(Author's note: I personally really enjoyed both writing and reading l this chapter. I hope you enjoy reading it too.
Had someone ask about a bit of continuity issue in an earlier chapter, and I think I may have uploaded the wrong file. I will fix it though, and appreciate the editing help.
I just finish chapter 18 tonight, and actually began 19. I like to stew on them for a bit before publishing.
If you are enjoying the SMG, Please check out my Angel origin story "A Solitary Angel." Here on fanfic.
Also stay tuned for Pikada and Bea's own stories too, eventually.
Thanks guys, hope you keep reading.
Beepx22)
Chapter 16
Flames bellowed up from a collapsed building. Inside an energy level faded to nothing, as a scream also faded away. Cell strode arrogantly down the soot streaked street. Seemingly randomly he'd hold his hand out, and another human structure would flex in on itself.
He whistled tunelessly to himself. He felt that soon he would flush 16 and 18 from their hiding spot, and once having destroyed the first, and absorbed the second, he'd finally be complete. He'd watch Goku die, he'd have the pleasure of ripping Vegeta's head from his shoulders. He'd happily kill Bea, again.
Cell was truly happy in this moment.
He had tracked his fellow androids to this city, but their trail grew cold here. Now though he was close. He could almost smell them.
But, he could also feel the fighters of this world approaching, the time to fight was not now, first he needed to reach his final augmentation. He hid his power, and went underground into the sewer to reconnoiter his enemies.
"18, you must flee. I will hold him off." 16 stood stoically in an empty room, which sat in the center of an abandoned home. Dust motes reflected brightly in the sunlight which streamed in through a hole in the roof. The entire structure shuddered as another building nearby was destroyed. Cell was getting closer.
"I can't leave you here, that bastard already got my brother, I can't let him destroy you too!"
"If you are absorbed this entire world is doomed. You must run."
18 just stood and stared stubbornly at him.
Minutes passed and nothing else happened outside. The random attack by Cell seemed to be over for now. Just as they were about to try and escape, two voices came from just outside.
"Maybe Cell's in here, Krillin."
"I don't know Yamcha, I guess we should look."
The door swung open, revealing the bald monk and the raven haired desert bandit. Both stared at the Androids.
"You!" snapped Yamcha.
"Easy, Yamcha." Hushed Krillin. He turned to look at the Androids. "Are you two okay?"
"Yes." Answered 16. 18 stood brooding.
"So," Krillin said while blushing, "do you two want to come with us? Maybe we can help protect you from Cell."
"That would be a good idea. 18?" 16 looked at her.
She sighed. "Fine." She looked up at the hole in the roof. "Let's go."
The ground exploded beneath her as Cell erupted into the ruins. "Got you."
16 was a blur of motion, hammering his fist into Cell's face. 18 panicked and tried to scramble away, but the green android had to strong of a grip. Cell's stinger expanded and opened into a giant maw, which shot towards the female android.
"DESTRUCTO DISK!"
A disk of energy appeared in each of Krillin's palms, and he threw them in quick order. The first sliced through the bulbous mouth at the end of Cell's tail, the other cleanly through the monster's elbow on the same arm that held the terrified Android 18. She scurried away as the arm fell free. Cell bellowed in anger, turning towards the short human. "You dare!"
Krillin gulped and stepped back, at his side Yamcha cupped his hands together.
"KAMEHAMEHA!" The blue energy wave burst from Yamcha's extended palms and slammed into Cell's chest. The beam faded away, leaving a enraged Cell, with little to no damage from the attack.
16 appeared behind him, clasping his arms under Cells and locking them together behind his head. "Take 18 and leave. I will hold Cell here."
Krillin quickly grabbed the Android around her waist and vaulted into the air, Yamcha was right on their heels. The rest of the companions met them, and Krillin quickly explained the situation.
"We'll stay with 16." Bea said. Pikada and Angel nodded. Yamcha gave Angel a worried look, and Bea filed that away for later. Below a Kamehameha wave pushed 16 through the wall of the ruined home that had until recently been their hideaway.
All at once, the three Saiyans flashed into their super Saiyan forms, and hurtled themselves towards the hovel, ready to face Cell.
Above them, the rest flew off quickly.
They landed in time to watch a new arm erupt from Cell's elbow. He flexed it a few times before looking over his shoulder at them. "Oh, it's you three again."
Bea said nothing. Instead he lowered his shoulders and rushed in. A flurry of fist struck out at the monster's head. His own arms moved in syncopation blocking the saiyan's attacks. Suddenly Cell kicked up with a claw like foot. Bea jinked, but the attack threw off his rhythm. Cell threw a jab with his right hand, which Bea stepped into. He dropped his left shoulder letting the punch slide over it, at the same time driving his brow ridge into Cell's face. Green blood erupted from his lips, and he stumbled back a step.
Meanwhile, Angel and Pikada had rushed to 16's side, helping the Android to his feet. His head was busted open, showing a tangle of wires and smoking circuits. He was having trouble maintaining his own balance.
"Thank you. Cell has gotten much stronger. You three should leave." 16 said as he finally regained his balance.
"No way. We have to end this." Pikada said. "Besides, big guy, we've kinda started to like you."
16 looked at him with what almost appeared to be a happy look. "Then in that case, let's go help your friend."
Just as he said this the remaining roof of the ruin that the fight was happening in exploded outward. Cell was doubled over and heading skyward. Right behind him flew Bea, his Golden aura rushing off of him like flames. 16's head tracked them. Then he suddenly collapsed. Angel and Pikada helped lower him to the ground, then they turned back to Bea just as he kicked the android, sending him higher and faster. He repeated this move a few more times. Then as the fight was nearly undetectable to their eyes a purple beam radiated upwards, silhouetting Cell's form against the cloudless sky.
"BURNING ICE BLAST!" A purple sphere formed in Bea's outstretched hand and exploded into a wave of violet energy. Cell crossed his arms in front of his face as it overtook him. Bea watched as the light faded away. Cell finally reached the apex of his flight and began to free fall towards the Earth.
Bea's hand shot out and grabbed him by the stump of his tail. Cell's eyes refused to focus. The blast hadn't killed him, but it seemed to have done some serious damage. Bea dangled him in front of him. He extended his free hand, and then the index and middle finger of that hand. He then angled the hand towards the junction of the creatures neck and torso.
Cell suddenly focused, a panic rose in his features. Bea smiled dryly. "Ice Needle." The words were spoken at barely a whisper. A white beam of energy shot out and punctured the androids neck. It blew the carapace away from his back. His eyes widened, then lost all focus. Bea released his grip and Cell crashed nearly a minute later into the ruined city.
Bea relaxed. His hair and eyes returned to normal.
'What the hell is going on?' Focus had returned to Cell in an instant. The world was upside down, and the bearded Saiyan was holding him in one hand. He need to regain the control of his body right now. 'What is he doing? That's an attack I've never seen from him before. Did he just say something? What was that? My autonomic systems were almost back online. Now I've lost signal to my body controls.' A flash of light and a moment of searing pain overloaded his sensors again. 'I've lost my external visual inputs, and my accelerometers are saying I'm falling. My systems are failing. Automatic reset imminent. Shut down in 3, 2, 1…'
'Reboot complete, bodywide communications restored, external sensors coming online.' Cell's eyes opened. All he could see though was brown. "Good." He said aloud. He flexed his toes, then his fingers. His automatic repair systems took over. His audio sensors picked up footsteps approaching. One set only. He turned his head, jerkily at first, then smoother as the repairs took place. Bea was approaching him. 'Better hurry this along.' His tail was next, the stinger erupting forth in a gush of green goop.
Bea stopped. "So you're still alive, are you?" He narrowed his eyes. "Well, you're a tougher bastard than I gave you credit for."
Cell got to his knees, then stood. He looked at the Saiyan. Bea took another step. His aura flashed gold again, the energy pulling rocks up from the ground. "I guess I should end this." He extended his right hand and grasped that wrist with his left hand. White energy swirled around. "END!"
Cell placed both hands near his face, fingers spread. Bea took another step closer.
"SOLAR FLARE!"
The entire world went up in a white explosion. Bea's attack died away as he covered his eyes, his concentration gone.
"Fuck!" Bea screamed.
As the shadows returned and his vision cleared, Bea saw that he was alone.
"That sneaky bastard." He turned to return to Angel and Pikada.
Bea returned to where the others were, including a heavily damaged Android 16.
"Cell got away again. How are you doing 16?"
"My systems… are more damaged than I originally thought. Critical…Critical…Critical system malfunction imminent. Please tell An…An…Android ei-ei-ei… 18 that I am sorry."
"You two try to find Cell. I'll take him to the Capsule Corp. if he can be repaired they're the ones to do it." He looked at 16, "You have nothing to be sorry for, not in this instance. Do you have a standby mode? Anything that can slow the degeneration of your circuits?"
"Yes. I will activate it now." As the last word passed his lips the android shut down.
Bea wasn't sure if he had went into standby, or if he had actually fallen prey to his damage. He grabbed the android's heavy armor, and placed two fingers to his forehead.
Then they were gone.
Pikada and Angel looked at each other then hopped into the sky.
Cell crawled through the sewer system, and his body repaired itself. His processors worked overtime trying to pinpoint what had actually happened. The android he knew would be close to his own power level, but that Saiyan had surprised him. Granted he wasn't at his best due to the runt's attacks, but he had expected to make short work of him this time.
No worries though, he was stronger now than ever, and was sure he'd destroyed 16, meaning 18 would be far easier to capture next time.
Dr. Briefs let out a cloud of cigarette smoke, then turned to look at the sudden noise behind him. "What was that?"
Bea knelt beside a busted up android. Moments earlier that space had been unoccupied. Very little shook the scientist though. He drew in another drag from his cigarette. "Bea. What do we have here?"
"His name is Android 16. He's been designed to kill Kakarot, but seems to be a good… guy… besides that. This damage is from Cell. Can you and Bulma fix him? He'd be a strong ally if you could."
Briefs walked to the still form. "This is a Giro design…" he said absentmindedly. "Very Advance…" He poked and prodded at some of the exposed mechanics. With a nod, he pointed to a large flat steel slab. "Put him up there if you can. I think we can fix him." He walked to a wall intercom, asked his wife to send Bulma to him, and then began hooking up a row of computer monitors to the motionless android.
He turned back to Bea, but the Saiyan was already gone.
"Let me go!" 18 screeched at Krillin as he carried her over the sea. Yamcha flew slightly behind them in formation. They were approaching Kame-House, which seemed as safe of a place to hide as any.
"Not until you promise to come with us. If you go back you'll be destroyed, or worse absorbed. And, I…" he dropped to a whisper, "really wouldn't want to see either happen to you." He blushed as he finished. 18 looked a little shocked.
"I won't. I'll fly with you. I promise." She said, her voice taking on a sweet tone.
"Okay, then." He released her. She fell into formation with the two humans. And continued to soar towards the small island.
"Any luck?" Bea asked as he appeared between Angel and Pikada.
"Don't do that!" they both yelled at him.
"Sorry." He held up both hands in apology. "No sign of Cell yet?"
"Nothing." Angel answered softly.
"Not even a little." Finished Pikada.
Bea gazed downwards at the ruined city. He took in a deep breath. "Do you guys feel any life down there?"
"No. But most humans only have a power level of between 3 and 10, with all the interference, and the possibility of hardened shelters there could be some down there still." Pikada replied.
"Bea, you can't possibly be thinking of…" Angel began.
Bea interrupted her, "Thinking of sacrificing a few humans to end this threat? I certainly could be thinking that."
"You can't!" She protested. But she could see a war going on behind her mentor's eyes.
He looked at her sternly, but his voice was low and frigid, "Look at what Frieza did the galaxy. This Cell is partly made of Frieza. Imagine if he got loose in the Galaxy. What are a few humans, what are the inhabitants of this world when compared the universe at large?"
Angel was silent. Tears welled at the corners of her eyes. He realized that for her, this was home now."
Bea waited for nearly a minute. Then he raised his hands above his head. Violet energy danced from palm to palm, coalescing into a small sphere. He took another deep breath and the orb expanded. Bea felt a desperate sadness expand over him.
Pikada spoke up. "They're friends. They've given us a home, a place for the restless to rest."
The energy expanded again. Bea shut his eyes against the words of his oldest friend. Home. A word that had never meant much to saiyan vagabond. He squeezed his eyes harder." They could end this now. Forever.
"Bea…" Pikada moved into what would be the path of the attack. "I can't let you do this. If you destroy this world, then are you any better him?"
Tears formed at the corner of his own eyes, surprising the Saiyan. "Sometimes you have to cut off a cancerous limb to save the body." The sphere grew again.
Pikada's hair flashed golden and his eyes became a brilliant energy laden teal. He held both of his hands out, shoulder width apart. A turbulent red energy began to form. Golden energy flew through the crimson maelstrom.
Angel watched in abject horror, years of routine keeping her quiet.
Bea's hair flashed into his super Saiyan form. His eyes narrowed.
"I won't allow it, Bea. I'll destroy you if I have too."
Bea smirked. "I believe you'd try your best. You might even succeed." He looked past Pikada to the Earth. He then took a deep breath in through his nose, held it for a few moments, they let it out through his mouth. "But you're right. It's too soon for this." He released the energy he'd gathered and it faded away. His features returned to normal. Pikada followed suite. Angel let out a sigh of relief.
"But when it seems there is no other choice, I'll do what needs doing, no matter the cost."
Below, in the dank and dark sewer, Cell made his way to the ocean.