FPM : (cries) WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS FRIGGIN' WORLD ? I DON'T UPDATE, PEOPLE DON'T REVIEW…(sobs)…I need to poke someone.
16: …I'll let you poke me if you get rid of every single picture that you have of Jerome.
FPM: (stares) …screw this world—I'M GOING TO SUPREME KAI! ...
Cell: and how?
FPM: erm…kill me Cell! (evil grin) You know you want to….
Cell: (eviler grin) hell yeah…
16: NO! POKE ME, FPM! I'LL LET YOU FOR FREE!
Cell: (pouts) Why can't I kill her?...
16: I'll…call up Dr. Gero and tell him you've been having fun with the street-light pole!
Cell: THAT'S A LIE! NO! …MY DAD'll KILL ME! (sigh)…I'll let FPM live—Truce.
16: (phew…)
FPM: (says to 17) let's play follow the leader!...Ooh, I wonder what that is…(crawls into what looks like a cave)
Cell: Okay, 16. All you have to do is bake me a muffin—poppy-seed, no other—and I'll never even THINK about killing FPM, kay? Never!
16: mmm…Okay. (turns up oven and sticks in muffin)
-----
FPM: …it's hot in here…hey, there, little buddy! Hey, you look kinda like a muffin…and it's getting hotter…so, what's your name?
B.Wad: …
FPM: …Oh well. I'll call you Frank. …Don't you think it's getting hot? I dunno 'bout you but I would like a muffin…So, uh, Frank…live around here?
B.Wad: …
FPM: hmm…not much of a talker, are you? Ya know, I like 16—I really do. I just tease him with those pictures…no one's really looked at 'em. You know what they are? Just a stick figure with a circle on top…so it kinda looks like a chef 'cause I made the circle muffin-shaped, which would be like putting you on its head…but there were a lot of hotties in France…the worst part was that if you tried to hit on one, you couldn't tell if they were French or whatnot because French and our guys wear the same things, even though the labels are in English…Jerome's not real. I should probably tell 16—Woh! You Got BIG, Frank! Whud you do in the last minute?—Hey, did you steal my French chocolate? …Uh, wow…it's hot in here…so I'll actually take off my jacket…
B.Wad: …
FPM:…man I'll get a tan! …whew, that rhymed! Tight!...GOSH, it's so darned hot…Frank, you'll probably think I'm doing a strip show or something…lol, that's actually kinda funny!...Ew, I'm all sweaty… but yeah, that was funny! …Hahaha- ha…haha…ha…(falls asleep)
B.Wad: …(POP!)…
-----
Cell: …What was that?
16: huh?
Cell: It was like a …'pop' sound, I dunno…do you think the muffin's okay?
16: definitely…I think…
Cell: (peers into oven) wow, that's a big muffin…
16: …maybe I added too much yeast…
Cell: yeah, maybe…(continues staring into oven…)
-----
FPM: (wakes up) huh? EW! Wow, I'm like TOTALLY sweaty…yick!...it's hot for GUYS to be all sweaty like they just worked out, but girls?...ni-yick…
B.Wad: don't you worry. Girls only sparkle.
FPM: …YOU TALK!
B.Wad: among other things…I just KNOW I could have been useful for the cure of cancer because my past research in the fiel—
FPM: yeah, yeah…hey, you popped! …
B.Wad: yes, sadly I'll be coming to an end…there's a man outside this oven that wants to eat me…I think his name is Sel…
FPM: Nah, it's 'Cell'…Woh, Wait…did you say "oven"?
B.Wad: yeah. Why else would it be so damn hot?
FPM: Hey! Don't get mouthy with me!
B.Wad: Sorry…my brain's melting.
FPM: (stares at muffin) -HH! You're Going To DIE!
B.Wad: Yeah…So?
FPM: So? So NO! …I'll Save you, FRANK!
B.Wad:…Call me what you want, but we're going to die. I'm going to die—first, peacefully in this oven with a friend—that's you—and then a second time in the bowels of the dreaded Sel…It's nice to have a friend like you to die with.
FPM: HUH? First, how can you die a second time? …
B.Wad: first my soul dies…then my body dies. And yes, you're coming with me (evil glint in eyes)
FPM: WHA-? NO WAY! I WANNA BE WITH 16! WHAT ARE YOU THINKING OF DOING? NONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONO! AIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII…. (bangs on oven door) LET ME OUT! 16! I LOVE YOU! NO!
-----
Cell: …No, Like a really, Really, Reeeaally BIG muffin…
16: …whaaatever you say…
Cell: (stares inside oven)…Oh My God…
16: What?
Cell: Oh, nothing…(still staring into oven) …it's just that I don't think I'll be able to finish this muffin. You packed too many calories into it…
16: Huh? You wimp, it's not even an inch bigger than last time…yeah, maybe a half-inch, but—
Cell: (blinks)…Uh…where's FPM?
18: she went off playing hide-and-seek.
17: no, follow the leader.
18: …how would you know?
17: I was playing…and I don't know where she is…I think she was talking about a cave…
16: (sweatdrop)
Cell: (peers at oven) did she say what KIND of cave?
18: don't worry. There's one outside…
17: Nah, that's the gopher hole. I put some poisons in it to kill 'em—I mean to knock them out…16 wouldn't let me kill them…don't worry, guys. It looks big, but only Vegeta can fit in it…
16: But…she's smaller than Vegeta…by a lot…
(sinks in)
17: …Oh shit.
(all go running outside…meanwhile…)
-----
FPM: NO! 16, DON'T GO OUTSIDE! NO!
B.Wad: AHAHAHA! …AII! I'm splitting into two!
FPM: HAHAHA! (stabs muffin) That's my fork you're dealing with! DIE! DIE! DIEEE!...
B.Wadp1: I love the world!
B.Wadp2: I HATE THE WORLD!
FPM: (watches in morbid curiosity)
B.Wadp2: YOU DIE!
B.Wadp1: NOO!
B.Wadp2: AHAHA! (eats B.Wadp1) (morphs)
B.WAD: hello, FPM. If I die, please spare me the Sel.
FPM: (sweatdrop) Cell.
B.WAD: Cell. …Oh, okay. Well, please spare me the Cell.
FPM: (looks at script) what's the 'B.' for?
B.WAD: you'll know later. Now, the oven is going to kill you…please don't die, I've enjoyed your company.
FPM: …(sigh) my boyfriend ran away. I don't think I gave him his pop-tarts…
B.WAD: well, my time's not almost up…but you…yours is coming to an end…get out while you still can…
FPM: Huh? (grows dizzy) …It's…too…hot, …too…h-(falls unconscious)
-----
Cell: (from inside gopher hole) why am I the one in here again? Wasn't 16 her boyfriend?
17: he's getting a shovel...no, never mind. He's back.
16: COME OUT, CELL! WE CAN USE YOUR HEAD AS THE SHOVEL!
Cell: -WHAT?
16: C'MON! It's for FPM!
Cell: …who?
16: …you know she'll kill you for that.
Cell: psh, granted she's still alive…
16: AIGH! DIE! (grips Cell's ankle and…)
-----
Crystal has dosed off not long after her thoughts had ended.
-----
Oven: BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
-----
Bulma woke up lying alone. She pulled the covers over her and tugged on Vegeta's pillow so she could lay on it. Sighing, she curled up; she had forgotten that she had never woken with Vegeta next to her…Vegeta…
"…Vegeta… Why do you always leave?"
A small tear rolled down the side of her cheek and onto the pillow…She glanced to the side and watched as the droplet sank into the pillow. Her heart fell into a deep pit—she knew she should have prepared herself to wake alone like she always did, but it had seemed different, seemed…
"Rahg,blast it!"-Bulma's head perked up when she heard Vegeta's voice.
A door opened; she laid it back down and peered through slits in her eyes. She watched Vegeta storm out of the bathroom with a toothbrush in hand. He went to the side of the bed Bulma was on and watched her as she breathed softly. Suddenly his angered self was gone and he sat next to her, eyes still observing. He lifted his hand and placed it on her shoulder; it ran up and down her arm softly, assuringly…Bulma almost twitched at his unusually soft touch. Vegeta set the toothbrush on the table lightly as he crawled into bed, next to Bulma, and brought his arm under his head. His breathing softened as it seemed he had drifted off to sleep.
Bulma waited a few moments before she decided to move. Her logical self was screaming to let him pay for leaving her alone, to make him suffer…but her heart wouldn't allow it. She turned around slowly so as not to disturb his sleep and stared at his face which her hands soon began to caress. Carefully she brought their lips together and paused. She then let his lips go and snuggled close to his chest, covering him with the covers also.
Vegeta's eyes opened slightly as he watched his wife sleep. A faint smile appeared and he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to his heart.
-----
Cell continued having disagreements with the two other…selves that were in his head. He wasn't sure about what was going on, or what he should do—listen to the pretty angel that told him to let the two of them go or to listen to the …other thing…that told him to hump a pole. … At this point Cell was still trying to figure out just what he meant.
/17! REALLY! Have at least SOME decency/
-Wha-ut? What's wrong with giving him some encouragement?-
'(blank stare)'
/come on! Do you really think he knows what you meant/
-(stares at Cell) …he should know what I meant-
'(shakes his head)'
-No? Uh, let's see…gettin' jiggy with it?-
'(another blank stare)'
-Erm…Riding the cow?-
'…'
-How 'bout makin' love?-
'…'
-Screwin'?-
'…'
-Ko-fuuging?-
'…'
-Bor-eedik?-
'…'
-Uh- -
/He doesn't get it. /
-…No, really? …-
/(slaps 17) /
-OW! FUCK!-
'…is that what you meant? I get it now…'
-…-
/Really, brother. At one point I didn't even know what you meant. /
-You're just "ill-informed sexually"-
/…I think you made some of those words up. /
-Nuh-uh! …well, maybe…a little…-
/ Here. This is how you treat someone that's almost or just as stupid as you- (knocks Cell out) there? See/
-I don't think he feels too good…-
/Well, I feel better… /
-(stares at Cell) …He's pathetic.-
/no more so than you…/
-I would appreciate it if you switched to English-
/What do you THINK I'm talking in/
'…(grumble)…'
-...(blink) what was that?-
'Nhrm…(sits up, rubs eyes) what the fuck did you guys do to me?...'
/huh/
'…God, I feel like shit.'
-wow, so you really WERE knocked out! …who knew you could do that in your head? …-
'(glare) seriously, guys.'
/I hit you with a mallet. …I wanted to do some interior decorating too, but I engaged in a stupid conversation with my brother that was completely irrelevant- /
-I am OFFENDED!-
'Shut up! ..God, I don't want to deal with this!'
Cell stood up as he had found himself lying on the ground. He stretched his left arm across his shoulder and pulled it in with his other arm. His arms dropped and circled around counter-clockwise.
-Houston, we have lift-off!-
'(o.O)…Shut up!'
After tilting his head to the side in a bored manner, Cell crossed his arms and leaned against the wall he had run into previously. He stared at it, and then noticed the wall had a slight imprint of his body… Shrugging, he looked up, and found a camera staring back at him. Cell pouted and ki-blasted it.
Smirking, he turned and noticed there was a flight of stairs that lead downward. He decided to use them, knowing he would go manic if he didn't find a way out soon.
-----
…R31mn90d456Y74…program terminated…
…093n2hJK543Lk4440230110…0320412003500087054-000…program running…993049/2jd9kl40i87sK…malfunction…00
…Pending…d03009k87243i3010…operation complete. Now running system data check.
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Complete. Online.
Android 16 slowly opened his eyes and found his blue eyes staring back at him from glass that surrounded his entire body in an oblong shape. Restrains around his wrists, arms, legs, feet, and waist kept him from moving. It was lighter in the glass cell than the room out of it, which kept 16 from knowing what was outside of his glass prison. He frowned a little.
Am I…back at the lab? …
The lights in the room came on, and a sudden, shrill, high voice lulled 16 from his thoughts.
"Yeah! Big Guy's AWAKE! YES! Whew—finally! Man, 16! I thought I'd never finish you…that Gero. He had to be the most genius stupid person ever alive…Well, I'm glad you're finally up and running." Bulma smiled and wiped her forehead. "Man…well, I guess I should let you out, huh? Hm-hmm…"
Bulma winked as she turned around and typed a few things into the computer. Almost immediately, the glass container opened and the bindings released their grip. Puzzled, 16 only stared at Bulma.
"Uh-oh…did I forget to put in your memory chip? I thought it was in…Hmm. Well, what can I say? …Hee-hee, Yay! I'm just so excited that you're finished! …This calls for a Mocha Latte!" Bulma suddenly left the room, leaving 16 as he was.
16 sat up slowly as if he might break something. He lightly got to his feet and breathed out. After closing his eyes, he crossed his arms, but then dropped them to his sides—he didn't want to be rude and give the impression that he didn't want to be here…
…But where is "here"? …
He stared into the black computer screen that had turned itself off. 16 found his reflection staring back at him again, but with sad, tired eyes… He was exhausted. It hurt to move—but he wanted to see what was around him.
He roamed around the room, finding many gadgets and gizmos of all kinds. It was a spacious room, but he felt almost claustrophobic from all the stuff that surrounded him. He noticed a small, square light on the floor to his left. 16 stepped next to it and looked up, finding the source of the light to be a large window. Multiple robot parts blocked him from getting to the window; he decided to move them. The first part he removed was in the shape of an upper arm.
Why is Bulma in need of so many parts, I wonder? …
He carefully set it in on table that had the fewest amount of parts on it. 16 then pulled another part from the pile, but was immediately greeted by the entire mass collapsing down on top of him.
-----
Cell found the stairs to end at a window. He sighed and un-crossed his arms as he attempted to un-lock it. Damn thing won't budge…
-…Lemme out and I'll try! My manly skills can overcome EVERYTHING!-
'Again with the futile attempts to escape? I thought we had gotten past all of that…'
-…No, really. I think I can get it…-
He smirked and thought of a better plan. Raising his fist to his eye-level, Cell—
/NO! ARE YOU CRAZY/
' No. Why? Does my aura give that off?'
/Yes, and your chakras are all misaligned. (-.-) Idiot. That glass is expensive/
' (o.o)…glass is expensive?...'
-(shrug) Who knew?-
/Bottom line is, would you want someone in your house/office building to trash the whole damn thing up/
'…glass is expensive? …'
/ (-.-) Okay—would you want Crystal to find out about it/
'Frankly, I wouldn't care.'
/-What/
'…Oh, did you say Crystal? …H-erm…I guess not. (sobs) WHERE THE FUCK IS SHE!'
-…Well, there's her foot, if you look out the window…-
'WHAT!'
Cell pressed his cheek against the window as he peered through the glass. He saw…
'Indeed, it is! …is she hurt? GOD FORBID!'
/…You must suffer from mood swings…/
'…I can't tell, though…-HH! It's raining!—and it was last night too!'
-So?-
'So?—So she'll get sick!...Oh my God…'
/What/
'…I think I've already killed all of the doctors-'
/Yeah, wasn't that the first thing on your list? So the doctors couldn't help the people that got hurt/
'…damn Mondays…'
-…If you're going to do anything, you'd better do it quick. She's kinda…-
'What?'
-…Twitch-slash-shivering…-
Immediately, Cell smashed the window, ignoring what 18 had been saying in his head, and flew out of it. It was only the afternoon, but it was hard to tell—the dark clouds gave the impression of night as rain poured down. He descended to the ground and ran to Crystal, who was half-in and half-out of the doorway. First he checked for her heartbeat, which he felt was fine, and then observed her body for any abrasions—he found none. After slipping his right hand under her head and his left arm under her knees, Cell stood, cradling Crystal in his arms. He stared at her face, and smiled, remembering their first encounter. She had been frightened, enough to help him…
Cell stepped into the house after only a moment; he was drenched even though he had only been outside for less than a minute. Suddenly he noticed Crystal was soaking wet and so went to the couch and picked up two blankets. He then wrapped them around Crystal and set her down on the couch. He kneeled and sat next to her, and watched her breathe. When she shivered, he placed his hand on her head to comfort her, even though he already knew she was sleeping.
He laid his hand against her forehead to take her temperature—she was lucky: she was only a few degrees below normal. Cell exhaled, relieved, and smiled. He patted Crystal's head and continued watching her.
She continued shivering, no matter what he did, so he thought of something. He stood and then laid down on top of Crystal, careful to not hurt her with his weight. He blushed, thinking of how it may look to a passer-byer, but shrugged and wrapped his arms around her. Cell fell asleep not long afterwards.
-----
Bulma walked into her lab, and found 16 nowhere. She sighed and sipped on her Mocha Latte some more. Leaning against her desk, Bulma noticed a foot roll off the pile of spare robotic parts. She watched the mass for a while, although only faintly interested. Bulma set her Mocha onto her desk and closed her eyes, content with what the day had been like so far. She especially liked it when—
An arm shot out from the pile of parts and gripped onto the desk leg.
The sudden movement in the still room caused Bulma to scream, and she covered her mouth after doing so, extremely embarrassed. She watched as another hand protruded from the pile and as 16's head poked out. He looked up, since he was on the floor, and smiled at Bulma. Then he frowned, looking down, and continued revealing himself a little at a time until he was fully out of the pile. Sitting on the floor, 16 closed his eyes. After a minute, he opened them again.
"Bulma. I appreciate you putting me back together…"
"Eh, erm…yeah. Don't mention it." She smiled, and winked. "Ya know, if ya want, I can put that bomb back inside of you 'cause I would be able to reconstruct you from all of the blueprints and everythin' in the computer…So, do you?"
He stared at Bulma, processing the information. Although it could prove beneficial sometime in the later future, it could also be hazardous to the birds and other living things… "How long do I have to decide?"
"Mm…" She shrugged. "Tell ya what. I'll put it back in, just in case you ever need it. Kay? And if you don't…then you don't. So…okay, you can go outside while I try to find the thing-"
"You mean you aren't aware of its location at the moment?"
"Erm…No, but-"
"It's a very strong bomb."
"…Yeah, I know, but-"
"It's a very strong bomb."
Bulma sighed. "I get it. Sorry I'm not as organized as you would be, kay? Sheesh…"
"…I am sorry if I hurt your feelings."
"You didn't. I'm just not an afternoon-person. …Anyways, you can go outside if you want. …Just head out the door and to your left. Then you'll pass the kitchen and then the lobby…and out the door, kay?" She beamed and turned back to her computer and Mocha Latte.
16 nodded and left.
-----
Gohan found the lectures during the day to be very exhausting, even though he had been able to sleep through every class. He didn't normally do so—his grades had only began to slip when Goku was booted out of the house… He leaned back in his desk, knowing that it was only five more minutes until the end of class—and knowing that he was again lucky they hadn't passed out the report cards for the second quarter yet—
"Class," began Mr. Cooper, Gohan's Chemistry teacher. "Luckily for you all, the report cards will be sent home-"
Gohan sighed and crossed his arms. Oh well…I guess I'll have to use the white-out again…
"-but, this time—to make sure they all get home"-Mr. Cooper grinned-"they're all being sent by e-mail."
Almost immediately, Gohan raised his hand. "Mr. C, I-we—my family doesn't have a computer."
"Hm?" Mr. Cooper turned and typed into the computer. "…But your family's email is listed in the directory-"
"Erm…What I meant was that it's not working. So, technically, we don't have a computer…at the moment."
"Ah, yes, I understand…" Mr. Cooper nodded. "Under normal circumstances, I would just hand you your card, but now, because of your grades…I'll give it to your brother to take home, Gohan."
Maybe I can nab it from him on the way home… "Okay, Mr. C."
-----
Goku didn't know what to do—and right now he was not going to give into the option to read another magazine… He stretched and sat back on the couch and flipped on the tv. It sparked to life, and the channel was still set to the one Trunks had been watching earlier: Cartoon Network.
"…And Now for Camp Lazlo's Summer Line Up. Mondays is Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, and Tuesday's kicking it off with the Kids NextDoor. Wednesday-"
Goku thought back on which show Trunks had been watching earlier…was it Foster's Home? So today was Monday?...
"We now continue to our Saturday Afternoon 'School's Almost Over—Hang On!' Shows!"
"Oh…So today's Saturday?..."
Goku shrugged, now only partially interested in Cartoon Network. He sighed and changed the channel using the remote he found on the coffee table that he set his feet on top of.
"…We are now going live to the Cell Games Arena. Hercule is there and waiting, four days ahead of the scheduled Wednesday. Kurk, how is it down there?—(cam changes from person at desk to person near Hercule)—Great, Bill. Thanks. So, Mr. Hercule—could we talk with you for a moment?"
"Why, Sure! (walks proudly over to Kurk) Whuduya wanna know?"
"…Sir, the public and I want to know where Cell is at the moment. He seems to have disappeared—or have you secretly already destroyed him in some other manner? (holds mike to Hercule) …Sir?"
"Oh, uh, em…Ya see, Cell's scared. He's waiting somewhere underground so that I don't destroy him before the tournament! Ya! (raises arms triumphantly)"
"Oh…I see. (turns to camera) Well, there you have it—right from the World Champion, Mr. Hercule. Back to you, Bill."
Goku stared at the television set as he clicked it off. His mouth was gaping, obviously thrown off guard. "…WHAT? Does he know he's gonna get himself killed doing tha--…Oh. Well, I guess… He's such an idiot. I don't care if he dies now, he deserves every bit of pain he's gonna get! 'World Champ'—Ha! I've done so much better than him and he knows it! The Idiot! Imbecile! …I hope he dies in the bloody Gam—Oh, Hey, 16 ! » Goku waved as 16 walked by the room door.
16 paused momentarily. He stared at Goku, not knowing what to say. Slowly, 16 raised his hand…and waved back. 16 smiled faintly and walked on.
Goku shrugged and stared back at the t.v., undecided as to what he should do with the darn thing. He turned it back on anyways, rationalizing that he just wanted to see what else Hercule—'world idiot' is more like it, Goku thought—had to say (before his pre-scheduled death on Wednesday…).
-----
"Gohan, give it back!" Goten whined as he tried his best to get his older brother's report card back. He sighed and then pouted, turning away. "Fine. But I already know what's in there, so I'll just tell her that you're failing…"
Gohan paused—he hadn't thought of that. "…Goten, why would you look at my grades, anyways?"
"I dunnuh..Why? Mom 'lways shows 'em t' me sooner 'r later…"
"Goten, your grammar…"
"…Oh! Right. You're not failing everything—English is a B…But—"
"—How's about I buy your lunches from now on? All you have to do is not tell mom tha-"
"Mm! Buy me some right now!" Goten eagerly raced off to the nearest hot-dog stand and ordered seventeen plain ones (regardless of the fact it was near dinner-time).
Gohan sighed—he didn't know which felt worse: his now-condemned wallet, or his heart and pride, knowing he had tricked his brother so easily. Gohan shrugged both worries away and went over to Goten, knowing he would have to reason with his brother to only get fifteen.
-----
Cell woke up slowly; he felt weak and dizzy, so decided to stay on top of Crystal. He looked to her face and watched her for a while before gracing her forehead with a light brush of his lips. Smiling, he leaned his head against hers, and then noticed the difference in her temperature. She's better…but now I feel like Hell…
He perked his head up a bit after hearing moderately-loud footsteps approach the couch. Cell immediately sat up and off of Crystal, a wild blush overwhelming his face like a wildfire. He glanced to the side, noticing the footsteps had stopped.
"What?" Cell demanded as he crossed his arms. He stood up after a few minutes (since he had not received an answer within that time), and faced—"16? …Bu-but, I…Didn't I-"
"You sound surprised, Cell." 16 glared at him. "…I wonder why."
Cell rolled his eyes in response. "You're just another of Dr. Gero's mistakes…he never meant to make you-"
16 laughed, smirking. "And yet I'm here. Why do you suppose that is, Cell?"
"…Go away. I don't need temptation to blast you before the Games-"
"Which, by the way, are you still having?"
Cell paused, considering the question was rather not irrelevant…Was he, or not? I see no reason why not too… He peered at Crystal, who was still bundled up on the couch, and then back to 16. "…I said they would be on Wednesday of this week."
"You're avoiding answering the question—and not doing it very well."
"Stupid bot—you know what I meant." Cell glared at 16. "…Fucking hippie."
16 glanced at the couch. "Oh?"
"Hey! She's none of your business-"
"I do not understand why she wouldn't. Weren't you just lying atop her?"
"…You don't know what happened. She wasn't well-"
"Right." 16 looked away. "I understand."
Cell, frustrated, gave up on the Android 16 and dropped his arms as he looked away to the wall on his far left, where the was a brick fireplace with black edging and rows of many different pictures. He went to them and studied each one, memorizing or recognizing the faces. One was of many renound scientists—Dr. Briefs, Appleto, Gero—Gero?... Cell peered closer at the picture. Indeed… "—Who rebuilt you, 16?"
He paused for a moment, and then replied, "Bulma Briefs, now the owner of Capsule Corp. since her father-"
"-Passed on?"
"…Retired, Cell."
Cell nodded and picked up the picture. He went over to 16 and showed it to him, pointing to Dr. Briefs. "Is this him?"
"…Why do you want to know?"
He shrugged. "Just curious…why? What would you want to know, 16, as to why I was asking-"
"That is Bulma's father. And the man standing next to him, holding hands, even…is Dr. Gero. Your father, Cell."
Cell frowned and looked away as he turned and went back to the wall to set the picture down. "…I completed my purpose—destiny, really—of attaining ultimate perfection. That was his dream…"
"Only his, Cell?..."
Shrugging, he added, "Mine too, I guess. It's hard to ignore, it being the main thing burned into my drive. …I'm not sure, though, what I would do after the Games…" Cell trailed off, lost in his thoughts. Dizzy…everything's so far away… He felt his forehead. Inside, he was freezing, but outside… "--But what was I telling you that for…?" Cell abruptly smashed the picture frame against the wall and let the pieces fall to the floor. Subsequently, he, too, fell to the floor… unconscious.
-----
Gohan sighed as he and Goten walked up the paved way to their house, and secretly shoved the report card safely away into his pocket while he at the same time pulled out a fist full of keys, all bunched together on a Smiley Key-Ring that he had won at a carnival three years ago. Gohan flipped through each key, the first purple, the next grey…
"Are you done yet?" Goten whined, looking hopefully at his brother. "…I kinda gotta go…"
Gohan shook his head, murmured, "Nope," and continued his search. …Five minutes later (Goten was hopping with his hands around his lower abdomen as his bladder threatened to let go), Gohan found the key. "Got it." He smiled, and was about to slide the key into the lock when Puar landed on his head—Gohan was thrown off guard. The key slid from his fingers, and the mass fell to his feet in a messy clump.
Goten glared at Puar, who was giggling. Goten's eyes brimmed with tears, "WHY DID YOU DO THAT? I HAVE TO GO---O!"
"Eh…sorry…?" Puar stared at Goten, dumbfounded. "…Yamcha and Tien are inside with Chi-Chi," Puar said suddenly to Gohan, who nodded in reply.
"I thought so."
Goten pouted. "JUST GET THAT KEY BACK IN THE DOOR NO-----W!" He screamed at his brother, startling him; Puar fell off Gohan's head and hovered in the air. Puar stuck her tongue out as Gohan picked up his keys, sorting through them.
"…I can't find it," murmured Gohan after three minutes. "It's just not here--"
"RAH! WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?—GIMME!" Goten took hold of his brother's keys; Gohan held on resistfully.
"…Ermf—Get your own!"
"NO! I CAN'T BECAUSE MOM WON'T LET ME!--"
--A door creaked open. "…Boys?" Chi-Chi asked as she poked her head out from behind the door. She stared at her sons, who had stopped their fighting over the keys, both too stunned to move. Within the blink of her eye, Goten forced his way through and darted to the bathroom. Chi-Chi smiled and shook her head.
"That boy… I hope he remembers that both of 'em aren't working…"
Gohan laughed. "Yeah, me too."
"…How was your day, Gohan?" Chi-Chi asked warmly as she widened the door, inviting him into the house. Gohan shrugged, mumbled a faint "fine", and slipped through the door frame and past his mother, who stared after him as he dropped his backpack onto the floor and plopped on his back on the couch. She smiled and shook her head as she headed back to the kitchen after closing the door.
Gohan stared up at the ceiling. …I wonder how dad is right now…hehe, probably just eating, like usual…
"Gohan, sweetie—could you check on your brother?" Chi-Chi asked from the kitchen, poking her head out from behind the doorframe.
With a silent nod, Gohan got up from the couch and ambled down the hall. Along the way, he passed the high shelves on the wall, each decorated with old art projects by him and Goten, pictures—one of which was of Chi-Chi and Goku on their wedding day…Gohan paused as he passed by this picture, and stared up at their smiling faces. He smiled and picked it up by the frame with his right hand, and gracefully stroked the glass with his left hand. …But what's wrong now? Why don't they smile together anymore? …Why aren't they together anymore? … Before he realized it, Gohan's eyes brimmed with tears as he continued thinking of his parents. Why…why…Is it because of me? … He wiped away the tears that were flowing freely now with his left sleeve, and cursed as one dropped and splattered over the glass on the picture. Gohan brushed his tear away by rubbing the picture against his uniform, but frowned at the resulting smear. After remembering his present duty, Gohan sighed and reluctantly set the picture down as he turned and walked away, resisting the urge to glance over his shoulder at the picture, the urge…to his see his parents happy again.
-----
Cell: …LET GO OF MY LEG!
16: NEVER!
Cell: YES! YES! YES! --DO AS I SAY!
16: NEVER! –DO AS I SAY!
Cell: NEVER!
16: SACRIFICE FOR FPM OR DIE!
Cell: NEVER! NOT SO LONG AS I HAVE MY RIGHTS!
16: THEN DIE!
Cell: NEVER!
17: (-sweat drop-)
18: psh, gay-wads…
17: …I do not see how that would be possible (-Cell and 16 still fighting in background-), since 16 obviously does not like Cell, and instead likes—
18: HEY! THE OVEN WENT OFF LIKE THIRTY MINUTES AGO!
16: (-stops strangling Cell-) …huh? The oven…
Cell: …oh, Yeah! I totally forgot about that thing…hm…--HH! MY MUFFIN! (-runs off to kitchen-) I'LL SAVE YOU!
16: (-runs after Cell-) NOT UNTIL YOU PAY FOR IT WITH YOUR HEAD!
18: (-to 17-) …wanna follow 'em?
17: (shrugs) we've got nothing better to do…besides, I would like to see Cell's head immersed in dirt.
18: (nods)
(both go to kitchen)
--
FPM: (wakes up floating in air)…I think I'm gonna die…WOH! (looks around oven) …Why are there two of me? …-HH! FRANK! ARE YOU STILL HERE! FRAAAANK!
B.WAD: …ermf…two more minutes…
FPM: …NO! I'm floating in the air, AND I WANNA KNOW WHY!
B.WAD:…one minute…?
FPM: NO!
B.WAD: …erg, persistent bitch…
FPM: --I'm still here, ya know… (glares)
B.WAD: Oh, uh…wups. (blushes) sorry…(gasps) you're levitating! –and there's two of you!
FPM: I know! –WACK, isn't it? Hehehehe… :) :) :) :)
B.WAD: …uh…I don't know how to break it to you…but…
FPM: …?
B.WAD: …you're dead.
FPM: …okay…And?
B.WAD: …you're dead.
FPM: …yeaaah. Got that—
Be.WAD: --NO, like…seriously. You're dead.
FPM: …how many times must we hear you say—
B.WAD: --WHAT PART OF DEAD DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND? DEAD! DEAD! DEAD! --…And I'm going to die too…(wails)
FPM: …Ooooh…Dead. Right. …(sinks in) …Shit.
-----
Cell: (face pressed against oven door) CAN YOU HEAR ME, OH MUFFIN? –PLEASE ANSWER ME! For the twentieth time, if you don't answer me—
16: (o.o) Cell.
Cell: --…What?
16: …Muffin's don't talk.
Cell: …oh. right.(blushes) …(shrugs) …CAN YOU HEAR ME MUFFIN? ANSWER ME! PLEASE!—
16: …Cell. Did you try to OPEN the door?
Cell: …(rips off door) WHY DIDN'T YOU ANSWER M--. ..Oh my God…(hurriedly nails door back on, along with wooden boards and chains and wires and locks…)
16 :…?
Cell: …Uh, hehe…must not, uh…be done I guess…uh. Right, then—make me another, 16. It's…uh…not …done?
16: …Cell—
Cell: --NO, I'M NOT HIDING ANYTHING!
16: …That's nice, Cell—
Cell: --AND YOU'RE GIRLFRIEND IS NOT IN THERE! YOU DIDN'T HEAR ME SAY THAT BECAUSE SHE ISN'T! I'M NOT LYING! HONEST TO GOD FPM DID NOT MISTAKE THE OVEN AS A CAVE! …
16: (sinks in) …LEMME THROUGH! NOW!
Cell: NEVER!
16: YES! YES! YES! --DO AS I SAY!
Cell: NEVER! –DO AS I SAY!
16: NEVER! LET GO FOR FPM OR DIE!
Cell: NEVER! NOT SO LONG AS I HAVE MY RIGHTS!
16: THEN DIE!
Cell: NEVER!
17: (-sweat drop-)
18: did they just repeat their earlier conversation? …
17: (shrugs) A muffin actually doesn't sound too bad right now… (pushes Cell and 16 aside and tries to undo first pair of locks…)
-----
FPM: (light shining overhead)…Uh-Oh…Bye, Frank. I'll miss ya.
B.WAD: (nods) you too. Include me later in your story?
FPM: with honor, Frank. (flies away)
B.WAD: …It's B.WAD! …but I'll miss ya a bunch…(turns to oven door) …I hope they're not trying to open it…
-----
FPM: (arrives in King Yemma's office) …WOW! You're HUGE! MAN! …Wow…Cool.
King Yemma: …Uh. (sweat drop) …Right. …Well, Heaven or Hell?
FPM: …Ya mean I get to choose?
King Yemma: …(laughs) No.
FPM: …then why did you—
King Yemma: --Never mind it. Now, then…(reads clip-board)
FPM: …yeah?
King Yemma: (no response)
FPM: ...uh, okay…(looks around room, sees East Kaioshin) …HEY! You're Supreme Kai! (runs over)
Supreme Kai: ..uh…(sweat drop) …Who are you?
FPM: …(gasps) …You don't know me? …(cries)
Supreme Kai: …uh, I'm…sorry…?
FPM: …That's Okay! …Uh…so am I really dead?
Supreme Kai: …Do you want to be?
FPM: …No.
Supreme Kai: .. :) Okay. Well…I'll break a rule and send you back down to Earth—
FPM: --Yeay!—
Supreme Kai: --On the condition you actually remember to update your stories. I enjoy them.
FPM: …(glares) yeah, but nobody reviews 'em…
Supreme Kai: …Uh, right…Sorry 'bout that…Okay, you update, and I'll review?
FPM: …Yeah! That's sounds good…Okay! (puts on helmet) Beam me down, Scottie!
Supreme Kai: (sweat drop) Uh…Right, then…(takes FPM's arm and goes down to Earth)
-----
17: …Erg! WHY DID YOU PUT SO MUCH STUFF AROUND THE FRIGGIN' OVEN, CELL? –I WANT A MUFFIN!
Cell: …IT'S MINE! (growls)
17: MINE!
Cell: GET 16 TO MAKE YOU ONE!
17: (looks at 16)
16: (curled up in fetal position)…Fpm…my Fpm…(cries)
17: …raincheck…MINE!
Cell: MINE!
17: MINE!
Cell: MINE—INFINITY!
17: --NOOO!
18: (blank stare) …good god--Men! Get a grip!
Cell/17/16: (no reply)
18:…(shakes head) …boys, then. Sorry to confuse you...
-----
B.WAD: …I'm all alone…there's no one here beside me…My problems have all gon—HEY!
(FPM and Supreme Kai zap next to him)
Supreme Kai: …(waves) hello.
B.WAD:…FPM! …You're alive?
FPM: YEAH! –Isn't it cool or what? …Supreme Kai says I have to review, though, other wise I'll have to die again.
B.WAD: …You're a sick man, SK.
Supreme Kai: …(sigh)…I know.
B.WAD: …Sick.
Supreme Kai: …I know.
B.WAD: …SICK—
Supreme Kai: --HOW MANY TIMES MUST I SAY "I KNOW"?
B.WAD: …(sweat drop) …uh…
FPM: …but there's still two of me…cool!
Supreme Kai: No, just go back into your body.
FPM: …okay…(hits head against second FPM's head) –OW! …Hey—
(Now only one FPM)
FPM: …COOL! …Hey, what's with the light…
-----
17: …YES! It's open! (peers inside) …Hey, FPM—what are you doing in here? …MUFFIN!
Cell: NO!
FPM: (climbs out with B.WAD in hand) –MINE! …This is Frank, everyone. Frank…everyone else.
Cell: …(sweat drop) …Frank?
FPM:…Yeah, and this is Supreme Kai—
16: GET AWAY FROM MY FPM!
Supreme Kai: (sweat drop)…uh, hello, asd it…I have to go, FPM. I'm waiting for another chapter—
FPM: Oh! And you're in this one.
Supreme Kai: …Really? (big shiny eyes) …wow. This is so cool…
FPM: …Kay. Bye! (shoves Supreme Kai back in oven and closes it) Whew! …Hey, everyone! I just had a near-death experience!
16: …Fpm…
FPM: --AIN'T THAT COOL OR WHAT?
16: …(faints)
FPM: (shrugs) wonder what his deal is…But I'm still bummed about getting no reviews, though…
Cell: …Did you ever think to visit the reviews page?
FPM: …Oh! …No, I totally forgot…(yawns) I'll do that later. I'm kinda bushed, since this was such a long day and all...(falls asleep)
Cell: …(nods) good idea. (falls asleep)
17: …Hehehe..
18: …What?
17:…I have a Sharpie…(evil grin…)