Chapter Two: All in Good Time
A royal table split under King Vegeta's fist. It was now eleven years since they had taken Earth, but the infrernal attacks that had begun seven years ago hadn't stopped. Nothing had deterred them, even though they had calmed down somewhat after the 3rd class massacre. They couldn't even get a picture of the attacker.
"Get me my son." He said to one of his courtiers. The toadie nodded, bowed, and hurried out. A minute later he returned with Crown Prince Vegeta.
"Yes, father?"
"Shut up. You know that planet that you captured, the one where you got your wife from? The one that you said would be SO EASY to control, even though you had to BARGAIN FOR IT?"
Vegeta glowered at his father. The king didn't understand the threat that his son had been under. Vegeta had no doubt that on that day, eleven years ago, he would have died if he hadn't taken the steps that he had. Kakarott's defection was the only thing that put him in a bargaining position at all. "Is this important? My wife is currently in considerable distress."
"You mean she's with another heir?" King Vegeta snorted "At least you've done something right."
His son bristled "I defeted Freeza! I became a Super Saiyan! I took a species for you, and THAT'S ALL YOU CAN FIND TO PRAISE?"
"You know that you saved our planet. However, these attacks have continued for seven years. If the human race is so easy to control, why does every update bring news of more deaths by this mysterious force?"
"Simple." Vegeta smirked. "It's not human. It's something else, it must be. No human could be so powerful yet undetectable. And since you are so adamant," he grinned wider, "I'm going to take the finest force I can assemble and hunt this thing down myself."
"What- you're going to risk your own life-"
"You wanted a solution, father. I will provide one." The sarcastic steel in his voice was obvious to all listeners.
"As you wish." *He's made his own bed. If he dies, his son will be my heir. Simple as that. Vegeta needs to realize that he's not invincible. Or indespensable.*
"We will depart in twenty hours."
"Here we are." Cell was still in his lowest state; Dr. Gero had been yet unable to locate the other androids, despite years of methodical searching, although he was sure that they were within one square mile- he had narrowed it down, a couple hundred feet a day. "Drop your shields."
Androids 16 and 19 complied as Cell did the same. *Hope there's no Saiyans nearby.*
"What now?" Android 16's expressionless voice asked.
"We wait."
"You're late." Cell said twenty minutes later as a scarred man in orange gi flew up to them.
"Sorry about that. We felt the power, but Tien had forgotton that it was a signal. It took Kami to jog his memory." He extended a hand. "Yamcha."
Cell smiled and shook the hand "Cell."
Yamcha winced as cell let go, and drew his mangled hand back. "Was that really necessary?"
"Stop whining. I left a few bones intact."
"So what brings you here after all this time? Finally decided to get on the side of the angels?"
"No. But Dr. Gero sends a peace offering, he thinks we may form an alliance in a short time."
Yamcha laughed and scratched the back of his head. "That's good. And who're your friends?"
"They are the peace offering."
"Wha-"
"They're more of his creations, my 'brothers' you could say. Androids 16 and 19, say hello to Yamcha."
"Hello." The goliath and the fat Chinaman chorused.
"Ummm... hi." Yamcha motioned Cell away, "Is this really appropriate? Giving us thinking beings?"
Cell rolled his eyes. Humans. "Of course. They wanted to join you."
"Why?"
"They want to fight. Besides, I'm much stronger than they are. Unless there's a real fight, they'll just sit around gathering dust. I figure you can train them or something."
"Cool. Thanks." His face brightened. "Hey, do you want to train with us? I think we could show you some cool moves!"
"No. When I get stronger, I'll join you officially, and I'll train with you, but I have a little more strength to accumulate and a big thing to do before I ascend."
"Woah! You ascend in levels, the way Saiyans do?"
"Not really. I nned to do certian things to ascend." An insane scream burst into his mind, followed by howls of evil laughter. "Sorry, I have to go. Just tell them what to do."
He spun and flew off, leaving Yamcha hovering with the two androids.
*Dr. Gero! What's happened?* he shouted through the mindlink.
*CELL! Not so loud. You''re forgetting that your transmissions get stronger as you do. Cell, I've found him!*
"Android 17?*
*The one and only.*
*Be there in a minute.* With that, Cell severed the link. Ginning, he thought to himself *After Seven years, I'm finally going to ascend! I've capped out on my power for this body- I'm far stronger than Gero thought that I could be.* With that, he put all of his energy into flying.
He landed on at the north pole, the prearranged meeting spot. There was ice and snow all around him, but the cold didn't penetrate even his lowest form. There was also Androids 17 and 20. Android 17 was lying on the ground, very deactivated.
Cell grinned and brought his tail forward. The stinger widened to the funnel, and he quickly vacuumed up Android 17.
The power! Suddenly he felt like a live wire, stronger and more sated than ever before. Energy poured out of his very pores as his body bent, ascending to the next level. In a brilliant green flash, it was all over. His face now had a proper mout, and his face was more human. His body had grown far more massive, and his tail was even more powerful than before. He felt it- he was strong. Not invincible, but strong. His power had squared, multiplying upon itself- If Tien had been his equal six years ago, he had ascended far beyond him now. Dr. Gero was laughing.
"Cell, Cell, you never cease to amaze me. Your ascended form is powerful, nearly as powerful as your perfect form should have been. All those years of devouring Saiyans-"
He was cut off as Cell clutched his stomach and roared. He was powerful, yes, but the hunger had returned. He had been so full for so long, he could feel the thirst tearing at his insides, demanding to be quenched. He wanted power, and he would have it.
Dr. Gero's head snapped around. "Saiyans! That don't have any bases here, but they'll be here in a few minutes. Hide your ki and we can give them the slip."
Up on the lookout, the two androids were being introduced. Tien, Chao-tzu, Yamcha, Krillin, Puar, Kami, Master Roshi, Oolong, Lunch, and Mr. Popo were all glad to see two new additions to their ranks- Dr. Gero's androids, at that.
"So," Krillin asked as he extracted his hand from 16's "what do you two do? All of Gero's androids do something."
"I fight."
"Really? Good! What kind of fighting?"
"Hit me."
"What?"
"Hit me."
"If you say so." Krillin drew back his fist and threw a punch into 16's waist. The android didn't move.
"Harder."
Krillin tried again, throwing all this muscle into it. Again, his target didn't even feel it.
"Good."
"He doesn't talk much, does he?" Krillin asked, jerking his thumb at 19. 16 smiled.
"He doesn't do much, either."
"What're his abilities?"
"Use an energy attack on him." Krillin formed a small ki ball "Stronger." The ki ball expanded. "Much stronger." Krillin nodded. The ball evaporated, and Krillin put his hands together.
"KA-ME-"
19's eyes followed Puar as she flew past him.
"HA-ME-"
19 turned his back completly, still oblivious.
"HA!" Krillin extended his palms, sending the Kamehamha wave directly at Android 19. The Android moved with incredible speed as he extended his palms to deflect the blast. Chao-tzu gasped- Krillin's energy was huge, and android 19 didn't appear to have any defense. The wave exploded against the fat hands, with no effect. 19 was smiling.
"What the-"
16 cut the bald monk off. "Keep it up. He can do this as long as you can."
After about a minute, Krillin gave out. "He didn't even feel it! How did he do that?" He glared up at the huge machine.
"His palms absorb energy. He's now stronger than when you began."
"Wish I could do that."
"As do we all. When will the fighting begin?"
Krillin glanced up at his ally. "I guess Cell didn't explain this one, big guy- we're on standby. We're waiting for the Saiyans to do something stupid, but until then, we have to train. Do androids benefit from training?"
"While our musles do not increase, we can learn how to perform tasks more efficently. We can also learn new techniques, within our limitations."
"So, does that increase your overall power level?"
"I do not think that power level is a consideration for abiotic beings."
"Ah, well, anyway," Krillin looked around. "Wanna spar?"
Dr. Gero was typing, as ever, when Cell came down into the lab. His newly improved android had been going after Saiyans, but the harvest had been slim. Only four. Also, Cell noticed that the bioessence benefited him a lot less in his new form.
"Will you be able to find Android 18 soon?"
Gero nodded vaguely. "Yes. There is very little ground that I havn't covered. But Cell? We have a time limit."
Cell spun. "Time limit?" he growled "What time limit?"
"I've intercepted a transmission- the fools think I can't read their language. Prince Vegeta is coming to earth, with a hand-picked team of warriors. This is the same prince who struck the deal eleven years ago, remember?"
"What does that have to do with me?"
"It's a search-and-destroy mission. They're here to kill the 'Saiyansnatcher', the thing that preys on them and eats the bodies. You, in other words."
"Let them come, I'm ready for them."
The doctor rolled his eyes "The psychology on this level leaves a lot to be desired. Cell, you're tough- but not nearly as tough as you think you are. Prince Vegeta and Kakarott AKA Goku are coming. Both of them can rise to Super Saiyan. Rumor has it that Kakarott can become something beyond Super Saiyan. And that's just two of them- the other five arn't to be sneezed at either. You're going to have to play it safe. As soon as I find 18, I'm going to see if I can see what stopped you from being perfect in all those alternate timelines. There's new rules here- Until you achieve perfection, you are to avoid conflict. After you achieve perfection, you will still play as defensivly as possible until I figure out where the error lies and fix you. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, Doctor," Cell grumbled. *I'm invincible- why should I have to take orders from him? Why should I wait? Bring the Super Saiyans, I'll take all comers.*
*No you won't.* Said the little voice in the back of his mind. *They'll take you- gang up, beat you, pound you until not one cell remains. If those two can become Super Saiyans, who says they can't teach others?*
*Who ARE you?* Then he remembered *Six years ago- you are, indeed, louder. But what are you? Why are you in my head?*
*I'm emerging. Next time, I start to speak, I won't stop. See you then.*
"We have a year." Dr. Gero said simply. "Starting tomorrow, I will go on looking for Android 18. You will occupy youself constructively down here. You will not release any major amount of power for anything save dire extremety."
Cell settled himself down, then stood up again. "Doctor?"
"Yes?"
"Why did you give those androids to the Z fighters? Aren't you planning to use them after the war for Earth is over?"
"Cell," the Doctor was looking very grave "We need the Z fighers. You are powerful, massively strong, and I have confidence that I can make you what you were meant to be- the perfect being. But there is still only one of you. There are over thirty thousand Saiyans on this planet currently, controlling over two hundred million humans. No matter how much power you had, that many would destroy you. We need them to aid us in our plans, to be in places that you can't be at the same time. Besides, my enemy- Goku- is now their enemy too, even if he does intervene on their behalf. Sooner or later, for them to win, he must die. Since the destruction of the Red Ribbon Army, I have contemplated his destruction alone. If his friends are now his enemies, they are likewise our allies."
"Now, Goku, make sure that you stay healthy, alright? I don't want you to hear about you consuming whole snack-food stores like you did back on Earth. And be sure to bring at least two changes of clothes..."
"Hey, dad, do you think you'll be allright with Prince Vegeta? I mean, he's the one who forced the bargian back- you know."
"I know son." Goku smiled. "Everything'll be alright, it's just a little search-and-destroy mission back on-"
"SEARCH AND DESTROY?" ChiChi's voice splintered glass. Suddenly, she had her husband backed up against the wall, hands on her hips. "And what, pray, are you searching and destroying?"
"Nothing. Prince Vegeta just wants a little mop-up on something that's been eating Saiyans in their sl-"
"EATING SAIYANS IN THEIR SLEEP? No. You are NOT GOING THERE! Call Prince Vegeta RIGHT NOW and tell him-"
"Shhh, shhh, ChiChi, it's OK." He put his ams around her and drew her close. "It can only kill very weak Saiyans. Me and Vegeta'll be just fine. You'll see."
She looked up at him, tears in her face tear-streaked. "But if something should happen- Gohan- Goten- what will happen to us?"
"Gohan is almost grown up. As soon as he finds a mate, he'll be everything he's supposed to be. He's a gifted warrior and is very good against the Ice-jins. And Goten is growing up. Besides," he laughed "I can take care of myself. Nothing bad will happen, trust me."
As the pulled each other closer, Goku glanced at his son. "Gohan- would you mind giving me and your mother a few minutes alone?"
Gohan nodded and quickly exited.