Everyone, thanks for the reviews/faves/follows! This chapter was a weird one to write. I wanted to try some new stuff and add some more characters into the story to try to make things more interesting. I was kinda torn on putting one of them in but I said "screw it" and went ahead with it. I hope that you guys enjoy it and please read on!

Chapter 25 Introductions and Reunions

(the island – a few hours later)

Hers was indeed the only energy he could sense. Cell's was far, far away and he was happy his energy sensing abilities had sharpened enough where he could determine that was the case. His friend was also gone but he knew that was to be expected. So far, it was all he was told and he was relieved. All was going according to plan. Hopefully it would remain that way.

Sleet was about to fulfill one part of his promise. He was still somewhat unnerved that Cixi requested this of him but he wouldn't back out of it. It would feel awkward to be in her mother's midst but he would try his hardest to not let it unsettle him too much. A promise was a promise and he was going to see it through. As far as he was concerned, Cixi had proven herself to be a worthy friend and ally and he wasn't going to jeopardize their growing bond.

The dreaded haven was within his sight and he could hardly believe it was so small, peaceful and unassuming. Sleet never would've suspected such evil retired to this location when he sought rest and meditation. It was hundreds of miles away from any landmass in all four cardinal directions and he suspected that was perhaps why Cell chose to settle on this forsaken droplet of land in the middle of the vast ocean. No Earthling could conceivably make it to his sanctuary and the only things that could disturb him would be turbulent winds rustling the palms, the cry of gulls and the shifting of the tides.

Sleet slowed down and started to alight onto the sandy surface. As far as he could see, Cixi's mother was nowhere to be seen. He could certainly sense her but she was out of sight.

Finally, his feet touched the sand beneath him. It was an odd sensation but it also felt pleasant. It was warm and plush and it managed to coax a small smile out of him.

"Ma'am?" Sleet called out. Inwardly, he cringed. It didn't feel right addressing her in this way. "Cixi's mother? Orey? May I see you? I'm here on Cixi's request. I'm assuming she told you about our plan."

"Oh, one moment!"

Sleet found himself a little surprised she replied even though he expected it. He blinked and straightened his posture. There was no way that he could let this woman know she vexed and intimidated him in this very bizarre way.

Seconds later, Orey emerged from the shack. She pulled the curtain aside, seeing a creature that looked akin to but was significantly smaller to the Arcosians she had seen a few months ago. She remembered Arctus, the one who met her on the island, was a much taller and bulkier individual. The other Arcosian that she had seen briefly in West City was more streamlined and smaller than Arctus on the other hand but still larger than the one standing in front of her. The frost demon before her resembled Cero much more closely (unbeknownst to her limited knowledge of Arcosians, both Cero and Sleet were in their true, final forms).

"You must be Sleet," Orey said, breaking the silence. "Cixi did inform me about your little plan."

"Yes," Sleet said. He hesitated slightly, not sure what to say to her exactly. "I suppose I owe her."

"I do thank you for agreeing to help her…or the both of us. I promise, I won't be a burden."

"You won't be, ma'am. I've been living with a family for the past few days and they'll welcome you as well."

Panic began to seize Orey. Her eyes widened and she stared back at Sleet, unable to reply to this news. She had been under the impression she was to stay on the island and was going to have Sleet visit and keep her stocked up on provisions. Leaving her home wasn't something she anticipated.

"I won't tell them anything," Sleet explained, easily picking up on her worry. "Just act naturally and lie like you've done."

"So you know about my daughter?"

"I know enough. I have forgiven her. It's not something she could control or choose."

"Thank you for being understanding of her and seeing past it all…"

Sleet only nodded his head. There was truly nothing more he could comment on regarding that subject. He wanted to no longer speak of it.

"I promise you that you will be safe and well fed at this place," he resumed. "There are three people who live in a large house with a peaceful farm around it. There's an old woman named Tori and she lives there with her two grandchildren, Heron and Lark. They have plenty of experience with offering food and shelter to passerby and fellow survivors. They'll do the same for you and they're expecting you."

"I feel incredibly silly for feeling this anxious and nervous about leaving this place," Orey exhaled. "I should be elated to have a chance to get out of here."

"That and you'll be surrounded by decent folk."

"That is true. I've come across many different people over the years. Ever since Earth was overcome, people have a tendency to show their best and their worst at the same time. I've had a few close calls and I'm not so quick to trust anyone."

"I understand. I have not yet spent half a year on this planet but I have met Earthlings who have treated me kindly despite my distrust and suspicions." He smirked playfully. "If it offers you any consolation, as of this moment, I am the third most powerful being on Earth. I will make sure I keep my promise and make sure you're taken care of."

She feared Cell would come back at any moment. She feared he would return and smite the people who were to host her. But she was already aware Sleet would be looking after her so she believed it was very wise on Cixi's part to inform Cell about the plan. If Cixi hadn't done so, Orey felt it wouldn't go well at all. Things would get very nasty very quickly. At least he knew she would be leaving the island.

The deaths of her two escorts, Fig and Arctus, still haunted her. Their executions were swift and brutal and Orey was certain she would never forget them. She longed to never see such a thing repeated before her eyes again. Guilt still clawed at her and she now wished she had never asked them to take her to reunite with her daughter. She deemed her desperation and drink had gotten the better of her and it ended up costing them their lives…

Orey had also become so accustomed to the island. She had gone to the mainland a few times to help collect provisions and supplies but those trips were very short and she had no time to do much of anything else. This departure would be a vacation of sorts from this forbidding paradise. She knew she needed this reprieve. Getting away from the place she had been confined to would do well for her.

"Do you need to bring anything with you before we depart?" Sleet asked. He noticed how she had gone silent.

"Just a few changes of clothes and that's all," the woman answered. "I'll go grab what I need and then I'll be ready."

She turned and began to walk back into the shack.

"I'm sorry, one more thing," Sleet said.

"Yes?" Orey wondered, looking over her shoulder to look back at him.

His tail twitched and he looked unsure of how to even speak for a moment. Sleet hesitated but he said the words on the tip of his tongue.

"You know, she will come back."

(Desolus)

It was all exactly as she remembered.

His fist came into contact with her stomach, knocking the wind out of her. There was no time to recover and he roughly knocked her into the dusty, rocky earth. A pained yelp came from her as she bounced a few times on the ground and then her form went still.

The baking earth, the looming heaviness and the singeing heat…

"You wanted this, you got it," Cell noted. "You're a sucker for punishment, aren't you?" Cixi remained unmoving and this only displeased him further. "You're not tapping out just yet. Stand up and fight, you sorry excuse for a worm!"

The bio-android growled and glowered at her shape. His hands balled up and he walked over to where she laid. His footfalls were brisk, belying his mounting disappointment and impatience.

"I said to get up!" he barked.

Cell stopped when he made it to her side. She continued to be unresponsive and he glared down at her. He could sense she was still very much alive and conscious but she refused to budge. This lack of initiative and strength was disgusting him thoroughly and he found himself losing his temper quite quickly.

"If you don't get up, I promise you, you will regret it!" the larger lifeform threatened.

He wedged the tip of his foot beneath the left side of her ribcage, intending to flip her over. There was simply no way that he was going to allow her to quit just yet. Only a few hours had gone by and he was far from satisfied. Her training had only just begun and he wouldn't allow her to surrender just yet.

As soon as he started to turn her face up, Cixi sprung her trap. The girl quickly flipped over and released the hidden contents of her fist. A handful of sand and dirt was tossed from her clenched hand and went directly into his eyes.

Her tactic had caught him off guard and Cell recoiled as the soil and rough sediment made contact with his eyes. He clawed at his face and shook his head as the irritating particles left him vulnerable and temporarily blind.

The female fighter took advantage of this and leapt up, delivering a fierce upper cut to her mentor's lower jaw. Cell's head snapped upwards and he stumbled backwards as he still rubbed at his eyes. Cixi let loose a barrage of kicks and punches to his torso and abdomen, intending to deal as much damage to these areas as Trunks had done a few days earlier.

"I'm not down yet!" she snapped back at him, responding to his previous threats.

Tried as she did, she couldn't replicate the damage the young half-Saiyan could. There were no dents, cracks or blood. This inability only made her angrier and more frustrated and such things only made her attack him all the more viciously and harder.

Cixi released a long, hearty cry and folded her hands together. With as much strength as she could muster, she brought her fists down on top of his skull, sending him into the dirt. The impact shattered the boulders he collided with.

As soon as he made contact with the ground, she backed off, fully expecting him to retaliate. There was no way she had beaten him into submission and she knew it. Her small form shook slightly as she breathed deeply. For as long as she wasn't actively focused on fighting, the planet's environment and gravity bore down on her.

Only a few seconds later, Cell stood up. Rocks and debris tumbled off him as he rose. His eyes were narrowed at her but there was a very prominent smile on his face. There were still traces of dirt on his face. The sclera of his eyes was red and irritated from her unorthodox technique.

"That was a cheap trick," he commented. "But it worked. I have to give you credit, it was clever and you took advantage of your surroundings. Just so you know, I won't fall for that little maneuver again."

"When you're weaker than your opponent, you have to be smart and creative to gain the upper hand." Cixi said. "You have to think outside the box to try to win or even survive."

"Improvising, eh? I can appreciate that." He huffed and pawed at his eyes one last time, growling in distaste. "But if you insist on fighting like a cowardly child, then I can stoop to your level too."

Cixi was confused when she saw his black wings flex and part, splaying wider from his frame. She held her ground and kept a close eye on him, wondering what sort of technique or move he was about to make next. The bio-android grunted and appeared to be focusing all his energy and concentration on this single action.

Her eyes widened when she suddenly began to sense a new energy. Cixi froze up, wondering just what was happening or how it was possible for that matter. It was exactly identical to Cell's and she couldn't comprehend how there appeared to be two of him now. None of it made sense.

The small fighter visibly flinched when she heard a wet pop come from Cell. His tensed form relaxed after this noise happened and his wings retracted back into their resting posture. Still, she held her ground, wondering just what happened.

Cell took a few steps left and revealed what was lingering behind him. Before Cixi there stood a small, blue figure. It appeared to be exactly identical to Cell in physical likeness save for its different colored armor. It shared his eyes and just like Cell, it had a cold and sadistic gleam in them. It toothily smiled at her and Cixi felt a chill run down her spine.

"What the hell is this thing..?" Cixi took a few steps back, unnerved by the clone.

"Hello, Cixi," the diminutive creature greeted her with a hint of malice. "I'm your little brother."

Cixi could say nothing to the little Cell that stood before her. Her eyes were widened and all she could manage to do was stare back at him, completely floored and disbelieving that this was happening. She had no inkling that Cell had this ability.

"Well, that's not very nice!" Cell smirked. "He is telling the truth, Cixi."

"You just gave birth to a mini you?!" she blurted.

"It's just another one of my handy, little abilities. I can create miniature copies of myself. They can be as powerful as I am albeit they're not as durable as their father. They share my powers and my memories as well."

"What's the point of this?!"

"Training, of course. You see, this Cell Junior is a little different from the past ones I've created… I guessed what your power is at exactly and created one to rival you at your current level. It's simple; all you have to do is fight and get stronger. But as to what happens in the end of this is all up to you, Cixi." For this entire exchange, Cixi never took her eyes off the Cell Junior. The malevolent imp never broke his gaze with her in turn. "For the most part, I expect you two to play nicely. You are brother and sister and after all."

The Cell Junior laughed excitedly and cracked his knuckles. Cixi swallowed roughly and readied herself into a fighting stance, knowing this little monster was going to make her suffer if she didn't tread carefully. This twist was something very much unexpected but she wouldn't back down. She needed to become stronger no matter what.

"So what should I call you?" Cixi asked. "I don't want to call you Cell."

The Cell Junior blinked, looking a bit startled by her question. The creature wrinkled his nose and glanced back at his father, unsure of how to proceed. Cell only remained silent and chose to watch things unfold on their own, allowing his children to interact without his interference.

"Does it matter?" the clone snapped back. "Just call me Cell Junior."

"That's too long and it's kinda lame," Cixi retorted. "And, yeah, it does matter. Everyone has a name. And as much as I hate to admit it, you really are my brother. You know my name anyway."

"For now, let's skip it, Sis. Maybe I'll think of one when I get done destroying you."

"No killing," Cell toned in. "Not yet anyway. I draw the line at crippling injuries for now."

Cixi felt lucky that he had created his Cell Junior to be at the same level she was at. She had a chance at success and that comforted her somewhat. But what made her wary was that she was indeed fighting his image. This opponent shared his abilities and memories and Cixi knew she had to be careful. She was also taller than her new foe but she wouldn't dare to judge him by his size. She couldn't underestimate this opponent no matter what. This was merely another obstacle she had to overcome.

"Ready or not, here I come!" the creature cackled.

Cixi crossed her arms in an "x" fashion and held them out. The Cell Junior's skull crashed into them and she skidded across the ground for a few feet. Dust was kicked up from the impact but her barrier wasn't broken. Experimentally, her rival punched and kicked at her, wanting to break her defenses and testing her endurance. She steeled herself and allowed her enemy to attack, getting a feel for him and biding her time to retaliate.

"Come on, hit me!" he jeered. "You're nothing more than a wimp!"

As much as his words grated on her nerves, Cixi wouldn't cave in just yet. She would study a little longer and then make her move.

"Check this out!" the Junior smirked.

He extended his left pointer finger at her and she could see a bright, purple gleam form at the tip of it. Instantly, she knew what this was and her heart skipped a beat. This was all too familiar.

Cixi dodged the Death Beam and turned around as the attack made a clean hole in the boulder that was behind her. As soon as she evaded that one, she was forced to duck and weave past the barrage that the Cell Junior was unleashing upon her. The girl twisted and turned her way but she couldn't skirt past every single one of the formidable beams.

She winced as she felt one of them sear her shoulder in the midst of dodging it. The fabric that covered the area was torn and her exposed flesh was cauterized from the attack. It stung her painfully but she forced herself to keep avoiding the flurry of other Death Beams he was launching at her.

"Ooh, I got you!" He laughed as he still pressed his attack.

Cixi knew she could only keep this fevered dance up for so long. Not only that, she had spent a good bit of energy from her spar she had with Cell before this challenger came along. Soon enough, she knew she would slip up and she'd end up with a far more serious wound.

This particular one out of all the others was aimed straight for her face and there was no way she could evade this in time. Reacting on pure instinct, Cixi lifted her hand and swatted the offending energy away. Her pulse pounded and for a moment, she couldn't believe she had actually deflected it with her bare hands.

The Cell Junior seemed annoyed by this on the other hand. He snarled and once again kept up the barrage.

Emboldened, Cixi held her ground and trusted herself. She batted away whatever was aimed at her. If she could manage it, she also attempted to redirect the Death Beams back at its caster, hoping to get him to stop this relentless assault.

A few seconds later, it halted when one of the beams pierced the Junior in his abdomen. A hole was drilled through him and he appeared to be shocked that this even happened.

Cixi gave him no chance to attack again and she quickly closed the gap between them. She balled up a fist and launched it at his right cheek. Her punch made contact and the small bio-android was driven into the ground. Fissures were formed when his body smashed into the dry soil.

But she would give him no reprieve. He only spent a grand total of two seconds on the ground before Cixi kicked him, sending him sailing across the sky. She chased after him, pummeling and hitting him as he was sent into a free fall. Cixi pursued him relentlessly, intending to weaken him as much as possible. He would give her no chance and she would do the same to him.

Crying out, she charged up an energy wave with one hand and thrust it forward. The attack made a direct mark on her opponent and he was sent crashing into the lip of the canyon. There were bits of stone, some as small as a penny and others as large as a house tumbled down into the gorge below from the impact. Cixi watched as she saw the Cell Junior plummet with the rain of rocks and she smirked when she saw that she had gained the upper hand.

Her sight of him was obscured as he fell further into the canyon and the larger rocks blocked his shape from her. However, she rediscovered him when she suddenly sensed him behind her. She was left with no time to react as she felt one of his fists hit her directly over where left kidney lay. Cixi screamed out at the harsh pain that encompassed her. She was constricted by agony and it felt as if the wind had been knocked out of her. A second punch sent a rattled cry out of her mouth.

"You're lucky Dad doesn't want us to kill each other!" he snickered into her ear.

Cixi growled at his words and she ground her jaws. Her teeth clenched and she spun around, kicking her devilish sibling in the side of his head as she did so. His eyes bugged out slightly at the power of her attack and then Cixi drove one of her fists into his abdomen. Spit shot out of his mouth from her mighty blow and the air had been yanked out of his lungs.

"Yeah, you are lucky," she spat.

The Junior raised a fist to strike back at his Earthling sister. Cixi caught his fist in her palm and did the same thing again when he attempted to hit her with his remaining hand. Pink irises bore angrily into dark brown ones and neither fighter showed signs of surrender. His golden aura began to burn brighter and brighter as he struggled against her. Her white aura flowered and intensified in return, matching her power with his. The children of Cell were locked in this stalemate of wills and one wouldn't let the other dominate them.

The air surrounding the young fighters crackled with their opposing energies. Cell only looked on, observing each of them as they warred with one another. His keen eyes didn't miss anything and he could feel that both of their levels were climbing. A smile crept across his face as he watched them.

In the end of it all, he knew only one of them was going to make it out alive. Even as he accepted this reality, his smile still remained. They would both need to give it their all. Holding back was out of the question.

"Alright, that's enough for now," he called out.

Both of them heard his declaration yet neither of them trusted the other. Their hands remained locked and their stares were still pinned on one another. Neither wanted to budge and make themselves open to attack.

"I said to break it up!" Cell roared, raising his tone.

Not wanting to stir his wrath any further, Cixi drew back. Her aura died down and she slowly retreated, not taking her eyes off the Junior. She scowled as the blue youngling smiled mischievously at her and stuck his tongue out, taunting her.

"You've exerted yourself rather well, Cixi," Cell noted as he hovered over to join the two children. "Your energy has been depleted so I suggest you take a breather. You do need an ample amount of rest if you are to make progress."

"Can't you see that she's a weakling?" the Junior griped. "She's not like us, Dad!"

"I'll show you who the real weakling is after I tear your head off your shoulders, you little roach," Cixi glared at him.

"You better believe her," Cell smirked at the Junior. "She can be vicious if she's pushed into a corner enough."

The blue creature fell silent and nodded his head. He would indeed heed his words. The memories he received from his progenitor were vivid enough and he already had first hand experiencing regarding his sister's ferocity. This was an Earthling that shared his blood and he'd need to be mindful of it.

Cixi was unnerved and upset with this new development. Now she felt as if she would constantly have to watch her back. There was simply no way that she could trust this newcomer as well. She feared he would always be ready to attack her and possibly even eliminate her if the opportunity was presented. Although this individual was her brother, he was already the farthest thing from an ally. No comradeship or help would ever be given from him.

He was an enemy.

"If you're giving me a chance to rest, I'll take it then," she said. "If you need me, I'll be by the river."

She walked over to the edge of the cliff and began her descent into the gorge. Taking a bath in the river and relaxing in the coolness of the water was something she had no idea she desired until that moment. Cixi only hoped she would be given this moment of peace and not have it so rudely and violently cut short.

"By the way, it's Cobalt," the Junior called.

Cixi stopped and turned around, facing him.

"What?" she asked.

"Cobalt," he repeated. "Call me Cobalt. That's my name. Can I trust you to not forget it?"

She wouldn't forget it. Neither would she lower her guard. Her enemy had a face and more importantly, a name.

(Kaze residence)

"I'm pretty confident you won't see that lot again. My men and I chased them for quite a bit and I'm sure they won't come back around. They know that if they show up, they won't leave alive."

Tori was delighted to hear the news. The cult that had kidnapped her granddaughter some days earlier had been run off from this area and she felt as if her worries melted away. Her family was safe and that was all she really cared about. Her grandchildren were all that she had and she would do what she could to keep them as secure and as happy as possible in this dangerous world.

"You have no idea how relieved I am to hear it," she told the Woodsman.

"Rest easy, Tori," the grizzled, tall man said. Although his huge beard concealed much of his mouth, she could see that he was smiling brightly. "All you should worry about is what you're gonna do with all those eggs your chickens lay."

"I'm just disgusted I couldn't get to her in enough time…" The old woman frowned and shook her head. "I had the weapons but I was too far off. I would've mowed them all down myself."

"She's back, right? That's the important thing. Lark came back to you and Heron."

"You're right."

Tori felt blessed that she had the Woodsmen as her neighbors. Her property sat right on the edge of their territory and their relationship was a symbiotic one. The Woodsmen offered protection to the elderly woman and her grandchildren and in return, the family offered them shelter and food if times were lean and scarce. It had been that way since the fall of civilization over a decade ago and Tori hoped this bond would remain.

Even before Cell's reign began, she was on good terms with the park rangers, lumberjacks, biologists and other forestry workers that frequented and managed the woods she lived so close to. When the bio-android devastated Earth, many of those people stayed within the forest, feeling at home in it already and choosing to take shelter and live off it. All of those chose to remain came together to ensure each other's survival and eek out their living in the forest. As a result, it was the beginning of the Woodsmen.

This tribe was kind and generous enough so long as one didn't assault one of their own. They welcomed outsiders and would give them shelter and food when they needed it. They were also open to commerce and bartering with travelers and the like. It also wasn't uncommon for drifters to become their neighbors in some cases. The Woodsmen believed in strength in numbers and valued unity.

Although they could be accommodating and helpful, they were also fiercely defensive and vigilant. They took heed of all rumors and news travelers brought with them and often discovered miscreants and enemies through this way. If malcontents such as raiders or cultists and other disturbers of the peace came into their territory, the trespassers were either driven out or killed. They would not tolerate threats towards their community.

"Thank you, Basil," Lark said, taking his hand and shaking it. "Thank you very much."

"My pleasure, Tori," the old lumberjack replied. "We'll be around to make sure things are alright. And you know you're more than welcome to join us at our sanctuary, right?"

"I know and I thank you. But I have too much to tend to here. Yet if the worst does happen, yes, my grandkids and I will go with you."

Basil was about to continue but he was stopped short when he caught sight of something rather unusual and unexpected. His eyes widened as he could make out a clearly alien but humanoid enough shape literally floating above the trees. His mouth gaped, taken aback by the anomaly. What was strangest of all was that there was a woman in the arms of this small creature.

Tori could see the confusion written on his face and she chuckled at his flabbergasted expression. She had told him about a young man who showed up and rescued her granddaughter but she had omitted that he wasn't of this world. But she would mention it to him sooner or later.

The Woodsman couldn't tear his gaze from the descending figure. He had certainly heard and believed the gossip and stories of offworlders on Earth but he had never seen them with his own eyes. Now that changed and he had no idea what to think of this new milestone.

When the alien landed on the soft, green earth, Basil could see them both far more easily. As he studied them more, his attention shifted more to the woman than the otherworldly stranger.

Her eyes were blue and her hair was black. If he had to guess, she had to have be in her early forties or at the very least her late thirties. She had some of the facial features of the woman he was once married to decades ago. The more he looked back at her, the more familiar she became. He knew her.

Orey couldn't ignore the intense gaze this bearded, disheveled man was conveying to her. He was a taller, older gentleman, most likely in his late sixties. His hair was gray but she could tell there were some strands of his original, brown color. His eyes were also exactly the same color as hers…

Sleet sensed something was being connected between the two of them and he obligingly released Orey from his hold. He made no move as she slowly walked over to the older male.

"Do I know you?" Orey asked. "Because I think I do."

As soon as she spoke, Basil knew who she was.

Tears immediately came from his eyes and his whole body shuddered. It had been a dreadfully long time and he feared she was long gone. He knew many had perished and he was certain she was amongst them. His ex-wife had died a few years before the cataclysm and up until that very instant, he thought his only child had been lost as well. Basil had assumed he was alone.

The daughter he had thought was dead was indeed alive.

"Is it really you, kiddo?" he sobbed. "Orey..?"

When she heard his voice, Orey knew he was her father.

She could not speak, she could only react. Orey bounded over to him and threw her arms around his frame. As soon as she embraced him, her tears flowed and she embraced him for the first time in many years. The woman wept into his chest, relieved and overjoyed to see that he had managed to survive after all this time.

She had so much to tell him. He didn't even know he was a grandfather.