In Cell's search for 18, he was high in the air over an archipelago, destroying one island after another in an attempt to flush her out, making sure that his blasts weren't powerful enough to outright destroy 18. When there was just one island left, which was the one that 18 and 16 were hiding on, Cell raised his hand to blow it up like the others when he sensed a powerful energy approach him from behind. He turned just as a figure surrounded by a glowing yellow aura arrived.
"Vegeta," Cell said in surprise.
"Yes, and you must be Cell," Vegeta replied with mirth.
The two descended to the island, and 18, who was watching from afar, was surprised to see that it was Vegeta.
"So tell me, Vegeta," Cell began, smirking at him. "Why have you come? Surely you must know there is no way you can defeat me."
"Oh, I'm not here to do something as paltry as defeating you," Vegeta said back ominously. "I'm here to pulverize you."
Cell laughed at Vegeta's threat, while 18 was confused by Vegeta's bravado. When she last saw him he had been handedly beaten by her.
"To think that my cells were used to create something as ugly as you," Vegeta jeered. "But it's obvious that's where you got most of your strength."
Suddenly another figure appeared, and Trunks landed behind Vegeta. "Well if it isn't Trunks. So, it's going to be two on one."
"No, he's just here to watch," Vegeta declared.
"So just you and me, is it?" asked Cell. "That won't be much of a challenge."
"Yes, for me."
Cell smirked dubiously. "You honestly believe you're powerful enough to take me by yourself?"
"Are you both deaf and disgusting?" Vegeta shot back confidently. "I'm more than capable of destroying you on my own."
"Yeah right, he's going to need a miracle just to survive," said 18 from her hiding place. "16, we should take the chance to run."
"No," 16 disagreed. "We must wait until they are distracted by their fight. And do not underestimate Vegeta. His power has grown significantly since we last saw him."
"But how?" she asked, confused looking back at the scene. "It's only been a few days, and he wasn't holding back during our fight."
Vegeta then said, "Enough, let's get this started." Vegeta started yelling as he powered up, surprising Trunks that he was going to start with that form right at the start. When Vegeta finished powering up into Super Saiyan grade 2, his muscle mass grew and his hair, somehow, became even spikier. Smirking menacingly, he rushed in and punched the shocked Cell in the stomach with such tremendous force that it sent Cell reeling.
Within the depths of the time chamber a few weeks passed for Raditz and Ranch. Goku had warned his brother of what he would face in the chamber, from the gravity to the lack of oxygen and to the extreme temperatures. Raditz and Ranch wasted no time in getting their training started so that they could acclimate as quickly as they could. They started things off in their base form, and the next day they went all out in Super Saiyan. When Raditz felt that they had gotten used to being in the chamber, and that they had developed a good routine, he decided to try a different bit of training.
They stood in the abyss of the chamber, having just about finished another day of training, and Ranch was looking forward to a bit of rest. Raditz, however, had a different idea. "Ranch, have you ever transformed into your great ape form?" asked Raditz, as they stood in the abyss.
Thinking back, Ranch replied, "Once when I was a kid." One night Gohan, Trunks, and Ranch had been sleeping in a cave during a full moon. She woke up late in the night and went outside to use the bathroom without thinking. From what she was told she had transformed and went on a rampage, but thankfully clouds covered the moon back up soon after.
"So you never learned to control it," Raditz reasoned. He smirked. "That'll change during our time here."
"But how?" she asked, perplexed. "There's not even a moon in here."
"Like this." Raditz lifted his hand and concentrated to produce a glowing ball. "This will simulate a full moon. So what do you say?"
"Should we really do this now?" she asked with concern. "You're wiped out too, aren't you?"
"Of course I am," he replied with pride. "But that's exactly why I want to do this now. Producing an artificial moon takes a lot of energy. So much so that this is normally a last resort. Therefore this is the ideal situation to use this."
Ranch hesitated, but ultimately braced herself and nodded. "Okay," she said, removing her red ribbon and tucking it away. "But what about our armor? Won't it bust off?"
"Not if Bulma is as good as she says she is." Raditz threw the ball into the air, and although the ball's glow was almost out shown by the white, empty void, Ranch could still feel the artificial moonlight hit her. She stared transfixed at where the ball was, and felt something primal begin to course through her blood, losing consciousness in the process. Raditz openly embraced the light, allowing the great ape within him to come out.
The two Saiyans began growing, getting bulkier, taller, and hairier. Their manes of long, black hair receded; their faces grew a snout; and somehow their armor grew with them. Once they were fully grown, Ranch let off a mighty howl as Raditz looked on. Ranch then noticed Raditz, howled once more, and charged at him with her arms raised. Grinning, Raditz met her head on.
On the lookout, Piccolo, Goku, Tien, and Gohan were spectating what was happening on the island, and all but Goku were astonished at the amount of power Vegeta was unleashing. Vegeta removed his fist from Cell's gut, causing Cell to stumble backwards in pain. Vegeta then rushed in and sent him into the sky with an uppercut. Vegeta went up into the air to beat on Cell some more before hitting back into the ground, causing the ground to crumble, and the rock that Trunks was standing on began to fall in to the sea.
Trunks floated up into the sky, but instead of landing by Vegeta and Cell, he rose higher and to survey his surroundings. What Ranch had told him rang in his ears. No games, they had to finish it—and since his father was easily dealing with Cell, Trunks decided it was time for search for the cyborgs.
"Hide!" 16 suddenly said.
"What?" 18 asked, looking around at him.
"He is searching for us! Hide!"
"Don't you think you're over reacting? Sure, Vegeta got stronger, but the kid?"
"Yes, his power also increased. You must get out of sight!"
18 nodded. "Alright, I'll take your word for it, but you're coming with me."
"No, I will only slow you down," said 16. "If you aren't destroyed by them then you'll end up absorbed by Cell. You must hide!"
18 knew he was right. With a lot of effort, she said, "Fine! But I'm coming back for you!" She turned and began to run away from the scene.
Meanwhile, 16 managed to stand up despite his damage, and looked up in to the sky. He kept is eye up at Trunks, who was still searching for them. On the ground Vegeta had given Cell the opportunity to power up, not wanting the abomination to hold back on him. At the same time Krillin was nearing the island with the remote in hand, amazed at what he was feeling up ahead.
Ranch and Raditz were both firing Double Sundays at each other, trying to overpower one another. The beams were colliding in the middle, as both of them were exerting all their effort to not be overtaken. Unfortunately, though, since she had only just learned the technique from him he had a better grip on it. As Ranch felt herself get pushed back, she knew that she had no other choice. With a yell she focused her energy and went Super Saiyan, and right after she did Raditz transformed as well so as not to get left in the dust.
The beams got even larger, and I felt as if the atmosphere around them intensified with it. They were both being pushed to the limit, and both had every intention of going beyond it. If outside the chamber Trunks and Vegeta didn't succeed, then Ranch and Raditz had no other choice but to get stronger to face what would surely be an even more dangerous foe.
The stubbornness of the father and daughter was taking its toll on both, as neither wanted to be the one to call it quits first. But eventually Raditz was able to sense how close Ranch was collapsing. Fatherly instincts kicking in (yes, fatherly instincts, it wasn't because he was getting exhausted as well—not at all), Raditz stopped his attack, and immediately used another energy blast to propel himself out of the way of Ranch's beam. Her beam flew off into the void, and in the distance there was a huge explosion.
"Oh man," Ranch said, hunching over tiredly. She took a short breather, but then smirked at her dad. "So, did you feel it?"
Raditz nodded knowingly. "We're close. Let's stop and get something to eat."
"Not just yet." Ranch again put her ribbon away for safe keeping, held her hand out, palm up, and began to concentrate, doing exactly like Raditz told her. With what was left of her stamina, Ranch managed to produce a glowing ball. Looking over at Raditz, who gave Ranch the go ahead, she threw the ball into the air. This time, she managed to stay somewhat lucid as she transformed.
Cell finished powering up. Up above Trunks was still searching for the cyborgs, and Krillin had arrived. Cell then went in and punched Vegeta in the face. Vegeta may have gotten moved back some, but to Cell's horror Vegeta merely stood back up right and wiped the blood off his lip with a smile. "Too bad. That was your one shot." Vegeta then began to wail on Cell.
Krillin was absolutely amazed by how much stronger Vegeta had gotten. He was watching the one-sided fight, when he spotted out of the corner of his eye somebody running—it was 18! Seeing his chance, Krillin made to follow her, when a beam was shot right by him. 16, seeing that Krillin had found 18, had shot at him. This caught the attention of Trunks.
Trunks flew towards 16, and kicked him, sending the large cyborg tumbling away. "You okay, Krillin?" he called to him, looking up at him.
"Uh…yeah," Krillin said back.
Noticing that Krillin was hold what must have been the remote that Bulma gave him, he told him, "Do what you have to do." Trunks then turned his attention back to 16, while Krillin went on to find 18.
"So," Trunks said to 16, walking towards him as he got back on his feet. "You're programed to kill Goku, is that right?"
16 got into a fighting pose, actually replying, "That is correct."
"To get to him you'll have to beat me first," Trunks told the cyborg, powering up to Super Saiyan. Glowering at him with his one good eye, 16 did not reply in order to delay things so that 18 had a better chance at escaping. "Nothing to say?" When Trunks got closer, 16 threw a punch with his right hand, which Trunks caught effortlessly. As 16 attempted to push, Trunks threw a punch of his own that punctured his guts, which were just filled with mechanical parts.
As that was happening, Vegeta had hit Cell into the ocean, and after he came out of the water, Cell was furious at how outclassed he truly was. Just then a bright light appeared, and Cell looked over just in time to see in the distance Trunks shot a blast into 16's insides, splitting the cyborg in half. 16's torso and legs landed far away from each other, as Cell looked on in shock.
"You see, Cell, even my son is stronger than you," boasted Vegeta. "In fact, he's almost as strong as I am."
"Where is 18?" Cell asked loudly. "Where is she?"
"She'll be taken care of soon enough," Trunks shouted back at him.
Horrified, Cell said to Vegeta in desperation, "Vegeta! Don't you want a proper challenge for your newfound strength? If I absorb 18 I'll become even stronger, and you won't stand a chance."
Intrigued, Vegeta went down to Cell, saying, "You have my attention."
"You see, absorbing one of the cyborgs allowed me to achieve this, my second form," explained Cell. "If I absorb the other than I will become perfection. I would destroy you."
"…Oh really?" Vegeta asked with a smirk.