Disclaimer: I don't own DB/Z/GT.
Dread is one of the most awful mindsets a person can feel. It brings out the worst in anticipation. Android 18 was certainly baffled beyond belief when she realized that she was feeling it, or rather, that she had been feeling it for some time now. She'd had no clue that she was even capable of feeling anything.
"He's coming for me," she spoke dryly, gazing off at the navy blue ocean.
She could feel the minimal vibrations that shook the ground as the tides rolled in. She suddenly felt the urge to reach out to the waves that were lapping gently against the shoreline. She wanted to feel the sensation of her bare feet in the sand. Somehow she knew that she would enjoy that feeling. 'Perhaps I've felt it before," she mused, closing her eyes, welcoming the slightest of vibrations that came her way.
She barely took notice of 16's reply, "There is no evidence that supports against your conclusion."
Instead she noticed something else. It was not very noticeable. She could discern it just slightly through the tone of his voice. She thought she could somehow feel compassion, perhaps pity radiating off of his voice as he spoke. She allowed herself to smile slightly. 'No,' she thought solemnly, 'He is incapable of emotion. His voice is monotonous and machine-like. Gero didn't afford him the voice of a human.'
She felt a pang of fear in her chest. It felt it like her heart was sinking into the pit of her stomach. She knew such imaginings were impossible. She knew that these feelings were the repercussions of dread, the very human emotion that she could feel.
Cell touched down silently onto the desolate isle. She knew that he was awaiting a response from her. 'So…' she pondered in slight amusement, '... that monster is capable of feeling too?' 18 permitted herself to glance up at him, to look him in the eyes. She deemed herself ready to face him off. The dread she had felt was nothing compared to the next sensation that rocked her entire being with disgust. She was utterly repulsed by what she saw. She wanted to scream. She no-longer felt the unfaltering determination to kill this creature. The pent up hatred had been released, but fear suddenly followed thru in its wake.
She still wanted to kill him, but for some odd, unthinkable reason, she didn't think she could deliver the deathblow any longer. She stifled her sudden urge to scream. She didn't want to give him that sort of victory over her. She knew that he was awaiting that sort of response. She decided that she could not permit him to feel that sort of pleasure. She would not be the next person to inflate his ego furthermore.
'It's those damn eyes,' she thought, clenching her trembling fists in agitation. 'If it weren't for those eyes… I know I could kill him!'
His eyes were the exact replica of his latest victim, Android 17, her twin brother. She could take any other change that he'd undergone, but she could not stand to see his eyes.
"What's wrong, my dear?" Cell patronized her in his new more deep and masculine voice, "Is something disturbing you? Is it my new look? Why… I think I'm rather dashing, don't you? Is my resemblance to your dear beloved brother too much for you?"
Cell began chuckling, thoroughly amused with her reaction. His laughter made 18 want to puke. She narrowed her eyes hatefully. Suddenly she felt like she might yet be able to kill him regardless of his similarity to her brother.
"You disgust me!" she hissed. "You're nothing but an egocentric brute! You're an abomination of nature! You bear no resemblance to 17!"
"Oh my!" replied Cell in mock astonishment, "My dear girl, you must be distraught. You see, your brother was nothing but a pompous fool! I am no abomination of nature, love. I am on my way to becoming perfect, the most perfect creature to have ever lived. While it's true, I bear no resemblance to 17. I would like to inform you of your misconception. I have done nothing, but be a positive influence on 17. I believe… some show of gratitude on your part is in order."
Android 18 nearly joked on her own words; she was so shocked that he could say something like that, even if he was a cold-hearted monster. "Gratitude…? You want me to thank you for absorbing 17!?"
"Calm down, 18. You're making yourself appear selfish," jeered Cell, a feigned pout plastered on his petulant purple lips.
"I am not afraid to admit that I am a selfish person. When it comes down to it, I only have my own interests at heart, but you of all people have absolutely no right to accuse me of being selfish! You don't deserve gratitude. You deserve a good ole' fashioned ass whooping! I have no reason to thank you. I do have reason for revenge!"
"Shame, shame, 18, just what am I to do with you?" scoffed Cell, gazing off into the distance as if pondering a great decision that had to be made. "I know! I'll help you to see eye to eye with me."
Cell began to approach 18, a taunting smile lifting his rather large cheekbones. He waved his tail to-and-fro casually.
18 glared at him, "So you think this is all a game, do you? You think that you can play around with me, and have your fun. Now that you've seemed to amuse yourself, you're planning on sucking me up that dreadful tail of yours, and making me give you my power. Is that it, Cell? Are you that easy to read?"
Cell paused his stride, feigning a look of empathy, "18, I understand you're hurt, but you have to see that I didn't force your brother to do anything against his will. He wanted to join me. He wanted to help me become perfect." Cell paused in his explanation to smile at her purposefully, "He wanted in on the sort of power I will soon attain."
"That the biggest load of tripe I think I've ever heard in my life!" shouted 18 angrily.
"Yours is a short life," replied Cell apathetically.
"Well aren't you going to defend yourself?" she spat.
"Why should I? I know the truth. I don't feel the need to defend myself," he replied. "Come on 18, you know the routine. Just relax. It won't hurt, and it will only take a moment."
"D-don't come any closer! Or – or I'll self-detonate!" warned 18.
Cell paused, a look of shock becoming apparent upon his inhuman features. "Come now, 18, you wouldn't do that?"
"I'm not fibbing! I'd rather die that join with you! I am not a creature like you are. How could I ever become a part of you?" she replied indignantly.
"Why? Because then you can become one with me, and with 17 also. You can see your brother again," he said in a matter-of-fact sort of manner.
18 could feel her rage finally starting to boil over. She could not take his patronizing jokes any longer. She flung herself at him with all of her might; her right fist was inches away from his jaw when she heard something that made her stop so suddenly it was as if she'd been frozen on the spot.
She had seen the change in Cell's facial expression almost instantaneously. "Hey, 18," greeted her brother 17's voice calmly, "What's up? Don't worry it's me."
18 stood stock-still. She didn't know what to think. She didn't understand how just hearing 17's voice again could make her feel so relieved, and so happy.
"Don't be worried 18. Become one with Cell. It's as if we were meant to be together. It feels right. You will realize it too."
"You mean… you want me to join with Cell? Are you sure?" questioned 18, desperately wanting to believe him.
"18, would I ever lie to you?" coaxed the voice of 17. "Would I do anything to hurt you?"
18 nearly jumped out of her skin as Android 16 grasped a hold of her arm, and pulled her away sharply, "Don't listen to him. It's not really 17. He's using the voice of 17 in order to trick you."
"Shut up you imbecile," hissed the voice of Cell. "He doesn't know what he's talking about!"
18 returned her attention to Cell curiously, but on the defense.
"17 wishes to continue," muttered Cell.
"18, doesn't it make sense for us to merge with Cell and become the ultimate being!? Doesn't it make sense that we should do what Gero had intended of us all along? 18, you have to understand, we have no higher purpose than to become one with Cell and become the most perfect creature in the universe!" explained the voice of 17 rather persistently.
18 narrowed her eyes at Cell speculatively, thinking, '17 would never want to do what Gero intended of him. He thought that Gero was an old fool! 16 is right, this is all just another ruse. He's still trying to play me for a fool!'
"I don't believe you. I know that you aren't really 17. 17 loved who he was. This life was so fascinating to him. It was almost as if it were some never-ending game in his eyes. He enjoyed himself the way he was, and he would never trade any of that to become one with a monster like you!" she shouted angrily.
"You fool!" spat Cell in annoyance, "When will you realize that you belong to me whether you like it or not? I will have you regardless of how you feel about it!"
18 clutched her hand over her chest, gesturing that she would self-destruct if he got any closer. Cell merely laughed at her.
"You know what I've realized?" began Cell, somewhat amused, "It would take you several seconds to self-destruct, while it would only take one second for me to get to you. I could begin to absorb you before you get the job done. Once I have a hold of you, you will no longer be in control. So I will have you before you have a chance to realize that you've been defeated."
18 couldn't keep her body from trembling. She felt as if she were living a nightmare.
"Come to me," Cell beckoned with a victorious smirk plastered upon his face.
18 felt a sudden onset of fear, pure panic. She wanted to scream for help. She wished she could be anywhere else but here. She stepped backward cautiously. Cell stepped forward in sync with her own movement. 18 felt cornered, she felt hopeless.
Meanwhile, a few months had taken their leave in the Room of Spirit and Time. It felt as if they had literally flown by. Goku pondered her slight feeling of disappointment that surfaced when she counted the months she and Vegeta had left. They were both definitely making great progress. Goku was worried though, that the progress that they'd made thus far wouldn't be enough. Goku was currently fumbling through a food storage cabinet. She caught sight of a massive supply of herbs. She frowned slightly, pulling out cayenne red pepper seasoning, examining it with the curiosity of an innocent child.
'I sure wish I knew how to cook something other than scrambled eggs and toast,' she thought in despair. 'You'd think Kami could at the very least have thrown Vegeta and me a bone here. I could really use a cookbook.'
Goku glanced over her shoulder as she sensed Vegeta approaching the kitchen area. He calmly sauntered into the room, pausing to look up at Goku. She watched his aloof gaze in wonder. 'What would it matter?' she thought with a dejected sigh. 'I would just screw it up anyway…'
Vegeta glanced at the spice in her hands, raising an eyebrow inquiringly, "You planning on making something?"
"What's wrong Vegeta, you confused?" Goku replied with a smile.
"I know women ought to have the natural ability to cook, and I can see why you'd want to experiment…"
"But?"
"… but I don't wish to die of food poisoning," stated Vegeta with an amused smirk, "Imagine that, Kakarrot: I the Prince of all Saiyans, kicking the bucket because I ate something that you made!"
Goku glared at him, placing the small bottle back into the cupboard. She strode over to a chair, and impatiently plopped herself down on it.
"By all means, Vegeta, don't let me hold you back. Let's see some of your culinary skills for once!" she snapped.
"I'm unashamed of admitting that I can't cook. I don't feel the need of gaining your approval of my fictitious cooking abilities," he muttered. Vegeta walked up to the table and sat atop it, staring down his rival with confidence.
"I think that us being in here together was a bad idea, Vegeta," stated Goku, "you're beginning to get on my nerves, and that's saying something!"
Vegeta laughed, "Likewise, Kakarrot, but you really aren't as easy going as you used to be. You have quite the temper. "
"It isn't my fault!" Goku defended, crossing her arms, deliberately stressing her annoyance with him.
"Oh really?" began Vegeta, he seemed to be musing something, "Then does that mean you're on your menstrual cycle?"
Goku gazed up at him with a blank stare. 'Huh?' she thought, and then suddenly it clicked. Goku quickly diverted her eyes away from his, her face turning bright red in embarrassment, "N – No!" she stammered. 'How does he know about that?!'
"Well, then you don't have an excuse, now do you?" he replied.
"You don't understand…" Goku mumbled. "Ya' know, you should feel more sympathy for me Vegeta, after all, you sort of put me in this situation," she quickly retaliated.
"Am I supposed to feel regret or guilt?" he asked. "I really have to admit, Kakarrot, that my wish has been a big upgrade. I really didn't like you as man, this is definitely an improvement."
Goku once again scowled at the egocentric Prince. "Just because you like the change doesn't make it right!"
She'd had enough; she began walking out of the room. When Vegeta was concerned, everyone else was always wrong.
"You're right," he replied casually, causing her to become paralyzed on the spot in utter shock. Vegeta hopped off of the table and approached her again. He grabbed her arm, and roughly turned her around to face him.
Goku's breath suddenly caught in her throat. 'Wow, he's close right now!'
"I am?" she asked, blushing.
"Yes, but I'm not the only one who likes the change?" he stated/inquired.
Goku felt as if she was about to faint. She pulled away slightly. Vegeta followed her, backing her up into the hallway, demanding her attention. Goku continued to absentmindedly back away, further down the hallway. She frantically tried to grasp something to say to him.
"Y – you didn't eat! A – aren't you hungry?" she babbled nervously, attempting to change the subject.
"Yes," he replied with a smirk, backing her up into his bedroom, "in fact, I had something in mind."
Goku released a deep breath, relieved, but somewhat disappointed also. She laughed and replied, "Well, Vegeta, you're not gonna find any food in your room."
Vegeta suddenly looked as if someone had thrown a brick at his face. 'You're kidding me right?' he thought, astonished and annoyed all at once.
"Unless…" began Goku, looking as if a light bulb had turned on above her head.
Vegeta appeared hopeful.
Goku snapped her fingers, "… unless you've been raiding the pantry at night!" she exclaimed. She glared at him suspiciously, "Well, have you?"
Vegeta slapped himself in the face, his hand sliding down his face in an overdramatic show of aggravation. "You are an idiot!" he suddenly shouted.
Goku frowned, dumbfoundedly, "You mean… you didn't raid the pantry?"
Vegeta seemed to be battling something out in his mind. He glanced at Goku, then behind him at the bedroom. He frowned and began to walk away, completely bypassing the kitchen.
"V-vegeta, where are you going? I thought you were hungry?" she asked.
"I'm not in the mood anymore," he muttered, leaving her to go train on his own.
'I didn't know you had to be in a certain mood to be hungry. I always get hungry no matter what. My tummy growls, and then I know. Maybe Vegeta's different?' Goku pondered, thoroughly confused.
GROWL! GROWL! GROWL!
Goku glanced down at her stomach with a laugh, "Yeah, I get it!"
Goku shrugged her shoulders and headed toward the kitchen by herself.
A/N: Uh-oh, is 18 done-for? Will Cell finally become perfect? Will Goku ever get a clue? Probably not... haha. Anyway, I hope my interpretation of Cell seemed formidable enough to you all. We're getting close to some really intense chapters. :) I can't wait to finish them, and post them. Truth be told, I have thousands of words for instances of future chapters already written. I guess I got excited and a little ahead of myself. Thank you all very much for all of the reviews for my previous chapter. I'll try to post up a new chapter as soon as I can. :)