Chapter Six
Realizations
He tried to concentrate on his meditations as he stood in the center of his arena. Unfortunately his mind was persistent in wandering back to the thoughts of Rowan. He sighed nasally and opened his eyes, staring out at the baron landscape he had created. He saw the dust rising in the distance and let a smirk etch his lips. Moments later the massive air force began to fly overhead, announcing the presence of the rest of the army. Tanks, soldiers, bombers and interceptors. Hundreds upon hundreds of humans trying to take the fight to Cell, to retaliate. He let them come, watched them surround his arena and prepare for the attack. He opened his wings, taking to the air the entire army moving, following him, as he landed on top of a large rocky hill. He waited, watched as the general gave the order and hordes of projectile weapons erupted, bursting towards him.
At best, it maybe singed his fingernails.
The rocky hill beneath him was turned to rubble. He remained where he was, floating in the air, waiting for the smoke to clear. The army was shocked, staring at the creature who wasn't even smoking from the biggest armed strike they could manage.
"I take it from the silence that it's my turn now?" He asked loudly. The army turned, trying to retreat. Cell lifted his hand out, channeled the energy and made the circular motion, tracing where the army was surrounding him. Instantly, they exploded, sending debris raining into the air. Cell laughed and drifted back to his arena, staring at the donut shaped crater that was his handiwork.
"Jerk!" Rowan cursed at the radio. She had been listening to the attack in her home. "You knew they wouldn't hurt you! They were defenseless!" It was pointless yelling at the radio, but it made her feel a little better. She punched the cushions on the couch until she calmed down. She knew the army had been planning attack. It was good for morale of the planet's population, but it was also a waste of human life.
"It was self defense." Rowan whirled around, staring at the android in the doorway. She hadn't even heard him arrive. He had a slight frown on his face. She sneered at him.
"It wasn't self defense. They couldn't hurt you, even if they tried nuking you, and you wiped them out with the flick of a wrist. That's not self defense, it's slaughter!" He shrugged casually.
"Maybe. But I wouldn't beat yourself up about it. No doubt Goku will wish them back." Rowan gave him a quizzical stare.
"Who's Goku?" Cell smirked. He closed the door behind him, made himself comfortable, hovering while he sat down and explained, in as much detail as he could, who the senshi and what the dragon balls were. It was a long time before he finished.
"So there are other aliens on the planet?" She asked hopefully. He smirked.
"Yes. I'm made from their cells." She stared at him for a while but eventually dropped her gaze to her hands.
"I see." She finally said. She turned her gaze back to Cell's. Her gaze was odd though, intense in a way that made him feel strangely uncomfortable. "Did you know he'd wish them back?" Cell hesitated then nodded slowly.
"Although I should say I probably would have, even if I didn't." She frowned, but said nothing. After a while she stood up, walked around the low coffee table and stopped in front of Cell, staring him eye to eye. Her gaze wandered up to the smiley face on his crest and she touched it slowly.
"I have to wonder about you." She said slowly. "You want to destroy the Earth, then you want to conquer it instead. You have unmatchable power and strength, but instead you show mercy, giving the planet ten days to defend itself. To rub salt in the wounds, you blow the army up, there fore removing any true hope the planet has. Panic ensues, but you don't really care. Or maybe you do."
She let her hand drop and stared at his eyes with her intense calculating stare.
"I don't know you anymore." She said it sadly and quietly. He gave her a smile.
"I know." She gave him a weak smile before she turned away and headed to the kitchen.
"What are you going to do now? You have 8 days left until the tournament." He laughed.
"I was hoping you could amuse me. It's rather boring standing in the arena all day long." She gave him an odd glare, emotion flashed across her face, but was gone before he could place it.
"What do you want me to do? If we go anyway, people will panic, run screaming and it would be a complete waste of time." He tilted his head like he used to when he was still in his larval form. It was his way of showing amused curiosity. She smiled inwardly to herself, surprised she could still read his body language.
Rowan let him sit for a moment, the radio still blaring in the background.
"Now with the army destroyed, our hopes are smashed. Who can destroy the evil reign of terror that the tyrant Cell has created?" Rowan stared at the radio then back to Cell.
"Evil reign of terror? Tyrant? Get the feeling your not liked?" Cell laughed.
"They can hate me all they want. It doesn't worry me." She chuckled as she filled her kettle with water. Cell lowered his legs then, standing again. He covered the distance between himself and Rowan in a few steps. She felt herself flush from the sudden proximity. He was right in front of her. He suddenly offered his hand, indicating the kettle. She handed it to him. Less then a second later, the kettle whistled and he handed it back. She smiled and hid her flushed face from him by staring at the kettle. He stared, strange foreign emotions fluttering across his face then disappearing.
"Thanks." He inclined his head before turning away from her. She made the tea and offered one to Cell again. He took it, staring at it for a moment.
"It's not poison." She said absently. He chuckled and took a sip of it.
"I remember when you used to hate drinking tea." She shrugged.
"It's a lot cheaper then juice. I have to watch my spending now I have no income." He shrugged.
"I doubt anybody really cares about money now." He said. She smiled.
"No. I have you to thank for that." He chuckled.
It was a good afternoon. They spent most of the time talking about old times. It made Rowan happier then she thought it would. But it was good to just chat. She never realized how much she had truly missed Seru's company.
It was getting late, and Rowan yawned, feeling tired. Cell smirked at her.
"You should sleep." He said. She smiled at him.
"What about you? You used to sleep most of the day away." He shrugged.
"I don't need to sleep. I don't need to eat. There is no desire to do so." She frowned slightly but said nothing. She headed towards the shower, closing the curtains behind her. Cell heard the running water and saw the silhouette of Rowan, strip and disappear as she moved into the shower.
He closed his eyes, but the image remained. He cursed himself silently, but it was pointless in denying it. He was attracted to her, but that was Gero's working.
What would have happened I wonder if Gero never discovered the compound in the blood? He thought to himself. He figured he probably would have just killed her like anyone else. No special treatment, no 'friendship', just simple procedure. She would be dead. That thought left him feeling cold and he felt angry suddenly. At himself. He could have sworn he heard the raspy laugh of Seru, but knew it was just his wandering mind imagining things.
The shower turned off, Cell opened his eyes and saw her silhouette again. He closed his eyes, trying to distract himself, but his mind kept turning back to imaginings of a sordid nature. He felt his jaw clench and he forced himself to clean his mind of any urges. He thought instead of the impending fight with Goku...
"Are you okay?" His eyes opened. Rowan was dressed, her hair was wet and hung around her face. She was sporting a frown.
"I'm fine." He said simply. She smiled slightly.
"Just making sure. You looked... flushed." He frowned.
"I'm fine, thank you." He let himself onto his feet again, so he was towering over Rowan. She smiled at him, but turned and headed to the bedside set of drawers where her hair brush was. She sat down on the bed, combing her hair.
Stop this! He ordered his mind. He found himself struggling to control the images of her in his mind. Somehow even her brushing her hair seemed erotic.
"I think I'll go now." He said. "Let you get some sleep." She smiled at him, suddenly her smile looked luscious and inviting. He said nothing turned and left, closing the door behind him. He flew faster then he had before, letting the harsh cold wind sting his face. He needed to control himself or something bad would happen, but he couldn't help it. Gero's genes had kicked into action when he had been standing next to her with the kettle. It was her smell, he was sure...
Rowan laid herself down in bed, staring absently at the dark ceiling, thinking. Something had happened. She didn't know what, but she had sensed the change in him. He had seemed uncomfortable to say the least. She couldn't truly place it, but she had her suspicions. Never the less, she never thought she'd see him blush, but he had. She was sure of that.