanks. A few offerings every year have kept us in his favor. We are allowed to survive and persist because we acknowledge our ruler and god. The rest of the world curses him and he attacks them at times. Therefore those who admire and worship him, us, have remained untouched. There is a reason why we call ourselves The Blessed."

She fell silent for a few moments, waiting to see if any of her disciples would have anything to say. They remained quiet and the eyes of thirty-something devotees were trained on the form of The Painted. Whenever she spoke, they looked upon her with reverence.

"I was enlightened years ago and you all have experienced reckoning as well," she continued. "I am happy to guide and teach you. As for the Woodsmen, let them wallow in their insignificant victory. Their towns and settlements have been spared for now but because they will not join us, they will perish as well. In time, all of these nonbelievers will be reduced to ash and eventually, we will be the only ones to remain. When that time comes, Earth will be ours and we will mold it as he sees fit. Have you felt the earth shake beneath your feet before we crossed into the borders of Verdant Forest? Have you seen the light in the sky? The twilight turned to day for those few, wondrous moments! Our lord has returned and we can rejoice! Our hallowed day is almost upon us so we must secure our resources and make our offerings. We must not let these troubling thoughts plague us! We must rejoice and be thankful for our blessings! There will be a day when we meet him at long last. I promise you this, my brothers and sisters!"

A smile grew on her face as her acolytes erupted into a clamor of rejoicing and cheering. Her heart soared at their adoration and she relished whenever they praised her. It was almost like an aphrodisiac to her. There were only two things she loved in the entire world and one of those things was her influence over her followers.

They then fell to their knees and bowed deeply to her. Her arms were still raised up.

"Blessed are you, The Painted," they spoke in unison, "queen of our cause!"

So I was kinda inspired by the Cult of Aku from Season 5 of "Samurai Jack" whenever I came up with the idea of these freaky people. Chances are, they will appear more in the story. I'm looking to improve on the concept of these Cell worshippers so if you have any ideas/suggestions/critiques, let me know! Thanks again as always!