Cell stood in the middle of his arena, giving Trunks and I a curious look as we approached him.
"You still have three days," he said. "Surely you are not in a rush to die."
"Not at all," I said. "Merely here with a proposition."
"Oh?" Cell said, curious. "Do tell."
"You want a challenge, right?" I asked, knowing the answer.
"What are you doing?" Trunks whispered to me.
"Just trust me," I whispered back.
"Correct," Cell said.
"We have recently come to hear of a Legendary Super Saya-jin," I said. "I'm not sure what it is, but it is destroying planets faster than you wiped out entire towns."
"Interesting," Cell said. "But what does this have to do with me?"
"You want a challenge, and here it is," I said. "We'll bring him to you. Give you a real challenge. He's stronger than all of us, stronger than Goku. You can prove you're the strongest being in the universe, prove just how perfect you are, by killing him."
"Hmm, sounds like you wish me to do your dirty work," Cell said.
"If you're able to kill him, you'll surely destroy us," I said. "It's hardly dirty work. There isn't much in it for us."
"And why are you telling me this?" Cell asked, moving closer to us. Trunks tensed behind me as Cell stood in front of me, forcing me to tilt my head back to look at him.
"We need time," I said. "Time to find him and trap him for you."
"And what is in it for you?" he asked.
"What can I say, we have a hero complex," I told him with a cheeky grin. "Even if we all die, we would like to spare the innocent people out there from this tyrant."
"And what of the people here?" Cell questioned.
"You ask an awful lot of questions," I commented, turning my back to him and sauntering away. "I mean, if you don't want to prove how perfect you are..."
"Very well," Cell said. "I will allow this little endeavor of yours, but as soon as you return to earth, our tournament begins."
"Deal!" I said, sticking my hand out. Cell smirked and wrapped his fingers around my hand, his massive palm swallowing mine. I shuddered at the feel of his cool skin on mine, the texture reminding me of a beetles shell.
"Deal," Cell echoed. "I must say, Trunks, you've picked such a clever...mate..."
"I'm not his mate," I said out of habit, cursing myself as soon as the words left. Cell knew this, the comment had been to provoke something from me or Trunks.
"Oh?" he asked in mock curiosity. "Shame. Haven't found the...perfect man, then?" Bile rose in my throat and I jerked back violently from Cell, Trunks catching me and sending a withering look at the android over my shoulder. Cell burst into malicious laughter that echoed, even as Trunks and I sped off back to Vegeta.