-Lookout-
"I don't understand, one of the androids is fighting this creature. It called itself Cell." Yurin's eyes narrowed as she watched over the battle in the middle of a populated area. She could see that 16's sneak attack had caught Cell unaware, but now that the surprise had been spent it could be seen that Cell was overpowering the android. "He won't survive if he keeps fighting."
"Did you say Cell? But Krillin and I killed that creature. We made sure it did not regenerate." Piccolo was surprised, as he thought that the creature had bled out and it's Ki had dropped to nothing. He now figured it had tricked him and pretended to have died. "I should have incinerated it while I had the chance."
"Just means we will have to hope Vegeta and Ashe finish it off. What about Raditz?" Tien spoke though he hated leaving everything to the saiyan prince and his offspring. He could see the power gap growing more and more. It was infuriating to see himself be outclassed completely. He looked to the other humans and could tell they felt the same weakness.
"He is gathering everyone; Seems Dr. Briefs is insisting on some project and equipment." Yurin said as a drop of sweat went down her cheek. "I just hope they can get everything quickly. I can't teleport unwilling people from such a distance."
"What about Vegeta? You teleported him and I don't he was willing." Tien still did not have a full understanding of her magic, just appreciating how useful it was.
"He is my husband's brother; I am familiar with him. Dr. Briefs I am not, I rarely went to Goku's home. So, I would need his permission to teleport him. Vegeta I just need a rule to my spell to affect him. Such as to send him away, I would have to choose if it was home. That and he would have to be in range of my magic, to far and my magic weakens. That is when I would need to make circles to enhance the range of affect." Yurin attempted to explain.
"What about your magic to seal Cell's strength?" Tarble asked, wondering if they may need to do so. "Do you think you could bring him closer to our level."
"I have not had to try against someone so power. I could try but the amount I limit could be a fraction of his strength. That and if he gets stronger it might not even work." Yurin said biting her nail.
-West City-
Cell evaded another blast from 16, kicking into the side and sent the robot through nearby ruined building and caused it to fall in on him. The large bio android stretched his neck as he looked down, 16 looked up at him as he stood. The machine felt no pain and kept readying himself for more chances to fight. "Do I truly need to break you? I have already found that I surpass you, fighting is just a waste of time." Cell spoke as he held his hand out. "Too bad, seems you were the only one that could challenge me in the end." A ball of energy charged and ready to fire down into the challenger.
Raditz in Capsule Corp sweat as he could feel the power slowly building for the monster known as Cell. "Come on, I don't want to leave you behind." Raditz yelled down to the lab. Dr. Briefs seemed to have trouble finding something. He hurriedly looked for a Capsule he kept for this purpose, something to keep in case the lab was destroyed. The Ki built up and Raditz could feel that it may be enough to destroy the whole city. "We don't have time!" Raditz roared.
Cell fires his blast down toward 16, a bright light rushed to the android. Only for it to be sudden bounced away. Before 16 stood Ashe, her hand lightly smoked from the impact of the blast that she sent to the near by ocean near West City. Vegeta instead appeared before Cell with a smile. "Hey… you must be the new challenger."
"Vegeta? How cute… but you best move out of the way. Unless you are ready to die." Cell said as he hovered over as a imposing being.
"Sorry, I couldn't hear you over your screams." Vegeta said, a sudden fist impacted Cell's face and made the being fly back.
"If you think this is enough, you have another thing coming." Cell said as he turned his head toward the prince again. "Maybe you should ask your little princess to help."
"I will let him take care of you. But remember Vegeta, I want a lick at him before you kill him." Ashe said smiling.
"You heard her, but I am glad you could take that punch. I was worried my training was for nothing. Now it is time for… SUPER VEGETA!" The prince called out as his Ki skyrocketed, pushing away much of the standing rubble from Cell's attack. Vegeta's body bulked up as his Ki forced his body to its full output.
Cell felt he still had to advantage, but it was quickly found that Ascended Vegeta overpowered Semi-perfect cell. Every attempt to overwhelm Vegeta just lead to Cell instead being beaten and forced to the ground. 16 even sensed that being close was a danger to his structural integrity, Ashe looking back as a warning that he would be next. She did not stop him though, instead wanting to have a fun little hide and seek game with him.
It is soon found that Cell is to weak, and screams out in fury. "If only I got 18, then I would be perfect. And you would stand no chance!" Vegeta would hear this, another being thinking he was too weak to handle things. Vegeta grinned, and simply motioned to Ashe.
"Keep him entertained. I am going to find this 18, and then we will let this monster get the power he wants… so we can kill him when he is 'perfect.'" Vegeta announced, Ashe just laughed as she agreed with a nod.
- Android 18 is currently headed toward the Lab. I believe she plans on finding out what is going on. She will make it to Central City first. - The computer signaled to Cell, confusing the beastly man.
"How?" Cell spoke confused, making Vegeta look at him confused.
- By using the same method of Piccolo's race to communicate mentally. Your crown acts as antenna that allows me to generate a specific wave to speak to you. Inform your opponents, so they can obtain 18 faster. -
"I wish the original you told me sooner. 18 is headed toward Gero's lab and is almost to Central city. Lets all go, then you can try again against me." Cell said not sure Vegeta would believe him.
"Very well. Ashe, I will let you play with him first when he is perfect. This way you don't lose anything from following." Vegeta spoke as he took off. Ashe instead letting out a sigh as she was annoyed that she had to wait, 16 already gone as well and giving her only to follow Cell as he followed Vegeta.
16 could feel their Ki slowly get further and further. Sitting in a broken building as he calculated. "Estimation, Cell will become perfect. Based on power difference, success on saving Krillin is too low for acceptable parameters. Alternate route." His eyes looked to the west, toward the lookout. "Find the one known as Tarble, gain allies, and pursue method to save Krillin." His single-minded drive now used for his new directive, his need to kill Goku overridden by the super computer to get cell to become perfect… only for it to backfire. 16's defective nature seemed to rear it's ugly head. The huge body of the android lifted and flew toward the Lookout instead.
Raditz could feel the massive Ki's flying, but there was a risk of them still coming back. He still rushed Dr. Briefs, who finally found his transportable lab Capsule. With the Briefs family and Raditz gathered, they were teleported onto the lookout in hopes to be safe for now. Yurin's focus now on Cell and his new allies to help him become perfect!
-Lookout-
"What is Vegeta doing!?" Tarble as he could feel the fight stop too soon and Cell's power was now flying toward something. "Does he not realize that Cell could become a greater threat than ever!?"
"I think he wants that. He seemed more interested in proving that he can beat it, even if the monster becomes perfect." Piccolo said said looking down. "I only hope that the power gap doesn't grow so much that our training is pointless."
"Right, we need to start setting up partners. Everyone needs to go in." Tarble said as he could sense that any one of them could easily be killed. "I don't care if you feel it is pointless. Even a minor increase will be enough." He continued as he turned to his allies. "Tien, you will train with Yamcha. Teach him the Kaio-ken, that way he can multiply his strength as well if needed. Raditz and Nappa, you will train together. Try to push Nappa into Super Saiyan, and if possibly into Ascended status. Piccolo, if Gohan is up to it you might want to join him for another day, That or you and Yurin join in together."
"Wait, you think I should train with Piccolo? The guy I had held back for years?" Yurin said as she looked at the Namekian.
"I hold no grudge on that, it proved to me that I could train harder to keep myself still on par with them. Early difficulties may have proven to make better future." Piccolo said in an attempt to clear her mind fear. "Does that mean you and chiaotzu will be training?"
"No, I will go in alone." Tarble said, surprising everyone. "I… I have a idea but the training for it may be to dangerous to have any partner with."
"That sounds to me like a reason to have a Partner. I am willing to join and accept the risk." Tien said to his comrade from the Crane school.
"No, I am happy you would be willing to do so. I will go in alone, as I cannot even confirm if it is possible to do." He kept secret his plans for now, if it was something he could manage to do then it might mean Cell would be no issue after his turn. "I want to see what Goku's methods are and his progress first, so I will go in last. I will need the extra days to try and manage it."
Raditz stepped up confused with that. "How do you mean? What can Goku teach you in a few days that will help you with your own training?" Raditz questioned.
"Any information will help, especially with Goku. He is a simple man but a genius when it comes to fighting and training. It is his specialty." Tarble found it amusing referring to Goku as a genius in any sense. "For now, we should focus on mentally preparing."
"Right, I had planned to go in with Kami already once. So, I will go in once Goku and Gohan come out. Prepare yourself Yurin." Piccolo announced as she continued to watch over the world. The human was not sure what kind of strength she could hope to get. She worried it would not be enough, and could barely manage herself a smile to calm the child.
"I will go get Chichi, since I don't have a partner. I can teach her Kaio-ken as well, though she already has something like it. It would be good for her to be prepared to fight if needed." Chiaotzu said, the others nodded as he flew off and not wishing to distract Yurin.
-Just outside of Central City-
18 flew as quickly as she could, something that had happened with 16 spooked her. Something happened at the lab, something she had to stop from happening again. If someone could turn 16 against her so easily, and pretend to be Gero. It meant that a deactivation could be possible still. It meant someone could just turn her off. She had no idea about this cell creature, but she might be able to hide from him. But someone holding a button to turn her off, it was a unseen threat.
She did not have a chance to get to the lab though, instead she had Vegeta appear before her and kick her backward. He smiled as she was stopped by a hard body. Turning she looked up to Cell with a grin. "Hello… Fancy meeting you here. Thank you, Computer." He announced, 18's eyes widened as she attempted to retreat. But resistance proved futile, and her last thoughts were of the small human that risked everything for her to live and 16 who most likely died doing what she asked.
18 soon absorbed into Cell, the Bio Android laughed as a barrier formed around him as his Ki rose faster and faster. Vegeta smiled at the idea of it getting more and more powerful, but Ashe now started to get nervous. She was not expecting him to gain so much power. Soon Perfect Cell stood before the two of them. He admired his body a bit, a few simple strikes. Vegeta did not sense anything of him, and looked to Ashe and motioned her to start.
Ashe gulped as she felt a power less then her own, but felt Cell was acting to casual. Ashe powered up her Ki to go Ascended as well, letting her body bulk up. "I will go at one hundred at the start." She said before she rushed at Cell. She slammed a fist into his jaw, making his head turn. But Cell then just looked back at her with a smile, and imbedded his own fist into her gut. All her air was forced out of her, and Cell just made it look like a simple punch with no real power behind it. She was forced to back away, Cell allowing her to retreat, as she positioned her hand to her side like she was going to draw a sword. "Looks… like I should have done this instead."
Ashe rushed to Cell once more, as she swung her hand a beam of energy formed like a sword. Cell lifted his hand to block, but her energy passed through. Cell at first confused as he thought nothing happened, Ashe continued to slash over and over. Cell did not notice anything, Ashe finishing it with a sudden blast toward him. He went to move his arm in the way, but found his hand slip from his arm, then his arm slowly became chunks. Cell's eyes widened as he felt his body slowly coming apart and the blast exploded his body to pieces. Ashe just smiled as she pretended to sheath her energy sword. "Shouldn't let someone keep attacking just because you think it does nothing. Looks like his power was just that."
Cell's body fell in chunks and landed to the ground below, but he did not stay in chunks long. Soon his body pulled itself together or grew replacements for parts. It took some time, Ashe seeing it as she thrust her hands down and fired a blast to try and destroy him while he regenerated. Partially regenerated, a hand lifted and fired a blast back. Ashe's attack easily overwhelmed and hit her and sent her flying.
Vegeta watched as his daughter was basicly swatted away, the Prince watched as Cell finished regenerated and went in for his turn. Vegeta attempted valiantly to try and overwhelm Cell, but Cell just played with him. Even with Vegeta's newest attack, the Final Flash, proved ineffective in killing Cell. Soon both Vegeta and Ashe were laid to the ground barely conscious and their form broken. "Hmm… I thought you two would be more of a challenge."
"If we had a little more time… we could have… taken you." Ashe said growling, Vegeta laughing as he saw in her burning the soul of a saiyan. "I will not die laying on the ground though. I will die on my feet. And even if I fall, Goku and the others will come to fight you." She forced herself to her knee and attempted to stand, but could not find the strength.
"A little more time? You could beat me with a just little more time?" Cell said chuckling. "I will say, based on the power you had only two days ago… you might be able to provide a challenge." He thought to himself. "I have not been shown the limit of this form… you were so close too. I know, lets give you some time. Ten days, get stronger in ten days and fight me." Cell had an idea to finally be pushed to his limits, but he needed Goku for that, he knew they would relay the information. "In that time, I will have made an arena for us to fight in. All of you, verses the perfection that is me." Cell grinned, his foot planted into her chest suddenly and sending her body into the air and landed hard into the ground. "Keep an eye on your television, I will make a announcement on the where soon."
Cell having given his message takes to the air, leaving the broken prince and his daughter to recover. Chichi and Chiaotzu showing up on their way back toward the Lookout as they sensed their energy alone without Cell. Providing them both a sensu bean that Nappa had in backstock, allowing the two to heal. The four of them headed to the Lookout, where Vegeta and Ashe was given a tongue lashing from Chichi for being so careless and letting their pride come before the safety of the world. The two silently taking it before stating they are going into the chamber again, Piccolo saying they will have to wait as there is a line of others going to show.
16, having arrived while the battle with Perfect Cell was going on, and explained the events that have taken place from his side. Though they are not sure they can trust him, he allows access to his programming so they can confirm there will be no forced updates. Dr. Briefs thankful he brought the portable lab, and with Bulma's help they begin to exam 16's program. They find that the 'Kill Son Goku' program was overwritten and removed, and the program replacing it was now locked away as a Virus in 16's own computer. A ping from a outside source was being made, Bulma and her father attempted to find it but had no luck with the limited ability of the portable lab. They were able to remove the 'virus', but this does not happen tell Goku and Gohan begin to leave the Time Chamber.
Cell has obtained Perfection and is giving our heroes time to train and better themselves to test his own power. How will 16 help our heroes? Will Tarble's plan to get everyone stronger just be a case of having false hope? And why does he insist in training alone! Let's find out next chapter!