Chapter 4: Perfection
The seven space pods sailed past Pluto. Even though he wasn't awake, a small smile crept onto Vegeta's face. He was nearing his prey.
Kami looked up in the sky. "They're coming!"
"Who?" Tien asked.
"Saiyans. It must have been that transmission from a year ago, the task force to kill the 'Saiyasnatcher.'"
"Oh, that. Did we ever figure out what the Saiyansnatcher is, anyway."
Kami gaped. "You didn't put it together- the Saiyansnatcher is Cell. He goes in, or went in, at night, drinks them, and leaves. He kills and destroys anything that poses a threat, so they don't have his name."
Tien stared. "No, that can't be right. The Saiyansnatcher eats his victims. Cell just kills."
"The clothes are empty, and the Saiyans assume that they've been eaten- Tien, how could you be so stupid? You were the one who saw him drink that Saiyan, after all, through his tail. It's the same thing. Havn't you noticed that there's been no attacks this past year? The very same year that Cell has been cooped up in that mad scientist's hideout for security reasons."
"Can they find him?" Tien was mentally whacking himself in the head, but there was no time for regrets.
"I think not. Cell masks his ki incredibly well. Even I have no idea as to the extent of his true power. And Dr. Gero has no power to speak of." Kami rubbed his forehead. "This standoff tires me, Tien. I wonder how long it will last, how many of my planet's people must be destroyed before we can end this. Why did this have to happen?"
"Vegeta threatened us with a force we had no hope of defeating. Goku changed sides to work the deal from the other end, and try to ensure humanity's survival. Speaking of which, how long does 'till Vegeta and Goku arrive?"
"We have six days. Cell must be warned of the threat-he will have to much more cautious if he wants to be safe. Vegeta and Goku live off the offical government payroll. I doubt they've done much but train. Cell is strong, and we are far more powerful than I ever hoped for- I never thought that you, Krillin and Yamcha could break your limits the way you have. Your improved multiform will be a real asset in the next battle."
"Thanks, Kami. But how can we warn him? Dr. Gero is so secretive about that place, and from what Lunch can tell, 16 and 19 have programming blocks emplaced against them ever revealing the location to outsiders. According to her, there's an entire matrix that must be completed for the internal system to have clearance to have anything to do with the lab."
Kami bowed his head. "I don't know, Tien. We must hope that Cell knows of the threat, or that he can handle it if it comes to his doorstep."
"Alright, you've dodged that punch. Because you're shorter then me, what opening does this give you?" Cell demanded of Akula. They were doing a slow-motion pantomime of that day's lesson, energy-free fighting.
"Hit to the groin or gut, sir."
"Correct, which is preferable?"
"Groin on weaker or untrained opponents, for the pain. Gut on stronger opponents, for a better chance of forcing them to double up."
"Correct. Now, I've doubled up. With no energy powers, how do you follow up?"
"Kick to the chin."
"-ON enemies whose neck you can snap. Otherwise, you..."
"Hammerfist to the head, try to get them down on the ground, or knee to the chin for more power. If they fall on their front, pin the arms and break them if you can. Fall on the back, strike the stomach to knock their wind out and then pin them on the ribcage or collarbone."
"If the enemy falls in the latter position, what should you watch out for?"
"The legs. Pinion them immediately, or he can throw you and get back up while you're at a disadvantage."
"Exactly. If you have an advantage, press it as far as you can. Chutzpah will get you a lot farther with less pain than cowardice will. Alright, we're stating with dodged punch. Let's go."
Twenty minutes later, Dr. Gero's cackling laugh broke into Cell's mind. He recognized that laugh from a year ago, and knew what it meant. He had found Android 18. Cell smiled and turned off the gravity. "Training's off, Akula, we have a development."
"Cell?"
"Come on," the android growled. "we haven't got all day. I'll explain as we fly."
At the mountian aera near where Android 17 had been found a year earlier, Dr. Gero had dragged Android 18's deactivated body out of a pile of shattered rock. Cell alighted and moved forward, a hungy glint in his eyes. After all this waiting, perfection would be his.
Cell's tail widened into the funnel as Dr. Gero yanked Akula back. Imperfect Cell sucked up android 18, bringing him to the level of his final form. And every Saiyan scouter within a hundred miles shattered simultaniously. A dome of green energy erupted over him, as this transformation was far more complex then his last. Power burst over him, flooding him, filling him with unimaginable strength, and finally sating his hunger.
In his mind, the little voice spoke up again. *My time has come- thanks for the ride.* Then it exploded. The postions of the two mentalities changed, the discretion, logic, and confidence of his perfect form coming to the fore. It absorbed the knowlede and memories of his old mind, then chewed it up and spit it out. Perfection has no exceptions.
As the energy faded, Perfect Cell was hovering in the blasted crater. Just then, Tien and Chao-tzu flew up.
"Cell!" Chao-tzu's squeaky voice urst out. "Is that- you? Wh- wh- what happened? What's with the crater?"
Cell laughed. "Surprised you, didn't I. You see, I have absorbed the last required android. I am now perfect, and any Saiyans that come will find more than they-"
"NO TIME!" Dr. Gero bellowed. "Surpress your ki, Cell, and we'll leave. You have acieved your final form, but you're not perfect. I must figure out your flaw."
"Doctor, is this nessicary? I have no equals. I am the ultimate android, and I can rid this palnet of Saiyans at any time I wish."
"Maybe. Maybe not. But the fact remains that you are beatable in this form, and thus, imperfect. You're effecivly unbeatable, but that's not the same thing as truly unbeatable, you brainless invertibrate!" spittle was flying from his mouth in rage.
"As you wish. Is it nessicary that I come return to the lab?"
"No. I have all your readings on file. You're more powerful than I predicted Perfect Cell would be, but I can compensate."
"Very well. Akula, you and I are going to the lookout to train. When the Saiyans arrive, doctor, I'll return to the lab. Unless you have en epiphany in the mentime as to my supposed imperfection." With that, he rose into the air and sped away. All the others followed, with the sole exception of Dr. Gero. A slight sneer split his face as he watched them vanish.
"Fools. They don't know what they're doing." he smiled. "But I do."
On the lookout, everyone was trying to take stock of the new Cell.
"So, Cell, what's that new form of yours like?" Krillin piped up, hoping to break the ice. "It's a lot more- um- whatchamacallit..." he scratched his head.
"Anthropomorphic." Puar squeaked. "Is it more human in mind too?"
"My new body? In a word, perfect."
"Is it stronger than the last one?"
A smirk appeared on the humanoid face. "You have no idea."
Nobody noticed the soft thumping as Android 16 walked out onto the Lookout's patio. The green-armored android assessed the situation. Everyone was gathered around Perfect Cell, who was simply hovering there, looking pleased with himself. "Cell. Why did you come here?"
Cell rotated to face him. "Ah, Android 16. How nice of you to drop by. I'm here merely to free myself from the boredom of the lab. I'll return to protect my creator when the Saiyans arrive; I wouldn't want him to be killed before he finishes upgrading me."
Kami was looking at Cell intently. "What did you do with those Saiyans you took, Android?"
"Kami!" Puar yelped "You know what he did! It's war!"
"Your cynicism does you credit, namek. Now that I've reached my final form, there's no point in hiding it anymore. I ate them. Dr. Gero made me able to metabolize a complex enzyme that can collapse almost any organic substance- except my own, of couse. I was able to liquify them into the bioessence that my lesser forms feed off to to gain strength. In fact, the Saiyans made me so strong that I am far more powerful than Dr. Gero had ever dared to hope for." Silence descended as Cell finished speaking.
Finally, Krillin spoke up. "That's disgusting."
"Maybe. But logical. Why merely kill when you can kill and add to your own strength?" He smiled as no response emerged. "Does anyone want to train?"
"How do we know you won't eat us?" Krillin asked incredulously. He hadn't expected a response, but he got one anyway.
"Simple. I only like you as friends." No one laughed.
"Good one, Cell." The bald monk sat down and looked at the others. "I dunno about this, guys. I'm not sure if I want him on my side."
"I'd prefer that he be with us than against us." Yamcha put in simply. Tien and Chao-tzu nodded.
"Besides, we can't properly kick him out now." Lunch put in. "He knows where the lookout is, and besides, we've had an understanding for so long. If SOMEONE..." she glared at Tien "had gotten some proper explanations eight years ago, then maybe rejecting him would be an option. But now he's too far involved to just try and expel him."
"Is this the considered opinion of all of you?" When nobody objected, Krillin extended his hand. "I guess you're in. Welcome to the club, Cell."
*An act of acceptance- good. The farther the fools believe I'm on their side, the better.* he shook the hand once. "Thank you, judge Krillin."
"You're welcome Cell!" Krillin replied in a high voice. Cell watched with satisfaction as Krillin turned away, shaking his partially mangled hand in pain.
"So." Tien spoke up. "You know, I don't think any of us have actually seen you fight, Cell. Could you give us a demonstration?"
"Even if you had seen me, it wouldn't have mattered. My fighting style changes with each level, and I only achieved perfection today. If you want a demonstration, though- Akula." The demi-saiyan, who had been sitting in the corner, snapped to attention. "Show them what I can teach."
Yamcha watched as the two of them got into stance, Cell with has upper arms against his side and the lower arms raised so his fists were paralell with his elbows. Akula had gotten into standard martial arts pose.
Cell kicked by shoulder-rushing Akula, who ducked and kicked. The blow would have cut any human's legs out from under him, but the android didn't even notice. Doing a backflip and extending his wings, he fired a ki ball at his student, which was quickly blocked. As Cell alighted, Akula jumped into the air, closing the distance between them with a flying kick.
Yamcha winced a second before the anticipated event happened. There was a loud crack as Cell swatted his student aside like a fly. Akula went flying into one of the walls of the lookout, but Cell pressed his advantage. Blurring out, he reappeared a few inches from his student and struck out with his left foot, pinning him by his neck to the wall. The right foot began to lash out, delivering a deadly series of kicks at an incredible speed. Blood was running from Akula's face as he tried to pull up some kind of defense, but the beating was too much. He couldn't pull it together.
"Defend yourself!" Cell shouted without letting up. "There's a way to reverse this attack! Surely my former self taught you better than this."
"Cell!" Tied grabbed the android's arm. "Let up! Your old self was a blowhard, I'm sure he must have just forgotten that." Cell's foot stopped, letting Akula slide down the wall. He left a bloody trail. "Cell, you really need hold back. You could have killed him."
"So what's your point?" Cell asked. The smug tone of voice hadn't left. "If half-saiyans are anything like the genuine article, bringing them to the brink of death and healing them should make the stronger. Then maybe I could teach him enough to undo Imperfect Cell's incompitence." An ugly look passed over his face "Akula? How are you?"
"Never been better, SIR!" came the reply.
*Training phrase. So old Cell did teach him some things after all.* A shadow passed over Krillin's face as he watched the two.
"Again." Cell and Akula turned, backs to each other, about ten feet apart.
Akula started first this time, doing a faily decent handstand and flipping, firing off a blast at Cell's back. Cell spun and knocked it aside, then rose lazily into the air. He dove at Akula, who rose to the bait. The two of them hit in midair, erupting in a flurry of blows and blocks. Akula couldn't get at Cell, but Cell was holding back, waiting for an ideal opening. His student was far weaker than him, he could afford to wait.
Akula finally landed a hit. He had fainted back, then shoved a kick right inside Cell's defenses, catching him right in the face. Cell's head twitched back a little bit, then snapped forward with a mad look in it's eyes. Ignoring Akula's attemps at a follow up, he extended both his arms and boxed his student's ears. The boy reeled and fell out of the air, Cell diving after him.
But he never hit the ground. Three feet off the deck, he got his head together and blurred out. Cell landed with the usual squeak as Akula appeared above him, driving both feet into his domed head. Cell's neck buckled for a second, then snapped back as Akula tried to leap off. Cell smirked up at his student's predicament. One sneakered foot had gotten caught in Cell's headdress, jamming him to his taget. With one smooth sweep of his hand, Cell wrenched him off and slammed him into the ground, ending their second match.
"Better, but you're not paying enough attention to your target. My head is almost made to get feet wedged in it."
"Ummm... Cell? He's not really paying attention." Krillin repiled. "I think you broke his collarbone."
"One year, and a he's that weak? He has a lot of catching up to do."