Absolute darkness is all that there is, obscuring a room filled with technological wonders that hides a secret meant for vengeance.

Activating search protocols… A robotic voice can be heard within the darkness causing faint light to suddenly appears which reveals a large pod with the number 21.

Small, colorful lights slowly brighten before flickering as a screen light up. Revealing countless documents of gifted and powerful individuals before showing a warning sign appears.

Error. Detecting BioDroid Prototype… The prototype is still in an embryonic state… Error. BioDroid Prototype is at adulthood...The voice within the hidden room spoke before it suddenly glitched.

The screen flickers before revealing a statistic of seven entities labeled as 'Androids'.

Android 16... Status: Active

Android 17... Status: Active

Android 18... Status: Active

Android 19... Status: KIA

Android 20... Status: KIA

Android 21... Status: Incomplete.

BioDroid Prototype… Status: Error

New entity found... Matured coded genes detected…

Loud noise can be heard as lights started to brighten the room, revealing a contains that is filled with smalls vials of unknown liquids.

Retrieving coded genes...

One vial is suddenly grabbed gently by a mechanical claw which inserted the small vial into the pod.

Success… Coded genes injected… Administrating gene solution… Initiating DNA stabilization...

The screen changes again, showing the entity 'Android 21' is being completed by the process.

98%... 99%...100%... Stabilization complete...

Activating Android 21..." The pod suddenly activates, hydraulics releasing its holds on the occupant.

"Wha..?" A young female voice can be heard from the open pod. A woman wearing a checkered shirt and jeans with a lab coat covering her frame emerges from the open pod, her eyes still groggy at her awakening.

Images suddenly assaulted her mind. A woman so kind and motherly, wanting to help others despite being part of an aggressive military at the behest of her less kind husband.

She clutched her head in pain, information about her origins and purpose swirls around her mind. She is Android 21, a bio android made by Dr. Gero to create the ultimate being with the DNAs of the greatest fighter and scientist that have graced the world.

"21, 21, 21… Why do I feel like that's not my name..?" She said to herself before clutching her head in pain, memories assaulting her mentally.

#$#%#! Can you imagine the possibilities this presents!? Androids that possess the powers to surpass even the greatest martial artist in the world!

That sounds great but… Why do we have to work with such terrible people Gero? I know that we need to have funds for our research but is it really necessary?

Don't be such a worrywart #$#%#! No one wants to fund our research because they thought it was impossible. But those fools at the red ribbon base wanted a scientist that could build the super soldiers, it will be fine! We just need to bide our time for the sake of our research.

"I… I can't figure out, maybe- maybe I should just stick with my designation." Android 21 stutter for a moment in pain.

Her thoughts were interrupted by an alert from one of the computers in the room she was in. It brightens up the dark and quiet room which reveals equipment that she vaguely remembers.

This laboratory used to belong to that deceased woman's laboratory I keep thinking about. Wait, how do I know that? The android once again grabbed her head in pain.

Deciding that it's probably better to just not think about it for now for the sake of her poor head, she ventures to the laboratory in hopes of finding the answer to whatever question she has.

"It must have been repurposed to suit my needs..." Android 21 mused as she inspected her lab. Despite being the first time she saw this lab, she already knows almost everything about this place.

The android takes a look on the screen that shows something peculiar.

It shows a status screen that says that Android 19 and 20 are destroyed but Android 16, 17, and 18 are still active. But what caught her eye is the status of a prototype bio android Project Perfect.

The bio android suddenly knows what all of these androids mean to her, the information that has been coded to her brain already at work giving her information of each android and how one android, in particular, is essential in her awakening.

Even if there is some kind of anomaly that shouldn't happen.

"I don't understand, it says here that there are two prototypes. One is still in the embryonic state while the other is fully mature. But I thought Dr. Gero only made one." It puzzled her mind at the circumstance that was happening.

She quickly activates the computers to check on the embryo and much to her shock, the lab where the prototype should be is nothing but piles of rumbles.

"No, the lab can't be destroyed. The prototype is still showing life signs, either Dr. Gero moves the project to another location or it's underground…" Surprised at the sight, 21 quickly starts to type in a command to see if the camera is still working only to receive static.

The android tsk at the results, realizing that she might have to investigate the weird occurrence herself since there seems to be nothing she can do from here.

21 fixed her lab coat and checked to see if there's anything she needed before going out. If the information is correct, the door leading to the outside world has a biometric scan that only responds to her.

"I should probably suppress my energy so that Goku or his friends don't sense me moving to places." She said to herself while lowering her energy, doing surprisingly well for using a technique like this.

Deciding that going out is the best way to see the current happenings, she walks towards the large metal and swipes her hand on a screen.

Android 21 watches as the door opens by itself. She took a step forward on her first day being outside.

She quickly closes her eyes when the natural light proves to be a bit much for someone who's been in the dark and artificial lights for too long.

After a full minute for her eyes to fully adjust to the light, Android 21 takes a good look at her surroundings and is surprised at the sight.

What she sees before her are the ruins of the main headquarters of the Red Ribbon Army, nature seems to have taken over most of the collapsed buildings that used to house the personnel of the army. Broken pieces of guns of all kinds, bullet casings, and bones of dead Red Ribbon soldiers scattered across the abandoned headquarters.

Feeling nostalgic despite seeing the headquarters for the first time, Android 21 looks up at the fallen tower and sees the faded Red Ribbon insignia on the side.

"Good riddance..." Android 21 couldn't help saying that to herself before holding her mouth in shock, surprised at her sudden venomous words.

Quickly deciding that she should also investigate her strange behavior later, she starts to float up and fly to the air.


"If my implanted information is correct, then this forest should be where Dr. Gero's lab is located…" Android 21 mused as she looked at the vast forest. Despite the strange situation that is happening, she couldn't help but have fun. It's not every day that you can fly everywhere you want.

I need to see if something happens to the embryo. Did it mutate and create another embryo? That sounds unlikely but it is the realm of possibility. Dr. Gero did have problems trying to create it from scratch. She thinks deeply about her situation, trying to create a possible theory of why there's another prototype running around.

After some time, the bio android could see the piles of rumbles that were once Dr. Gero's lab.

Alright, there should be a hatch that leads down to the lab. 21 search around the rumbles to find the possible entrance to the basement lab.

The bio android descends down to the rubble to see a ladder that leads down to the hidden lab. Hoping that no one hasn't entered the lab, Android 21 flies down the entrance and sees that everything seems to be pristine if a little dusty from the piles of rubbles above.

Flashing light can be seen from above, revealing a massive supercomputer that 21 assumes that is taking care of the embryo even after Dr. Gero's death.

"Huh, I guess this is how the embryo will survive. The careful guidance of a computer, a bit simple if not kinda sad. I wonder why he decided to use a supercomputer to manage the prototype." The bio android said with curiosity as she looked around the hidden lab.

Besides the embryo, the hidden lab is practically barren. There are some blueprints of Android 17 and Android 18, which also contain blueprints for a device that shuts down both of them. That nearly made 21 flinched at the thought of a remote that shut someone down.

She inspected the vats and the data on the embryo. "I don't understand, the prototype hasn't matured at all. How did I get the gene then?" 21 asked herself in confusion, she continued to examine the data to figure out the reason for her activation.

"I should have brought my equipment, this lab doesn't have anything for me to work with…" She mentally facepalmed at the lack of equipment.

"No matter, I just need to bring the vat to my lab. The vat should sustain the prototype for two days at best, more than enough time for me to reinstall it in my laboratory with a better-programmed supercomputer." Her hands moved towards the bottom of the vat and noise started to make as the latch that was attached to it suddenly released.

The bio android raised her hand and the vat that contained the embryo slowly floated upwards.

Admittedly, 21 didn't know she could even do this but she does have DNA from Chiaotzu and Frieza who are telekinetic so she figured that she could do it too. Dr. Gero was always fascinated by psychics even if things like magic and demons exist in this world.

"Huh, my control is a lot better than I thought." She couldn't help but say how easy it is for her to use telekinesis. This is the first time the android uses her powers so it's surprising how easy it is to use them.

Before she could get to work, she was interrupted by two voices from above.

"Hey Trunks, I think I found a way inside!" 21 recognized that voice to be Krillin causing her to panic.

"How did I not sense them coming!?" She panicked at the idea of confrontation, the bio android is somewhat confident that she's strong enough to handle Goku by herself but she is afraid that it could damage the embryo.

Before Android 21 could do anything, Krillin and a teenager that she presumes is Trunks came down to the lab.

The bio android could do nothing but look awkwardly at the sight of two fighters who are shocked at the sight of 21 and a vat that contains an embryo.

Oh, this is very awkward. "Uh, hi?" She said nervously.

Krillin couldn't help but mimic her words. "Hi?"

"Wha- Who- Who are you?!" Trunks almost yelled, baffled at the sight. He was not prepared to see someone in Dr. Gero's lab at all.

"I should ask that question, who are you? I don't recognize you at all from the data I have. I recognize Krillin but you're new." 21 asked, trying to defuse the awkward confrontation.

Krillin and Trunks look at the bio android with confusion before noticing the vat that contains the embryo "Is- Is that Cell from our timeline?" The dwarf couldn't help but say, earning a confused glance from 21.

"Cell? What are you talking about? Wait, how do you even know about this lab? It's supposed to be hidden!" It's happening a bit fast for 21 right now, how do they know about this place and why do they call the embryo Cell?

Trunks looked at the bio android with sudden realization. "You're another android aren't you?!"

How do they even know?! 21 thought in disbelief, she thought of a way out of this situation. She could see that the young boy seems to be ready to launch a ki blast towards her.

I think that boy is going to launch a blast towards me at any second! It's going to damage the lab and the embryo!

Without warning, Android 21 raised her arms causing the duo's bodies to seize against their will.

"Sorry! But I don't want to risk damaging the prototype!" 21 apologized before flying away along with the vat that floated at her side.

"That's Chiaotzu's technique..!" Krillin said with familiarity, caught off guard with the sudden move from the bio android.

The bio android ignores the grunting in favor of getting out of the hidden lab, but she stops as she suddenly senses a large energy spike coming from underground.

Before Android 21 could try to understand what's happening, the ground burst. A golden figure emerges from the rumble, revealing Trunks with blonde hair and a yellow aura.

"I will not let another android getaway! You will not terrorize this timeline!" He yelled out before unleashing a barrage of ki blast towards the surprised 21.

Android 21 quickly moves in front of the vat to protect it, letting the ki blast hitting her body to no effect. Trying to make sense of what she just saw.

She continued to take the ki blast to protect the embryo, noticing that the boy's power has increased exponentially albeit not enough to hurt her.

"That's enough!" Android 21 yelled out, putting her hands together and creating a large crimson energy ball from her palms.

"Total Detonation Ball!" She yelled out before launching it towards the shocked Trunks. It's not enough to kill him but it will distract him long enough for her to escape.

The large ki blast quickly overwhelms the ki blast barrage, causing the teenager to desperately try to block it with his bare hands to no avail.

Seeing that the boy is distracted, Android 21 took off with the embryo to safety. Causing Trunks to curse mentally at his reckless action.

Before Trunks could even think about how to get out of the situation he got himself into, a ki blast hit the energy ball causing it to fly in the opposite direction.

"Trunks! Are you okay?!" Krillin shouted as he tried to make sense of what happened. Receiving a nod from the time-traveling teen.

Both fighters look at the sky with grim expressions, seeing that their current situation just keeps getting worse and worse.


"Maybe that was a bit reckless..." Android 21 couldn't help but mentally slap herself at her impulsive actions.

"If I had fought them, it could have possibly damaged the vat. Besides, it's not like I hurt them. As far as the data goes, that technique doesn't harm the target." She tried to justify her sudden attack

"Maybe next time I apologize? I should be more civil with them… Gah! I'm not very good with people." She lamented at her foolish decision to antagonize the people who are friends with Goku.

Android 21 connected wires to the vat so that she could see the data more closely until a thought entered her head.

"Who is this Cell they were talking about? They make it sound like it's the name for the embryo. That doesn't make sense, how would they know?" She thinks about the strange events that are occurring without her knowledge.

"Our timeline? Why did they say that? Is that boy a time traveler? I know that Dr. Gero tried to make a time machine but he canceled the project due to a lack of resources." It's absurd but it's in the realm of possibility.

"Is it possible that maybe that boy is from the future? That could explain why there's so little data on him. Dr. Gero would never miss someone like him, especially with the power he displayed against me." 21 theorized the possibility while examining the data of the embryo and the data of the gene that was used to wake her up, much to her shock, both data matched.

"This is impossible, the data suggest that the DNA sample matched but one is significantly older than the embryonic prototype. Did Dr. Gero make another prototype with the same purpose? Or… Somehow there's a future version of this embryo that traveled back into our time." It was a bit of a stretch but since there's a boy from the future, it was a very likely possibility.

It was shocking for 21 to realize that she is out of date for current events, meaning that she has to go outside again to learn more.

"Alright, maybe I should go and find the rest of the androids that weren't destroyed yet. Perhaps they know more about what's going on. I'm stronger than all three of them combined so I don't need to worry about them fighting me." Android 21 planned her next steps while programming a system that takes care of the embryo while she's gone.

After finishing the program, she grabs a screwdriver. "I can't sense their energy but I can build a tracking device, they have an infinite energy core so it will be easy to track them down with a specific frequency." She said while grabbing a broken device to tinker with, it's a small tablet that was meant to track the dragon balls but she can easily turn this into an android tracking device.


Author's Note: I gotta stop having ideas that I can't stop thinking about. Dragon Ball is a childhood classic of mine like anyone else and I like Android 21 and her concept even if there's a lot of ambiguity concerning her origins. It's surprising to me that there aren't a lot of fics about her and some that do are dead. So I wanted to have my take on the Android 21 with a twist.

Some of my plans with this fic are inspired by Masakox What if series. It's already clear about what will happen to Embryo Cell. Anyway, I hope that you enjoyed the first chapter and criticism is welcome.