Dragon Ball Z: Dynasty
Written by: Feraligreater328
Edited by: StevenBodner
A/N: I wanted to let everyone know that Dragon Ball Z Dynasty now has a TVTropes page. I already talked to him, but I'd like to thank the friendly reader that took the time to set it up. If any of you are tropers, I encourage you to check it out. :)
Chapter 81: Protecting What's Important
On the sidelines...
Krillin and Tien both stared in amazement as Android 16 stood and faced down Cell. The two human warriors were surprised at how 16 had manhandled a being that had so easily defeated Piccolo and Bardock. Tien was still on edge, ready to leap into the fray at any moment. But, Krillin tried to calm his comrade down. "Tien...just hold on, man. We should see how this plays out..."
Tien's fists were shaking. He knew that he didn't stand a chance here, and that bothered him almost as much as what had happened to Bardock and Piccolo. "Maybe...maybe we'll get lucky and those two will take each other out. And then we can step in an put a stop to 17 and 18. Then this nightmare will finally be over with..."
Krillin had a lump in his throat. He stared down at the shutdown remote in his hand. "Yeah..."
On the battlefield...
Cell hissed under his breath; his eyes trained on Android 16. Android 16's eyes glowed red and trained themselves onto the monster. And then, Android 16 charged at Cell as fast as he could. Cell flinched, leaping back and avoiding a punch. "Oh dear, you're quite fast for such a large lummox~!"
16 didn't respond, instead leaping into the air and crashing back down with another punch. Cell dodged again and the Android's fist buried itself in the rock, splitting the ground. 16 glared at Cell and then stood up, putting up his fists in a boxer's stance. And then, he lunged forward.
Cell was taken aback, forced on the backfoot and reduced to blocking the various attacks as they came at him. Cell's defense was on-point, but each strike from his opponent left his hands stinging and his arms tingling. Cell shivered. "You certainly do hit hard..."
Cell leapt back, avoiding a left hook, and then lunged forward. He punched Android 16 across the face and, when the Android stumbled back, he shot his tail stinger forward to stab 16 in the ribs. But, 16 was easily able to slap the oncoming appendage away.
With the stinger deflected, 16 grabbed Cell by the tail and pulled him forward. The monster's throat flew into the Android's awaiting grip and 16 lifted him off the ground. 16 squeezed hard and Cell gagged. "W-Who the hell do you think you are?! You hunk of junk...how dare you feint me out..."
The monster sneered. This mammoth-sized problem was faster than he thought.
Cell kicked and thrashed, but 16's grip held firm. His bulk allowed him to manhandle Cell without so much as budging. 16 spoke. "You have allowed yourself to become drunk with power and fall into the assumption that you are untouchable. It has made your movements sloppy. My combat routines were encoded to take advantage of such missteps."
And then, with force, 16 slammed Cell to the ground. Cell coughed; all of the air being forced out of his chest upon impact. And then, before he could recover, 16 slammed down onto the bug with a massive elbow drop right into the center of the black diamond on his chest.
16 quickly got back to his feet, grabbing the writhing insect by his leg, and then began to smash him about like a ragdoll. Cell was slammed about, eventually being tossed into a nearby rocky structure and having it collapse atop him.
All of the spectators to this fight were amazed. 16 was really that strong. Even though it was only the first exchange, it was clear that he had a decisive advantage against Cell.
Cell screeched in anger. His power sent the rubble on top of him scattering outward. Furious, Cell snarled at his opponent. "You oversized antique! Do you really think that I, a soon-to-be-perfect being, will allow myself to be felled by a ridiculous display such as yourself?! Do you?!"
The monster charged in fast, unleashing a furious storm of punches and kicks against his mechanical opponent. 16 was on the defensive, but his face still displayed a cool lack of any emotion. His glowing, red eyes were focused on Cell and nothing else, working out the pattern of Cell's strikes and dealing with them as they poured in. Cell shrieked. "You will regret stepping into a matter that didn't concern you!"
Finally, Cell managed to slip through 16's defense and punch the Android square in the face. 16 was stunned for a moment, but then he seized Cell's wrist. He pulled the monster forward, once again seizing him by the throat, and then lifted and tossed him to the ground for a thunderous chokeslam. Cell was stunned, staring up at 16 as the larger Android wiped a trickle of bio-fuel from the corner of his mouth. "61.43%."
Cell growled. "What?!"
Android 16 looked down upon the monster. "My chances of victory are now 61.43%. You said that you are made up of several beings, including those such as Vegeta and Bardock. So, perhaps your hubris and arrogance are simply encoded into your genes. But, either way, such attributes are causing you to slip."
Cell tried to get up. "You-"
16 stomped on the monster's stomach, forcing him down through the ground. Cell cried out in agony. And 16 continued to stomp. "You thrive off of the suffering of others. You literally feed off of the helpless with no way to defend against a thing like you. I find that repulsive."
The larger Android bent over, pushing his hand against Cell's face and grinding the monster deeper into the ground. "Grow accustomed to the feeling of the Earth gathered around you. Such a sensation is all you will feel soon enough."
Cell snarled. "Cocky bastard!"
The monster threw a punch, making 16 recoil back just a little. With that opening, Cell wormed his way out from under 16 and delivered a heavy elbow strike to his larger opponent's jaw. Finally, Cell delivered a kick that sent Android 16 sliding back. Cell himself did a backflip, landing on his feet. 16 stood up straight and brushed the scuffing off of his armor. Cell sneered. And then, he roared and rushed at 16.
16 shouted as well and charged towards the approaching insect. The two clashed in the center, their shoulders straining against one another, pushing back and forth. Cell's power flared, and he shoved 16 back, but the only real effect it had on the hulking Android was blowing his mohawk back. Cell was furious, still unwilling to accept that any being could stand up to him like this.
Sneakily, the Android swept his leg across the ground, kicking 16's feet out from under him and making the taller Android fall backwards. Cell smirked, but 16 responded by quickly grabbing his head and using the momentum to slam Cell into the ground as well. Cell seethed in anger, hissing in 16's face. But 16 responded to that with a hammering blow to Cell's beak. 16 got on top of Cell, readying to punch him again. But Cell managed to get loose by sending energy into the ground beneath him, creating a small explosion. Cell slid back, and then charged back in to tackle 16. But the large Android was prepared. 16 lowered his shoulder, using Cell's momentum to scoop him off of the ground. And then, flexing his arm upwards and wrapping it around Cell's neck, 16 spun around and bulldogged the bio-Android's hideous face directly into the ground.
16 quickly did a kip-up, turning and glaring at the monstrous abomination. Cell got to his feet, his pride more injured than anything, and tried to play it off. He chuckled at 16, despite his hellish pupils burning with hatred and rage, and spoke in a calm tone. "Yes...you have some fight. Certainly, you do..."
Android 16 interrupted. "You will die."
Cell flinched. 16 began to march forward. "You will die here. No matter how much you try to act as if this is merely a sideshow or a distraction, you will die, Cell."
The monster snapped, lunging at 16. "WHO DO YOU THINK YOU'RE TALKING TO LIKE THAT?!"
16 faded to one side, allowing Cell to go flying past him, and then kicked the monster in the head for his efforts. Cell went rolling, sliding across the ground, and then 16 flicked both of his earrings and fired a pair of Eye Beams. The beams hit Cell on his pectorals and caused a massive explosion.
17 and 18 both watched on in awe, having a front-row seat to the action. 16 was stronger than either had ever fathomed he could be. He stood tall in front of them, always making sure that he was between the two of them and Cell. Even as the monster got back up, 16 made sure he moved to where he completely blocked them from Cell's view.
The monster snarled again and 16 put up his fists. "Shall we continue, then?"
Cell lunged forward, charging towards 16 once more. The large Android nodded to himself and then, to the surprise of Cell, 17, and 18, he leapt over the bug. Cell went flying under 16 and the hulking Android landed, turning and wrapping his arms around Cell's waist. Before Cell could react, 16 threw himself backwards, pulling Cell with him and slamming the monster into the ground with a massive, german suplex.
Cell went tumbling, but quickly righted himself and fired a blast at 16. 16 responded by throwing up an energy barrier of his own to block the oncoming attack. Cell charged at 16 again, but 16 reached out and grabbed him by the bicorns of his head piece, twisting the monster into a headlock and wrenching his neck for good measure. And then, with Cell stunned, 16 wrapped his arms around the monster's torso and delivered a second german suplex, slamming the back of Cell's head into the ground.
The monster writhed around, getting his bearings back, and then dove at one of 16's legs. 16 simply lifted the leg and then stomped down hard onto Cell's head. With Cell once again stopped, 16 fell to the floor and smashed his hands down onto Cell's back. And then, for good measure, he began to driving his knee into the grounded monster's ribs. Cell screamed in fury, throwing a punch, but 16 seized the arm and worked himself around his foe, wrenching Cell into a kimura lock.
Cell screeched in pain and 16 responded by slamming his free hand down on the back of the monster's head, driving his face into the dirt. "Die quietly."
The bio-Android was boiling with rage. Thinking quickly, he wrapped his tail around 16's neck and used it to throw the larger Android off of him. Cell got to his feet and lunged at 16 again, but 16 recovered quickly enough to catch Cell mid-flight around his stomach. Holding Cell like one might hold a large log, 16 fell to the side and tossed the monster overhead, slamming him to the ground with a mighty gutwrench suplex.
Cell went bouncing and 16 went in, wrapping his arm around the monster's neck and grabbing him in a reverse headlock. And then, 16 lifted Cell straight up in the air and brought him down onto the ground with a dominating, standing suplex. Cell got to his feet and shouting in a demonic, deep voice. "STOP SUPLEXING ME!"
The monster got his wish. Rather than go for another suplex, 16 rushed in and planted his fist into Cell's stomach, taking the monster off of his feet. But, before he could fall to the ground, 16 grabbed the beast and flipped him over. And then, he delivered a massive, sit-out piledriver that drove Cell's head and torso down into the ground.
16 stood and glared at the twitching, half-buried Cell. He knew this wasn't even close to being over.
On Kami's Lookout...
Goku, Gohan, Gine, and Future Ranch all watched in stunned amazement as Android 16 manhandled Cell. Gohan and Gine were both still clearly worried about Piccolo and Bardock, so they watched with sweaty palms and white knuckles.
Goku had his arms crossed over his chest. "This 16 guy...it's a shame he's an enemy, he seems like the type of guy I'd get along with. He kinda reminds me of Eighter..."
Future Ranch's mouth was dry. "How have we never heard about him in our timeline?! Is...is this strength something that we've yet to encounter back home?!"
On the sidelines...
Krillin was dumbstruck at the sight of Cell sticking out of the ground like an overly-ripe vegetable. He shook his head. "Man... the big guy sure is powerful, huh? It's...it's a good thing he doesn't want to kill either of us..."
Tien shook his head. "He still wants to kill Goku. So, he might as well want to kill both of us. We're going to have to fight him either way..."
Back on the battlefield...
16 calmly approached Cell, his fists-gripped tight. But then, to his surprise, Cell's tail whipped towards him at lightning speed and planted itself in the flesh of his neck. Cell popped out of the ground with a wicked smirk and then fired two massive blasts at 16's chest, knocking the larger Android to the ground. He cackled in victory as he loomed over the seemingly paralyzed 16. "Fool! I told you! I told you that you would never beat me! No matter what, hunks of garbage like you are meant to-"
Android 16 sat up with little effort, sitting on the ground and glaring up at Cell. Cell was shocked silent. "But..."
16 smirked and reached up, grabbing Cell by his stinger and squeezing. Slowly, he pulled Cell's stinger from his neck, Cell trying his hardest to resist. "But I don't understand! I jabbed my stinger into your neural point! I started injecting you with my acid! H-How-"
The hulking Android stood, pulling Cell's tail completely out of his neck and delivering a shattering elbow to the center of Cell's face. Cell hit the ground and 16 stomped down onto his throat. "My body was designed from an alloy known as Geromantium. It is the hardest and most indestructible substance ever created within the confines of human knowledge. It is also quite resistant to corrosion and acid burn. Furthermore, while I outwardly resemble a human being, my inner workings could not be constructed more differently. You could remove my head and both it and my body would be able to function. But I will not allow you that chance."
Cell shrieked in fury and summoned a Destructo-Disc, tossing it up at 16. 16 leapt back to avoid being sliced and Cell got to his feet. His slit pupils were razor-thin. It was clear that the monster had snapped. With his power flaring, causing a crater to form under his feet, Cell raged. "Damn you! Damn you! Damn you! This isn't a possibility! How could a being like you exist?! Where were you in my timeline?!"
16 took his boxing stance again. "I am unable to answer such theoretical questions. I am only able to observe this situation as I see it. You are slipping. You are becoming more predictable the angrier you get. And, no matter how much you try to mask it, it is clear that you are unable to control your own temper."
The hulking Android's eyes flashed. "Much in the same way Android 13 was capable of, I am able to use my Data Input to analyze all aspects of a battle situation and adapt to them. The subtle vibrations in the ground, the shifting in the air, changes in soundwaves, and my opponent's movements and body language. I am able to take these things and use them to find the most successful strategy to deal with said opponent, much more quickly than 13, I might add. The longer we fight, the more my chances of victory go up. Which, at the moment, they are at 72.89%."
Cell was shaking with rage. "You...you've been baiting me this whole time?! Drawing out the battle to leak information out of me for your own benefit?!"
16 nodded. "Yes. And now that I have gotten a taste of your abilities...from your bragging about all of the genetic factors you are made up of to the fighting style that you use, I am slowly becoming more and more sure of how to kill you."
Cell snarled. "Kill this!"
He shot forward at supersonic speed and punched Android 16 right in the face. Cell was breathing heavy, and he flinched back at the sight of 16 standing there, looking bemused at the punch. "I have also made note of the amount of fatigue you display. You lack the Infinite Energy Generator that 17 and 18 both have. So, unlike them, your power will eventually peter out."
16 headbutted Cell, sending the beast to the ground. And then, before Cell could recover, 16 stomped down on his tail and grabbed the end of it. "Now, for the next stage in my offensive against you, I will remove the main threat that you pose to my companions."
Cell glanced up, looking at 16 with fear. "No! No! Please, let's just talk about this! Don't-"
With all of his strength, 16 heaved on Cell's extra appendage and tore is off. Cell let loose a high-pitched cry of utter agony and quickly scurried back. 16 glared at him, dropping the monster's severed tail to the ground and blasting it into cinders for good measure.
Cell stood, but his lack of equilibrium without his tail quickly caused him to fall to his knees. 16 began to march forward. "And so, this is the state of Cell. Crippled by his own hubris and now rendered as defenseless as a bee without a stinger..."
The monster looked enraged. But, as 16 approached, his fury was quickly replaced by a smirk and a chuckle. 16 came to a stop and Cell stood. "For a person who prides himself on data collection and analyzation, you certainly seem quick to accept flawed results..."
Cell glared at 16. "I have taken techniques as my own in the aggregation of genetic sources within my DNA, but I have also taken more than that. In other words..."
With effort, Cell forced another tail to grow out from the stump where his old one used to be. He sneered. "I have also taken the biological capabilities of my donors. In other words, a bee dies when it loses its stinger, but a perfect being such as myself just grows another in its place! You have Piccolo to thank for this one~"
Cell whipped his tail to the side and splattered the acidic fluid covering it to the ground. 16 nodded. "Thank you for confirming that for me."
The monster flinched. 16 nodded. "I had come up with a hypothesis that you would also copy the biological aspects of those you stole genetic samples from. And, given that I have observed Piccolo growing back severed limbs and have heard you brag about having his genes within you, I was curious on whether you would be able to heal in a similar manner."
16 focused his glare on Cell. "And now that I know that, my probability of victory has increased to 98.4%."
Android 16 charged forth; his fist extended. Cell sneered and put up his hands in defense. 16 braced himself for what he was sure was a forthcoming blast, but then he grinded to a halt mid-air. 16 attempted to jerk around, but he was held perfectly still. "What?!"
Cell snickered. "That's pale dwarf that tails Tien Shinhan like a loyal puppy certainly has some useful tricks~"
And then, Cell charged forward and slammed his knee into 16's jaw. The hulking Android went flying back, but Cell followed. He rained down left and right hooks across 16's face before stomping him into the ground with a spearing kick to the stomach. 16 smashed into the ground, but Cell didn't let up. He wrapped his tail around 16's waist and threw him into the air. Giving chase, 16 once again reached his foe and pressed his hand to the Android's chest, sealing him in a bubble of energy.
Once again, 16 was paralyzed. Cell chuckled. "You don't know who Frieza is in this timeline, from what I understand. But this is one of my favorite moves of his~"
And then, Cell slammed his fist onto the Imprisonment Ball and sent it crashing down to the ground below, causing an earth-shaking explosion that made the sea writhe in anger. Cell chuckled, staring down at the smoke and the flames the explosion made. "So long, Android 16~"
And then, the monster's attention turned to the helpless 17 and 18 on the ground. But, before he could even start to rush at them, two hands came shooting from the smoke and punched Cell in the face. "Double Rocket Punch!"
Cell was on the backfoot once more, combating against the two severed hands as they chased him about in the sky. Cell was hammered from multiple directions at once, batted around like a tennis ball between two rackets. Eventually, the smoke cleared and Cell saw the armless Android 16 below. He charged at 16. "Bastard!"
16 responded by charging up towards him. Cell hissed in rage, prepared to tackle his foe back to the ground, but then the hands came back into the picture, delivering separate strikes to his stomach and face. Cell was stunned and 16 took advantage. Allowing his arms time to reattach, 16 spun in the air and sent Cell crashing down with a spinning axe kick to the back of the head.
Cell plummeted to the ground below, hitting it hard enough to bounced ten feet into the air. 16 landed after him, plucking the Android out of freefall and then slamming him down into the ground even harder. The earth fissured from the force of Cell being driven into it, a massive hole forming from how deep the monster had been driven into the ground. And then, the Android removed his hands and aimed the stumps at the hole. Slowly, they began to emit a high-pitched sound and glow with golden light. "This is the end, Cell, now burn..."
16 fires the blast into the hole, resulting in the entire island shaking. "...in my Hell's Flash!"
The ground all across the barren island began to glow with a hot, golden light. The rock became soft under 17 and 18's feet and they began to sink, both of them quickly taking to the air. Portions of the island began to bubble up and erupt with energy and molten rock and waves began to crest high into the sky around the entire island. 16 stood at the center of it all, a focused look on his face. Soon enough, the attack waned and the Android was left standing there.
Android 18 called out to him. "That was incredible, 16!"
16 turned to her and smiled, walking back. "It was my best attack. A beam so powerful that it should have been able to incinerate Cell into nothing."
Android 17 was staring in disbelief. "So... if we had actually found Goku..."
16 nodded. "When we find Son Goku, I plan to eliminate him with just as much prejudice as I did Cell."
18 sighed. "Well, that's certainly-"
A clomping footstep echoed out and all three Androids turned their attention in its direction. A shaky voice spoke, a slight echo surrounding it. "A-Already planning on running off and facing Goku, are we...?"
16 turned, glaring towards a smoking crater. "I appear to have miscalculated the amount of force necessary for total obliteration. But only by a minor margin..."
From out of the smoke, Cell appeared. The beast was in seriously bad shape, one of his arms missing and his right eye hanging out of socket. He was seriously burned and his wings were fried. "You Red Ribbon reject...I will show you true hell..."
16 started to march towards Cell. But then, Cell fanned his remaining hand in front of his face and shouted. "SOLAR FLARE!"
The hulking Android was blinded, recoiling in pain. Cell's shrieking laugh echoed out, and he took to the air. But, 16 was able to hear the sound of Cell's mid-air movements. He reached out, grabbed the monster by the tail just short of him reaching 17 and 18, and then tossed him across the island. Cell gurgled in pain and 16 called out. "Your attempts to sneak around will not work here! My senses are attuned to pick up any slight disturbance! So long as I stand between you and them, you will never touch 17 and 18!"
Cell stood there, raggedly breathing for a moment. But then, he started to chuckle. "So... long as you stand between us, huh?"
16 flinched. Cell looked at him, a devilish scowling smirk on his face. "Then, I suppose you'll just have to be removed!"
And then, to the shock of the three Androids, Cell's skin crystalized, and then split open down the middle. From within the old husk, a new Cell emerged. This one was pristine, free of damage and signs of a struggle. Cell was dripping with fluid, chuckling as he tossed his old shell aside. "You are an adept tactician, Android 16. You take your time and observe a situation before you act. You certainly understand how to utilize that Data Input ability of yours...but..."
And then, Cell's power burst forth with renewed vigor. The sheer, overwhelming force of it was enough to send both 17 and 18 flying back. 16 had to resist being shoved as well, clouds of dust washing over him. The hulking Android was taken aback. "How?! Where did this power come from?!"
Cell spoke with pure amusement in his voice. "Slow acting software is little more than expensive trash~"
And then, a blast flew out of the dust and smashed into the side of 16's face. The hulking Android went flying back, landing at the feet of his friends. 18 cried out. "16!"
She and 17 both fell to their knees to tend to their friend. 18 turned 16's head and found that half of it was missing, the cranial case blasted apart and the eye burned over. 16 groaned, barely opening the other eye to see 17 and 18 both in tears. "What...happened...?"
Clomping footsteps. 17 and 18 both fearfully looked up and saw Cell was approaching. "You nearly killed me, 16. You did. But there is one ironic twist to all of this that you could never have suspected. And that, my friend, is called the Zenkai Boost~!"
Cell gesticulated with his hands as he walked. "You see Saiyans, such as your much maligned Goku, have a factor in their genetics that allows them to gain incredible boosts in fighting prowess after recovering from injury. The more life-threatening the injury, the bigger the boost. So, if you combine that factor with the heavy endurance, I get from Frieza's genes and the recovery factor I was blessed with from Piccolo..."
He smirked. "Well, let's just say your Hell's Flash backfired in quite a unique way~"
Cell was looming over the three Androids, his long shadow overtaking them more and more by the second. "You chose to rely on metrics and percentages to tell you whether you'd succeed or not. Perhaps leaving a 1% chance of error. But, oh my, 1% is so much more than people give it credit for being!"
The monster stopped short, holding his hand up and aiming it at 16. "But, because of that, you are now a non-issue 16. Thank you for the distraction, though. It was...a blast~"
Cell cackled as he charged a blast in his hand. 17 and 18 both threw up their energy shields, but Cell knew it was pointless. He was going to kill 16 and then achieve his goal.
But, before he could fire, another attack struck Cell in the back. "TURTLE SCHOOL LAST RESORT!"
The lightning attack slammed into Cell and the monster screeched, his attack dispersing in his hand. 17 and 18 both dropped their shields, staring in shock as Cell was brought to his knees by the pain from the attack. The monster scowled and glared off to the side. "Who is the dead man...?"
The Androids looked over as well. 18, for lack of a better reaction, blushed bright red and screamed at the top of her lungs, covering her eyes.
Standing there was Bardock, clearly struggling to stay on his feet. "Hey! You don't get to win yet..."
He shook his head. "N-Not while...I can...still...fight..."
On Kami's Lookout...
Goku and the others all breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of Bardock standing there, still alive. Even if he was currently facing down an enemy that he had no chance of winning against, if was still comforting to know that the patriarch of the family hadn't shuffled off the mortal coil quite yet. Goku, however, still looked concerned. "Th-This isn't good though. Dad is up, but he's barely up..."
Future Ranch couldn't make herself look directly into the crystal ball, but she still commented. "I mean, for him to be on his feet at all...Grandpa Bardock must be made of steel..."
Gohan chuckled, punching at the air. "Nah! Steel dents! Grandpa Bardock doesn't!"
Gine's face was bright red, her hand placed over her eyes. "He's certainly as dense as steel..."
"He is...a man to be highly regarded..."
Everyone practically jumped out of their seats. They all turned their heads in shock and stared at the person who had returned to their side. Mr. Popo was standing there, looking concerned. But, next to him and using his Guardian's Staff as support, was Kami.
Goku's face lit up. "Kami! You're okay!"
Gohan gasped. "And, if Kami's okay, then that means..."
Kami touched his hand to the crystal ball. Sliding it over, the image went from Bardock facing down Cell to Piccolo laying on the shore, his torso still damaged. The Namekian was still out cold. Kami leaned against the table, his breathing forced and heavy. "B-Bardock...he saved Piccolo from drowning..."
However, in spite of being alive, the Guardian still looked quite gaunt. His face was flush. "But even though he saved Piccolo, the situation is still quite dire. There is...at the moment...no one on Earth who can defeat Cell..."
Kami stared bitterly into the crystal ball. "I predict that things will...only get worse...before they get better..."
Back on the battlefield...
Cell turned away from the Androids, facing directly toward Bardock. "You should have just stayed buried in the rubble. You could have died there, blissfully unaware of the horrors this world was doomed to face..."
Bardock sneered. But then, rather than responding to Cell, he called out. "Tien! Krillin! How long are you two just going to stand there, huh?!"
Cell flinched, but then watched with amusement as Krillin and Tien both landed next to Bardock, looks of dread on their faces. Cell laughed out loud at the sight of them, a dark cackle that echoed out. "Is this a joke?!"
Bardock gripped his fist, his Super Saiyan power barely managing to turned his hair whitish-blonde. "Hell no! We're all protectors of this planet! It doesn't matter how strong we are, we're here to stop you from just having your way! No matter how much of our blood has to be spilled..."
Cell was non-plussed, staring at Bardock with an amused look in his eye. He turned and looked at both Krillin and Tien, the two of them blushing and trying to avoid eye contact. He looked over and saw that 17 was staring in disbelief and that 18 had he hands over her eyes. Finally, Bardock snapped. "What's the problem here?! You jackasses all go deaf or something?!"
In response to that, Tien ripped off his green toga and extended it over to Bardock. Bardock took it and stared at it. "What the hell is this for?!"
Tien couldn't make himself speak. Krillin coughed. "Bardock...look down..."
The older Saiyan did and flinched. "Oh crap! Where are my pants?! D-Did I lose them when I went into the ocean...?"
Tien shook his head. "Please...cover your shame..."
Bardock groaned, taking Tien's toga and wrapping it about himself like a fundoshi. He glared at Cell. "So, I lost my pants! So what?! Such formalities don't make a difference!"
Tien and Krillin both nodded, each of them taking a fighting stance alongside Bardock. Bardock snarled. "You won't achieve perfection so long as we're here to stop you!"
Cell snarled. "No more pretense! DIE!"
And then, with a sweeping motion, Cell launched a Death Wave that sent all three of the warriors flying back with a massive explosion. With those interlopers out of the way, Cell immediately turned and charged towards 17 and 18. But, stopping the monster in his tracks, Bardock got between him and the Androids and the two clashed. Cell was furious. "Are you so stupid to think that you can win?! You haven't even healed from your last beating! So, no Zenkai for you!"
Cell raised his hand into the air and smashed Bardock across the back with a clubbing blow. Bardock was forced to bend, but refused to even fall to his knees by taking on a firm, wide stance. He glared up at Cell and snarled through gritted teeth, blood spurting from his mouth. "Who says I need one?!"
The monster flinched, briefly frightened by Bardock's almost supernatural toughness. He scowled and charged a blast. "Withstand this one, you fool!"
Before Cell could launched the attack, though, two more attacks began to shine above him. Cell turned and saw Tien and Krillin both hanging above, each charging an attack. Tien shouted and thrust his finger. "Super Dodon Ray!"
Krillin shouted after him. "Electric Kamehameha!"
The piercing beam shot into Cell's back, and the electrified energy wave overtook him. Cell was brought to his knees, and then Tien landed and locked the monster into a full nelson. Krillin landed as well, forming a Destructo-Disc. But Tien quickly shouted to him. "No! That won't do any good! You know it won't!"
Krillin flinched. "Then, what do I-"
Cell was back to his feet, struggling in Tien's grip. "Get the hell off of me!"
Tien was straining, but he called out to Krillin. "Just get the Androids out of here! If you can attend to them and help them escape, Bardock and I will hold off Cell!"
Krillin was stunned, feeling a certain object slap against his chest in his shirt. Tien grunted as Cell jerked around. "Y-You know what you have to do, Krillin..."
As Cell was about to break loose, Bardock came shooting up with a knee strike to the monster's throat. The older Saiyan called over to the monk. "Tien's right! Help those three get out of Cell's range!"
Krillin was shaking as he watched Tien and Bardock struggle against Cell. This was it. This was the moment. Slowly turning, Krillin saw 16, 17, and 18 on the ground. They were all battered all to hell and staring up at him. Krillin pressed his hand to his chest, feeling cold metal against his skin. And then, he shouted. "Hurry! We gotta get you three moving!"
17 and 18 were both stunned. Krillin was shaking. He squeezed his eyes shut and shouted. "Didn't you hear me?! Pick up your friend and get going! I'll cover you from the rear!"
18 stared up at Krillin. "Y-You..."
17 shook his head. "What is wrong with these people...?"
But, 17 and 18 complied. In spite of their shock at receiving assistance from people they had been in a brutal conflict with mere minutes ago, the two Androids hoisted 16 over their shoulders. They continued to stare at Krillin, seemingly unwilling to turn their backs to him. But then, 16 spoke. "His...eyes..."
18 turned to her damaged friend. "What?"
16's damaged cranial case sparked. "His eyes...they're genuine...we can...trust...him..."
The sibling Androids looked at 16, and then to one another. After a quick nod, they both turned and started to run towards the nearest shore. Krillin followed. "Why don't you guys just fly away?!"
17 called back. "Can't you see how damaged 16 is?! The sudden jolt might kill him! We're playing this safe for his sake!"
Krillin flinched, but then he nodded. "R-Right..."
Watching as the two objects of his desire began to flee, Cell's struggling immediately went from annoyed to desperate. He thrashed and bucked, trying to shake Bardock and Tien off of himself. "No! Not like this! I won't tolerate this! I won't just stand by and let you bastards take what is rightfully mine from me!"
But, in spite of Cell's thrashing, Bardock and Tien managed to hold him firmly in place. Tien grunted as he stomped his foot down on the stinger of Cell's tail. "Everything is up to Krillin now!"
With Krillin and the Androids...
Watching as the Androids ran ahead of him, Krillin's mind immediately went to the metal hunk pressing right over his heart: the Shutdown Remote. Krillin reached into his shirt and his fingers traced over it, feeling the shape of the button. He glanced back at Cell, rampaging and screaming about perfection, and then forward at the Androids that would grant him that perfection.
This was it. It was time to put all of the evil that Dr. Gero has unleashed onto the world to bed for good. For everyone at Papaya Town. For all of Cell's victims. For everyone in the Future Trio's timeline. It was Krillin's duty to slay these monsters once and for all.
But, as he pulled the remote from his shirt, Krillin felt nothing but doubt.
He stared at 17 and 18. He stared at 16. And he started to think back to everything he had observed since he had met these two, face-to-face. Krillin thought to himself. 'Monsters...? Are they really... monsters...?'
"Can't you see how damaged 16 is?! The sudden jolt might kill him! We're playing this safe for his sake!"
Krillin thought more. 'They all act so...human...'
"This planet and everyone on it deserve to live happy, peaceful lives. Lives free of the horrors, such as Cell, that Dr. Gero would dare to inflict on them. Although I am also one of his creations, I cannot allow such horrors to go unchecked. Especially ones that would dare lay their hands upon my two, cherished companions..."
Krillin thought more. 'They care about things. They care about each other. They love each other and are willing to give up everything for each other...'
"59%?! That's still a 41% chance of you dying! That's...that's unacceptable! We...we can't lose you! You're our friend! You're our only friend, 16!"
Krillin's hand trembled as he stopped running. 'They don't act anything like Frieza...'
"I already know what you're going to say. And no, I don't think they deserve to die either. They might have stepped in when they were asked not to...but they were just trying to help their friend. Just like you would do for me or vice-versa."
Krillin held the remote in both hands. 'So, if I can't say they're monsters, and yet I'm still willing to kill them...'
The monk caught sight of his face reflected in the metal of the controller. 'Then what does that make me...?'
As the three Androids ran, 18's conscience was starting to get the better of her. She could hear the sounds of Bardock and Tien struggling against Cell in the distance. Even if she did fear for her life, as well as 17 and 16's lives, 18 still didn't want anything terrible to happen to these three, all of whom were so willing to give up everything to help them. And so, compassion bubbling from within, 18 turned and shouted. "Hey, short guy, once we're in the air, you should go and help your-"
18's heart skipped a beat, a cold chill running down her spine. She came to a dead stop, making 17 and 16 both crash to the ground with their momentum. 17 struggled out from under 16, the big guy's weight pressing down on him. "18! What the hell are you doing?!"
18 was shaking with fear. "17...h-he...he has..."
17 glared at Krillin, and then he gasped in shock. "IS THAT GERO'S SHUTDOWN REMOTE?!"
The very sight of that remote shattered what little confidence 17 and 18 had left. Severely beaten, barely able to run, and with their massive protector lying damaged in a heap, 17 and 18 hadn't been this helpless since before Gero had modified them. And now, here they were, at the mercy of someone holding a remote that could do more damage than any punch or energy attack.
17 was furious. "You son of a bitch! You had this planned from the start, didn't you?! You lousy, back-stabbing piece of shit!"
18 was shaking, her hand pressed right over her heart on her chest. She remembered the pain of Gero pressing that button. She remembered the fear of what Gero brandishing that thing had instilled in her. And, with very little else to do, tears began to roll down 18's cheeks. "No... please. Don't use that. Not again..."
Back with Cell...
Those two words drew Cell's attention like no words had done before. His head jerked in the direction of Android 17 and Android 18 and the bio-Android monstrosity cried out in genuine fear. "SHUTDOWN REMOTE?!"
Cell's eyes widened at the sight of that damned device in Krillin's hand, a silver and black box with a big, red button. "No!"
With more strength than he had displayed before that moment, Cell slammed Tien to the ground and charged a massive blast in his hand. "No! Get away from them!"
The monster fired the blast, but Bardock quickly leapt in the way, absorbing the impact with his body. He crashed to the ground and coughed up smoke. Cell screeched and tried to charge, but he was suddenly held in place by an unseen force. He shakily glanced back and saw that Tien had used the Multiform technique. And that each of the four Tien's were utilizing the same telekinetic abilities that Cell had used on 16 earlier. Tien was struggling, sweat pouring down his face, but he smirked. "I'm not as good at this as Chiaotzu...but at least this doesn't require ki to use..."
And then, Tien shouted. "KRILLIN! END THIS ONCE AND FOR ALL!"
Bardock was confused, struggling to get upright. "What's going on...?"
Tien smirked as Cell struggled. "Krillin has a special remote made by Bulma. It can shut the Androids off and that would allow Krillin to destroy them!"
The three-eyed warrior strained as Cell bucked against the telekinetic hold. "And then Cell's dreams of perfection are dead in the water!"
Cell screamed out, helpless and unable to move. He was at his wit's end, his mind reducing to that of a wild animal. "NO! NOT AGAIN! THIS CAN'T HAPPEN AGAIN!"
Back with the Androids...
Faced with all of the noise around him, Krillin was lost in a fog. And the only thing he could see through that fog were the big, fearful, tear-filled eyes of Android 18. She looked as if she had been to Hell and back. Muted in the distance were the sounds of 17 ranting against humanity and 16 just trying to push himself up. In that back of his head, Krillin heard a voice he trusted more than any other voice in his life.
"I always trust you to do the right thing, bud. I know, as long as we leave that remote in your hands, everything will work out just fine. So, just, follow your heart and do what you feel needs to be done. Okay?"
Muted even further in the distance was the sounds of Cell's panicked screaming. But, Krillin could only focus on the feeling of his thumb trembling against that impossibly heavy button. His brain was screaming to push it. But his heart was screaming otherwise.
Krillin looked down at his reflection in the shining metal of the remote, envisioning the image of Android 18 kissing him on the cheek.
"You're a good guy. Try to never lose that good guy charm, okay?"
And then, everyone from the Androids, to Bardock and Tien, to Cell, to the spectators on the Lookout all gasped in shock, falling silent. The longest three seconds in the history of the Earth passed as, from Krillin's hands, the Shutdown Remote fell to the ground.
And then, in a single instant, Krillin raised his foot and stomped the controller, the one thing that could permanently end Cell's machinations, to pieces.
17 and 18 both stood there, mouths agape and eyes wide in disbelief. And then, Krillin mumbled under his breath. "Just...go..."
Back with Cell...
All four Tiens were stunned silent. Bardock, meanwhile, did manage to scream one thing. "YOU GODDAMNED IDIOT!"
And then Cell let loose the most inhuman shriek ever heard by anyone present. With force and with purpose, he burst free of the telekinetic shackles that Tien had used to trap him, the force of the psychic blowback sending all four Tiens and Bardock flying across the rocky ground.
Cell let loose a positively demonic laugh, knowing that nothing existed that could stop him now, and then he rushed towards the Androids and Krillin with his tail raised to strike.
Back with Krillin and the Androids...
Krillin watched as 17 and 18 both flinched back in terror. He could hear the clomping footsteps behind him, he knew what was coming his way. But, with calm resignation in his voice, Krillin spoke up. "Didn't you two hear me...?"
Cell hissed with delight, his tail shooting directly at Krillin's back. It looked as if the monk was finished. Krillin sadly glanced at 17 and 18. And then, the monk dropped. The tail shot right over him and, with all of his might, Krillin delivered a shattering kick to Cell's face that made the monster crash into a heap. As Cell crashed, Krillin turned and shouted at the two. "GO! GO NOW! PICK UP 16 AND GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE! IF YOU GET FAR ENOUGH AWAY AND HIDE, HE'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO FIND YOU! SO, GO!"
Cell was already back on his feet. "You little-"
Krillin thrust his fingers forward. "Destructo-Dart!"
Two shredding beams shot out of Krillin's fingers and directly into Cell's eye sockets, making the monster's eyes burst like grapes. Cell snarled. "Agh! Damn you!"
And then, for added effect, Krillin threw a Destructo-Disc that took off Cell's arm. That disc flew high, breaking into four discs, and then Krillin brought them back down and sliced off Cell's other three limbs and his tail. And then, finally, Krillin leapt on top of the stunned bio-Android's torso and started pummeling him with all of his might.
18 stared at the sight of this, unsure of how to react. But, 17 was quick to call her back into reality. "18! We need to hurry up and get the hell out of here! Grab 16's other arm!"
Android 18 nodded. "R-Right..."
She crawled under 16's other arm, picking up her hulking friend. And then, the two Androids started to run as fast as their legs would carry them.
But, as they ran, 18 couldn't help but glance back. And each time she did, she caught a little more of the hopeless struggle that Krillin was caught in. It didn't take Cell long to get back onto his freshly regrown feet. And it took him even less time to start beating Krillin mercilessly. But, no matter how hard the thrashing from the monster was, Krillin got back up every time to continue holding the monster off.
The Androids continued to run, making their desperate bid for freedom. But, as they did, 18's eyes hit the ground. Shame and guilt were starting to weigh on her more and more by the second. Gingerly, 18 reached into her pocket and pulled out the deputy ranger badge she had gotten on her trip to Kumagoon with 17 and 16. A tangible reminder of her words before, that you weren't supposed to just leave people like they were nothing. That running away from problems at the expense of others was wrong.
She looked down at the flaking gold coating of the slightly crushed badge and saw her reflection in it. Black eye, busted lip, ruined hair, and all other manner of damage she had received today. And she gripped it tight. "Being human...it's protecting things that you care about...right, 16?"
17 and 16 both looked over at 18. Her eyes were hidden behind the frayed fringes of hair that were still long enough to reach that far. "If you love and care about something, then you protect it. Bardock made it clear that he's protecting us from Cell because he loves this plant and his friends that live on it. That Tien guy basically said the same thing too..."
She gripped the badge harder. "But...why is that little guy, Krillin, protecting us? He had the shutdown remote. He could have killed us both and this would have all been over. If this was just about protecting his friends...then he could have fixed everything right there..."
16 was struggling to even stay conscious, but he managed to speak. "It would seem that...logic has...been superseded by morals..."
17 was confused. "What?!"
16 continued. "Krillin is a... good being. He views innocent life as something too precious to simply steal away. He's pure-hearted and noble, as are most of Goku's friends and allies. So, I suppose...he simply saw the same thing within the both of you that... I did..."
17 shook his head, continuing to focus on escape. "You sure know how to pick 'em, 18."
18 flinched. "What do you mean by...?"
And then, that quip made Android 18 think back. In her mind, she remembered the cheeky little peck on the cheek that she had given to Krillin. A nothing gesture. She was messing with him. She thought nothing of it.
But now, as Krillin laid his life down to defend them from Cell...18's heart skipped yet another beat. But this time, instead of being accompanied by a chill of fear, 18's entire chest felt warm.
At this point, the Androids had reached the end of the island. They were home free. Escape was inevitable. They would vanish and, just like Krillin said, Cell would never find them. But right as they reached the edge of the water, Android 18 spoke again. "16...17..."
The both turned to her. She shook her head. "No... Lapis, Gebo...I love you both so much. I need you to promise to keep each other safe..."
17 flinched. "18, what are you talking about...?"
18 looked up at her two brothers, the people she loved the most in the world, and tears sparkled in her eyes. "I don't know what to say, guys. I guess...I'm just too damned human to leave someone like that to die..."
17 gasped. 16 tried to grab her. "Wait...!"
But, before either of them could do anything to prevent her from going, Android 18 let go of 16's arm and charged back into the fray.
Over with Krillin and Cell...
With a raging scream, Cell slammed Krillin into the ground. He snarled. "I'm so sick of all of these goddamned meddlers getting in my way! I'm not putting up with it anymore!"
And then, Cell's tail raised high, the shadow of the stinger looming right over Krillin's heart. As the deadly needle came crashing down, Krillin closed his eyes. As he did, he thought to himself. 'I guess this is where it ends...I'm sorry Bardock, Tien...I hope you guys can forgive me one day...'
And then, a stabbing pain hit Krillin's chest. But not the stabbing pain he was expecting. Krillin started to fly back and he opened his eyes, looking down to see that a black-gloved hand had pushed him away. And, upon further inspection, Krillin saw that the stabbing pain in his chest was not the stinger of Cell's tail, but a golden badge being stabbed through his shirt.
Krillin slowly looked up, and he gasped in shock. Android 18 was right there, a warm smile on her face. And Cell's tail stinger stabbed right through her back, coming out of her chest on the other side. 18 spoke, never losing her smile, barely above a whisper. "Thank you..."
Cell looked shocked. But that shock quickly turned into a triumphant smile. Lightning quick, the monster kicked Krillin away like trash and then smashed 18 into the ground. He ripped his tail out of her, lifting it into the air and opening his stinger to revealing the fleshy orifice within. At the funnel-shaped structure descended upon her, 18 looked up from the dirt and smiled at Krillin one more time. She closed her tired, beaten eyes and a single tear slid down her cheek. "Later~"
17 screamed in silence.
Krillin cried out in silence.
Tien angrily in silence.
And Bardock simply braced himself for the worst.
And then, breaking that silence, Cell let loose a high-pitched shriek of triumph as energy started bursting from every seam of his body. Lightning crackled out from his, shredding across the island. The sea boiled as if atop a scalding hot stove. Cloud rushed in to block out the sun. A hurricane of dust and debris surrounded Cell, only showing frightening shadows of his body warping and re-shaping within.
Android 18 was gone, and that spelled doom for everyone else on the island.
At Kame House...
Massive tidal waves threatened to capsize Kame House as the howling wind shredded across the ocean. All of the palm fronds were ripped off of Roshi's tree, his windows shattering from the sheer pressure of the hurricane of power that was going on mere miles away.
As the waves crashed down, Oolong and Puar both acted quickly. They each transformed into a massive wave breaker, let the waves crash against them and reducing them to a heaving rain that poured down onto Kame House.
The non-Ki-sensitive humans were relieved to be saved from the natural disaster, when Launch even calling out. "Good job you two!"
Puar was cheery. "Thank you~"
Oolong was a grump. "I'm water-logged..."
For the ki sensitive, however, the situation was a lot different. Baby Ranch was crying her eyes out, fearful of what was going on in the distance. Chi-Chi was violently vomiting in the sink, the sinister presence making her baby act up within her, and Yamcha was left stuttering in disbelief as he sat in place on the wet sand. "We're dead. We're all dead..."
On Kami's Lookout...
Kami shuddered, nearly falling to the ground once again. But, Mr. Popo and Goku helped the Guardian right himself. Kami's hands were shaking as he braced himself against a table. "This power...the wicked depths of this power..."
His naturally-sharp Namekian clawed scraped gashes into the wood of the table. "And to think, he's only managed to absorb one of them..."
The Saiyans were all equally aghast of the horrifying new strength they were feeling. It was clear that, were Cell not unstoppable before, he certainly was now. Gohan and Future Ranch were both visibly panicking. Gine was worriedly staring at the sight of her utterly fatigued husband in the crystal ball, knowing just how hopeless his situation was.
Goku, meanwhile, glared in the direction of the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. "Ugh...Mr. Popo...?"
Mr. Popo turned to Goku. "Vegeta's group still has a full 10 minutes until their year is up..."
Back on the battlefield...
The smoke and debris cleared, but the lightning was still crackling. Within the dust cloud that had been whipped up, a massive shadow loomed just above an ugly scar that had been burned into the ground. Slowly, noise started to emerge from within.
Cell's clomping footsteps hit the ground, now sounding like heavy pistons firing off. And then two more footsteps followed that. And then two more.
And then, a harsh wind blew the dust away and a massive form was brought into view. This looming creature that took the place of the monster from before was a sight to behold. Instead of the v-shaped, bicorn headpiece, a slanted backwards headpiece had formed around a large, black orb in the center. Instead of wings, a massive wingless torso bulged out. And supporting that torso was a six-legged, bulging orange abdomen. An exoskeleton with the same pattern as Cell's former tail traced along the top of this abdomen, ending with a massive stinger on the very end. A massive smile stretching under a newly formed nose, over an orange chinstrap, and between two sharp, grizzly-looking mandibles.
This creature stood there, towering at eight-feet tall. Taller than Bardock, Tien, Krillin, 17, and even 16. And then its eyes opened, revealing a pair of pink, shimmering irises. These irises quickly shifted across the battlefield, landing right on the creatures next target.
And then, in a high-pitched voice, Cell glowered. "17~"
