Author's Commentary: Ah, reviews have come at last! I was afraid you guys weren't going to bother with me ;) Just kidding, my friends. Even if I had one review that said "cool" or something similar, I'd keep going just because if I hadn't then they would be at a loss as to what happened—I hate it when I'm the reader and it happens to me. I'm babbling…something I have in common with Layrial ;)

Ashley Moose—thank you kindly :) You were the person that kept my interest in continuing because you commented :)

Aquasage—I'm not sure if it's the first or not, but I tried to come up with something that's a little different than what you usually see out there—otherwise there's no point to writing it because it wasn't at least half original. 'Tis also why this is written in the first person.

SSJSkaterTrunks—Interesting, to say the least! And I thank you for the compliment—I highly dislike out-of-characters because the reason why I read fanfics on them is because I adore the character as he/she is. Unfortunately up until now Cell hasn't had much of a role except just standing there (minus the Goku meeting) but I shall try to keep him true to his form—perfect ;)

Chapter 4: Swallow the pride; swallow the fear

I have no idea how long I stood there before finally making my way back over to a corner of the ring. I brushed away the dust and hopped up to sit, letting my legs dangle over the side. Once again Cell stood in the center of the ring with his back to me. I didn't have the guts to try to run away. Besides, my only means of escape now lay useless in the desert.

I remembered something my grandmother had once told me—treat others as you'd like to be treated. I vaguely wondered what good that would do in this situation. I hadn't said anything nice to this guy since we met, but how could I? How could I possibly give him the time of day after what he'd put me through in less than an hour?

I sighed and bowed my head. I was stuck and at the mercy of this creature. I didn't care about my job or anything anymore…all I asked from life was a chance to continue living it beyond this stupid arena. But the more I sat there and stared at my feet, the more I came to the realization that it most likely was just a dream.

I tried searching my brain for the information Sazuke had given me about these Cell Games—mainly when they were supposed to start. Yet I couldn't remember if he had even told me anything more than where it was going to be held. I wanted to cry so badly that I couldn't get myself too. It could be days until that time came and I knew I couldn't survive. It was bad enough I was away from civilization, something I realized I had been taking for granted, but I had absolutely no food, water, shelter—none of the basics that would keep me alive.

I wondered if Cell would grant me the right to speak and ask him just how long I'd have to wait it out. I turned around a bit and saw that he hadn't moved at all, again. How could he do that without his legs falling asleep or something?

"Umm," I muttered, hoping that his wonderful hearing would perk up and take in what I was trying to say. Alas, though, he didn't answer. If he had heard it, he was being rude and not answering. "Cell?" I got out softly, but hopefully loud enough for him to hear this time. Calling someone by such a word was a strange concept and I became slightly curious as to why he picked such an odd name.

"Cell," I repeated, "could I at least ask you a question?"

When he said nothing I sighed and turned back around, my eyes shifting to stare at a little bug crawling around in the dirt below my feet. Not only was I being held captive, but the man responsible wouldn't even respond to me unless I did something against him.

"I suppose so," I heard from behind. I turned around quickly to see if I had indeed heard him speak, but he still remained in the same position he had been since he returned to that spot.

"Well?" He asked and finally his head turned enough to let me see the side of his face.

I could feel my cheeks growing red for some odd reason, but I ignored it. "How much longer is it until your tournament starts?"

"Eight days," he replied promptly. My heart sank quickly. There was no way I could live eight days without even water. I was doomed. "Why?"

"Well, in case you didn't know, there's nothing out here to get food from, so how do you expect us to survive that long?" My voice remained timid, but I was happy enough to have had formed a decent sentence.

I could see a smile curl on the corners of Cell's white mouth. "I have no need for food like you humans do."

"Say what?" I asked, thinking that being out here like this has already impaired my hearing.

Cell turned to me gracefully, but kept his body straight and arms crossed. "I said I don't need the nourishment your kind requires. Standing out here for days will take nothing out of me except, perhaps my patience—although I'll be bold enough to say even those are capable of lasting for quite some time."

It was probably the most I ever heard him speak, but I was mesmerized by each word. Not only was it a treat to hear that voice, but the fact that he didn't need to eat was just so hard to believe. Then again, like I had said before, I wouldn't past him.

Then it hit me; he kept referring to "humans." It was then I started to really let it sink in that maybe he was in fact an alien. "What do you mean that we humans need stuff? I mean, aren't you—"

"No," he interrupted. "I am an android."

I looked at him, maybe with the hope of finding a fault in his expression that would tell me he was lying. But there wasn't anything. "That's impossible—you're too perfect to be an android."

"That I am," Cell smiled. "I am perfect; I'm so glad you've realized this without me even having to tell you."

"I'm not following…"

"No, I suppose I shouldn't expect you to," he stated and I frowned. "You see, I am an android made up of living cells taken from the greatest fighters this planet has ever seen. Each was constructed to unite and form what you see before you."

I blinked.

He continued; "My creator, Dr. Gero, created me for the sole purpose of extracting his revenge on this planet and after two long decades of absorbing the necessary bio-extract and searching inexorably for the two lower-form androids I had to absorb to achieve my perfect form, the time has come for me to bring about his dream. I am his ultimate creation. I have no flaws."

I blinked again. This guy was really full of himself. Yet I was able to get it all to sink in. I believed him enough to realize that he wasn't human, that much was for certain, and I've seen him display a freakish and unnatural talent of power. There was one thing left for me to ask now. "Is that why your name's Cell?" And that wasn't it.

Cell chuckled lightly. "You really are a senseless girl, aren't you?"

"I beg your pardon!" I snapped and got to my feet with his rude comment.

"You heard me right," he said. "If you had any sort of wisdom you would've been able to put two and two together."

I bit my lip and looked past him. He was right. "Well, that's not what I meant to say anyway."

"Oh really?" Cell said; the interest in his voice was so damn apparent it burned. "Then what was it you wanted to know?"

My eyes searched the tiles around me as if one of them would spell out exactly what it was I wanted to ask. Finally, after racking my mind hard enough, I came up with what I wanted to know, but was too scared to admit. "This revenge of yours…what does it entail?"

"You've already met Goku," he replied. "I must destroy him and his little friends he calls the Z Fighters. Then, once I've accomplished that—and take note it shouldn't be to hard—I will destroy this worthless planet and move on to the next."

"Bullshit," I said.

"What?" He said, his eyes showing a sudden change in emotion. His face was no longer smug, but irritated.

"I said bullshit," I repeated.

"I heard the vile word you spoke," he said. "What do you mean by it?"

"You can't destroy the planet—it's impossible without some sort of bomb and as far as I know there's nothing that can technically just wipe out the entire planet and erase it from the galaxy."

"That is where you are wrong," he said. "Let me demonstrate." I waited and watched, my eyes becoming wide as he held out his arm straight to his side. Like before, a small ball of light formed in his upright hand and then shot out like a bullet from a gun. The comet-like tail it left behind grew longer as the head made it's away across the desert. Finally, it disappeared into a mountain where for a moment I thought it just vanished. Then…the whole mountain exploded with such a force I had to shield my eyes in fear that debris would be sent towards me.

When all was quiet once again, I peered over my arms and saw that where there was once an enormous rock was now nothing but a cleared path. I gulped silently and my arms lowered to my sides slowly.

"Still doubt me?" He asked, bringing me back to life.

"No." It was all I could say. Nothing more I could possibly spit out mattered. He was not just powerful—he was miraculous in the wickedest sense possible. No wonder why he didn't even bother to tie me up or something. He didn't have to. I bet if he snapped my fingers my whole body would explode. And these Z Fighters he had spoken of must be nearly the same power-wise as he, otherwise why would he bother with them?

Cell's confidence was either a big show or it was true: he could destroy this planet easily. I don't know what he could do further than blowing up a mountain, but whatever he was capable of was much to scary for me to even try to imagine.

The only thing I could do now was sit and curl my legs up to my chest and hug them. I was at the mercy of this android and there was nothing I could do to free myself except pray. I wanted to ask him how he figured I'd be able to survive as long as two days, no less eight without sustenance. I didn't dare though. He might've not even have thought of such a thing when he made the agreement with the blonde man. I didn't want to get him angry and potentially injure me or something. One hit from him and I'd be cut in half without a doubt.

"What is your name, girl?"

My head came up from being buried in my knees and I glanced over my shoulder. "What?"

"I asked you your name."

"Why?"

"Are you incapable of answering the question?"

"No," I said and let a big sigh escape my lungs. "Layrial."

I waited for the comment—maybe he'd compliment me. I was always told it was an unusual, yet very pretty name.

"Well then, Layrial," he said smugly. "We have accomplished something."

"What? We now had introductions?" I asked bluntly.

"Beyond that," he said and then his face became dark with malevolence. "You now know who you're dealing with."