"So that's the thing you said was going to 'absorb us'?" asked 17, slightly believing Piccolo in 16 as he stares down the monster, but still doesn't have any reason to believe he should run. "Doesn't look that intimidating."
Cell jumped down from the cliff and turned his head to look at 17. "Not intimidating huh? I guess the computer was right, you really can't sense energy. Allow me to demonstrate what you're looking at." He clenched his fists and started shouting as he began to unleash his new power, the results shocking Piccolo almost to the point of the namekian releasing all the energy he'd already build up. The eruption of power caused the cliff he was standing on earlier to crumble to pieces, an aura akin to a Super Saiyan's surrounding him. "Intimidating enough for you?" He started to walk past Piccolo. "It's your move Piccolo, what will you do?"
Piccolo grit his teeth as he turned around to face Cell. "You really absorbed that many people just to power yourself up to get revenge on me?" He continued to gather energy in his hands as he watches Cell continued walking.
"That was my main reason, yes. However, after seeing the results of your battle with 17, I can safely say that it was necessary in order to absorb 17 and 18." He took a few more step forward before looking at 16 and 17. "Now, where is Android 18?"
Android 17 already got into a battle stance as he knew to expect a fight from this thing that Piccolo and 16 called Cell. "As if we're going to tell you. I don't know who you are 'Cell', but you best get out of here before I tear you apart."
Everyone at Roshi's place that was able to sense energy were all in a complete panic. "Is that.. Really Cell?" asked Krillin, knowing the answer already and that nobody needed to answer.
"Guess there's no getting around it. We really are just useless out here." said Tien, his body shaking in anger as he couldn't do anything to help.
"Come on guys, there's got to be something we can do, right?" asked Yamcha, looking in the direction of the island as he felt the urge to just rush out there to help Piccolo, regardless if it was going to be of any use.
"Calm down, there's nothing we can do. Until Bulma gets here with the remote, we all just have to hope that Piccolo is capable to handle this on his own." said Roshi, on the verge of crushing the beer can in his hand.
"That's it, Bulma!" shouted Krillin. "If I fly to her as fast as I can, I'll get there faster than it would take for her to get to here and then fly to the androids!" Without another word, he charged up and flew in the direction of West City, believing Bulma would take a direct path to them.
Watching Krillin take action pushed Tien over the edge, powering up his energy in preparation to fly. "I'm going to help Piccolo stall for time, even if it's only a little!" He then flew off without another word, just like Krillin.
Roshi noticed Yamcha preparing to take off too and quickly grabbed onto the young man's arm. "Don't even think about it! I know you want to help, but there's no point in everyone being in danger."
Yamcha yanked his arm free from Master Roshi's grip. "Sorry Master Roshi, but I can't be the only one who just sits on the sidelines while everyone else is risking their lives! I refuse to be useless anymore!" He turned back in the direction of the island and flew off behind Tien.
Master Roshi just stood their in complete disbelief as everyone else had completely abandoned them. It wasn't the fact that He was the only capable fighter left on the island to protect the few of them left there, but the fact that there was a high chance that someone was going to die if they get that close to the fighting.
Cell just stared down 17 as the android was prepared to put up a fight. It slightly frustrated him that the android was already aware to be on guard, meaning that the task of absorbing the android would be more work than he'd planned on. He already knew what was necessary for the androids so he figured he'd give it a shot, rising his tail up for the perfect position to lunge at the android.
Noticing Cell's tail starting to move, Piccolo wasted no time in launching a devastating Masenko attack at the android. Cell quickly realizing what the namekian had done instead uses his tail to swat away the energy blast, his focus on that maneuver almost leaving him open to an attack from Android 17. Cell catches an incoming fist from 17 and punches the android in the stomach before slamming him to the ground on his back. He sensed Piccolo quickly approaching and tried to stab the namekian with his tail, only managing to graze Piccolo's side as the warrior caught the tail tip in his arm.
Cell found it annoying that he couldn't pull his tail free from the namekian's grip, yet he still found a little amusement. "Did you really think that I would possess that weakness simply because I have the cells of Saiyans inside me?"
Piccolo grunted as he was struggling to keep Cell's tail in check. Even so, he couldn't help but smirk as his plan was looking good to work. "No, but it does help that you're just as cocky as a certain saiyan that I know. 17, raise that barrier of yours!" He watched as Cell looked a little surprised that Piccolo might be working together. As soon as 17 raised up his barrier, Piccolo begins to roar as he unleashes an Explosive Demon Wave, creating a widespread explosion that completely levels half the island.
After the attack dissipates, Cell manages to pull free from Piccolo's grasp and moves away, showing wounds from the point-blank blast, though he starts taking a moment to regenerate them. "A bold attempt Piccolo, but you already know how ultimately useless an attempt it is. As long as your cells are inside me, you have no chance at landing a killing blow upon me."
Piccolo began to pant as he was a little exhausted from performing that attack with all the energy that he'd been building up. "Maybe not, but the longer I keep you preoccupied, the greater the chances your death will be inevitable."
17 managed to pick himself off the ground and kept his eyes on Cell, noticing Cell's wounds slowly regenerating. "This guy can regenerate? Talk about a buzzkill. Hey, Piccolo was it? Any tips on how to deal with this freak?"
"Not really, he's too powerful even for me. If you want to live to see tomorrow, I recommend you avoid getting anywhere near his tail. And don't bother trying to remove it, he can just regrow it back." said Piccolo, catching his breath as he gets back into his fighting stance.
Cell began to chuckle as he began to cross his arms. "Don't go getting his hopes up Piccolo. After all, nobody will be alive to witness tomorrow once I achieve my perfection."
Using his telepathy, Piccolo began to talk directly to 17 without warning Cell of his upcoming plan. Hey, I have to ask. That barrier of yours, are you only able to project it around yourself?
17 looked quite shocked to be hearing the namekian's voice inside his head, but adapted quickly to it. Now that's an interesting idea you have there. I've never really tried it but I think it could be possible. What did you have in mind?
I need you to project it around Cell and try to keep him busy stationary for as long as possible. Buy me as much time as you possibly can. He then brought his hands together and started charging up energy between them.
Cell realizing Piccolo beginning to charge up another attack raised his hand and pointed a finger at the namekian. He fired a Death Beam attack at the namekian but was surprised to see that it didn't land, but instead hit a barrier that surrounded the namekian.
Piccolo widened his eyes as he saw 17's barrier projected around him rather than Cell. "What are you doing?! I told you to put that barrier around him!"
"Do you really think that'd work against him? You said he wants me, this just means he has no reason to go after you." 17 then held his hand out and started rapid firing energy at Cell, doing nothing but irritating the android. "Come on Cell, if you want your perfection as badly as you say, stop wasting time on him and worry about me. After all, 18's long gone by now."
That definitely struck a nerve to Cell. Without any warning, the android from the future rushed at 17 and slammed his fist into the male android's stomach, launching him into a cliff wall. He then aimed his open palm at 17 and fired a barrage of energy blasts that dug the android further and further into the cliff, creating a cave that made it increasingly difficult for 17 to escape from. Starting to walk forward to the cave, Cell stuck his tail out and the piercing point at the end opened up like an umbrella, large enough to completely envelop 17 whole. "That may be true, but even with only one of you, I'll still be more than enough to defeat anyone I wish. Then it's only a matter of time before I find her." Cell then felt something grab onto his tail from behind. He knew it couldn't be Piccolo since he couldn't sense any energy directly behind him so he turned his head to look.
Android 16 smirked as Cell looked at him, just before rearing his arm back and slamming it against Cell's cheek, knocking him away from the cave 17 was in. "If you want achieve your perfection, you're going to have to get through me first."
18 on the other hand was hiding on a cliff behind Yamcha and Tien, who had arrived a short time ago but hadn't gotten involved since they'd just get in the way. "So, what are the chances you think those 3 can take on Cell?" asked the female android, genuinely worried.
"As much as I want to say they can do this, there's no guarantee that they can take him down. At the very least, we just have to wait for one of the saiyans to get here to take him down." said Tien, watching intently as Piccolo was continuously pouring energy into that attack while 17 was barely able to stay on his feet.
Cell stood back up and wiped his cheek. "Yet another who wishes to die in a useless struggle. What a shame, you'll die without myself having even learned your name."
17 stumbled out of the cave, holding tightly onto his left arm as he'd lost feeling in it during those blasts. "16, what are you doing? If you get involved in this fight, you'll just end up dead."
"I can no longer just sit back and watch you two put up a struggle that won't produce any long lasting results. Besides, according to my calculations, Cell and I are roughly equal in power." 16 then launched himself towards a quickly approaching Cell, both slamming their head against each other.
Noticing that he wasn't able to budge 16 through sheer force, Cell reared his arm back and struck it upwards against the android's jaw, forcing him to rear backward. Cell then took this opportunity to pierce his tail inside of 16's neck, planning to absorb him. The moment he saw the android smirk, he quickly realized his mistake. "Damn you, you let me impale you on purpose!"
16 gripped tightly on the tip of Cell's tail, pulling it out of his neck. He then grabbed onto it with his other arm and threw Cell over his tail, knocking the future android against the ground. Wrapping his arm around the tail tightly to make sure it couldn't go anywhere, he then slammed his foot down on the lower part of Cell's tail, more securing Cell couldn't escape. Having overheard Piccolo's advice earlier, he knew better than to attempt to rip off the tail. He put his free under his other arm's pit and gripped onto the free arm. He yanked his free arm back, detaching his forearm to reveal inner mechanisms, aiming those mechanisms directly at Cell. "Hell's Flash!"
Cell watched in horror as this mechanical android fired a burst of energy that completely consumed his body. In his only option for escape, he struggled to aim his hand directly at his own tail and fired a Death Beam to sever his own tail. Once he was free from 16's grip, he immediately pulled himself out of the blast range of the android's devastating attack. He stood back onto his feet and began to breathe heavily, the android far stronger than he'd anticipated. He was given very little time to rest when he saw 16 detach the forearm of his other arm, aiming the mechanisms of both his arm at the bio-android. Not only that, but he also sensed Piccolo's energy directly behind him.
"Now Cell, it's time to die!" Piccolo pressed both his wrists together and aimed his palms at Cell. "Light Grenade!" He fired a rather small ball of energy at Cell's back simultaneously as 16 fired another Hell's Flash. The moment both attack collided, the resulting collision forced the energy upwards, creating a spire of pure energy that could be seen for miles. It was impossible to sense any energy with this pillar of energy resonating so much of it.
Cell used this opportunity to burrow his way underground, giving the time to regenerate his wounds as well as begin charging up a Special Beam Cannon. There's no way I can absorb 17 or 18 with those pests in the way. Not to mention I don't have much energy left after this. I have no choice but to absorb Piccolo to replenish my energy. Lucky for me, he must be utterly exhausted by now.
By the time everyone noticed Cell was no longer within the spire of energy, it had been too late. Cell burst out of the ground and fired the Special Beam Cannon at Android 16. The beam pierced through the upper-left chest of the android's metal frame. The android dropped to one knee and grunted, pressing his hand to the wound. "Damn, that was too close to the bomb. I must prioritize stabilizing my systems." He glared at Cell as he watched the bio-android start making his way to Piccolo.
Tien and Yamcha, knowing they have no other choice but to take action now, flew into the air. Yamcha created a Power Ball and placed it right in front of Tien. Tien formed a triangle with his hands and fired a Tri-Beam directly at Cell, not only forcing Cell into the ground, but launching Yamcha's power ball directly into the bio-android. Android 18 watched in amazement as these 2 earthlings, who she and her brother had effortlessly taken down, were doing whatever they could to stop Cell. Yamcha and Tien continued this attack several times again and again until Tien was far too drained of energy to fire another Tri-beam. The three-eyed human collapsed to the ground as he barely had the strength to move, leaving Yamcha as the only capable fighter present at the moment.
Yamcha watches in horror as even after that bombardment of attacks, Cell simply climbed out of the hole that they drove him into. The bio-android looked directly at Yamcha before turning his head and walking over to Piccolo, regrowing his tail in preparation to absorb the namekian. Yamcha grit his teeth as he knew he had no other option, flying down to where Piccolo was at full speed and knocked the namekian out of the way with a Power Ball.
Tien, forcing himself up to see what exactly was going on, widened all 3 of his eyes as he saw his friend flying down to Cell. "Yamcha, no!"
Cell, sensing Yamcha closing in, quickly turned around, grabbing the human by the head and slamming him into the ground. "How unfortunate. I suppose it doesn't matter who I absorb so long as they grant me power." He prepared the stinger of his tail to impale Yamcha.
Yamcha turned his head, looking directly at Android 17 who was watching in horror. "Run 17! Get out of here now!" He was then immediately silenced the moment Cell pierced into his back. In mere moments, there was nothing left of Yamcha other than his Gi.
And that is the end of the most chaotic chapter I've ever written. It was incredibly difficult for me to write this chapter between my personal stuff, writer's block and just the chaos of trying to plan this out. This is likely the biggest split from the canon this story is going to get. I wanted to make this chapter go all the way to Cell absorbing 17, but I just didn't have the spirit to go that far. This chapter's already late so I figured I'd at least give you this much. This is a chapter I really do want to know your reaction and feedback on since I took some serious risks in this one that you're free to judge me on. That's all from me. Tune in next time for the next exciting chapter of Dragon Ball Z: A Saiyan's Tail.