The news of such a discovery was baffling to the bio android. He remembered Gero's last memory…had integrated the good doctor's last moments into his being and KNEW he saw 16's pod had been smashed to pieces. There was no denying that fact. Unless the computer was lying. Yet…within it's records…he could see it plain as day…Status…ACTIVE.

He decided now to check the date in which 16 was put into active status hoping THAT would answer his question.

"So that's what happened…"

Looking deeper, Cell found that Android 16 very well could have survived. His active status came into effect just two days before 17 and 18 had been fully activated. Recalling his memory, he never actually SAW a body so maybe Gero knew his pets were unstable.

"He set 16 loose early. But the Android must have fled. With Goku dead he didn't have much of a purpose." Cell pulled his tail loose as he soaked in that revelation. "But there have been no reports of a third Android terrorizing the people here."

"Maybe he's like the 16 of the past." Trunks still didn't fully trust Cell but he'd known and even respected 16 to some degree. "In that timeline he was a gentle creature who didn't really do any fighting unless it was to stop YOU. If he's anything like that HERE then he's probably in hiding. Are you going to look for him?"

"Yes." Cell answered without even needing to give it a whole lot of thought. He already knew what he had planned to do before they even came to this lab. "The other me was very selfish and destructive, and destroyed the kind soul that was Android 16. I want to find him so that he knows that he doesn't have to live in hiding anymore. Especially now that the tyrants that were so destructive even to their own kind have been put to rest."

He put a hand on his orange stomach as he said this, thinking of the two that were trapped deep within his belly and would remain with him till the end of his days. "Put to rest indeed…"

"I…still don't trust you…but I guess until you do something wrong it would be pretty childish of me to continue suspecting you." Trunks finally relented. The creature known as Cell that HE had known would never have tried to make amends or believe that they should make up for something they'd done in the past. At the very least…he wanted to give THIS Cell at least some benefit. "So what now…? Are there any other survivors…?"

"Android 8. He still live in Jingle village up in the north. According to the records I siphoned from the library some days back I learned that it somehow avoided the wrath of my siblings…They don't much care for the cold." Cell thought it was amusing that either of them would ignore a single human settlement just because of some snow…but then it could also be the lack of humans further up north in that region. It WAS a small village after all.

"Aside from those two…It seems as though the remaining Androids have been scrapped…As far as I can see…The computer was tasked on focusing on me so it had little time to prepare 13, 14 OR 15. A shame." Cell had always hoped those three survived but it looked as though they're existence was not meant to be. 16 on the other hand, he was ecstatic to hear had survived. He could make up for his other self's destructive behavior, perhaps even befriend his brother.

"There are plans…" Cell pointed a claw to a table not too far off from the computer he had jabbed. "Of Android 17's design there. Your mother might find them useful. If anything she can keep those on hand. You never know if we'll need them."

"But 17 is already inside YOU. Why would we need something that would no longer be useful to us?"

"Some of your kind may very well seek to become androids themselves." Cell answered with a bluntness that even surprised himself. It put him on pause but he quickly recovered. "17 and 18 were kidnapped by Gero which added to their distorted personalities. But if a human were to willingly make the change then there would be no psychological defects. I'm not saying I want to change your species. I'm saying-"

"you're saying if someone wants the power to protect their friends and family then they'll have an accessible means to do that." Trunks finished, his face looked contorted as he toyed with the idea in his head. "But changing them into that...THING…"

"I am an android too Trunks. Please do not refer to us as a…thing…again." Cell warned even as his eyes zeroed in on Trunks' own. "But most humans don't have our talents Trunks. They don't have the discipline or training to. And even if they did, humans can only go so far. Why not offer them other alternative. Your people can make the choice. What they decide is up to them."

Trunks chewed on that piece of information. HATED that Cell had a point about most humans being unable to stop people like themselves and reluctantly took the plans, rolling the schematics and sliding them into his sleeve. "What do we do now…? There's nothing else here is there?"

"I'll come back at a later time and clean this place up. For now why don't you return to Capsule corp? I have one last stop before I finish up for the day."

Trunks gave Cell one last glance over as if he were trying to figure out what the android was plotting but soon gave up and started making his way out of the lab. It was strange to think he'd be letting the hideout of one of the most diabolical human minds remain standing but he kept remembering what his mother had told him. How THIS Cell saved their people…saved the human race and even gave them the technology to better protect their towns in the future.

Watching the earth grown Saiyan fly off into the distance Cell couldn't help but marvel once again in the fact he was actually here…on THIS world. As soon as the Saiyan was out of earshot and well on his way to West City the Android finally let out a breath he'd been holding in.

"I just spent a whole evening with Trunks…THE Trunks! Ohhh I have to thank you again Father for making me…" He hadn't realized it but in the moment of his fantasizing, Cell had grabbed his tail and was petting it rhythmically as if were a pet. "I thought he was super paranoid in the anime but I didn't think it was THIS strong in the flesh…I'll have to work hard for him to trust me like he eventually did 16."

Then his thoughts went on to how in the past, his alter ego had smashed 16 several times…even crushed his head in a final bout of vengeance for getting in his way. "I'll make amends for that mistake even if you don't know that it happened."

He first needed to FIND 16 to do that however. While he had detailed information on where Android 8 was, he only was aware of that because of nerd knowledge of his other life…After Goku destroyed Muscle Tower, Android 8 remained in the village after they helped defuse the bomb inside of him. If any Android had a deep sense of loyalty it was "Eighter" As Goku called him. And his own research into this world lead him to understand the village had remained untouched.

16 though…he could be anywhere…Likely in some of the more isolated parts of the world but it wouldn't do any good to go scouring every single location. The world was a big place…hell he needed to look up Godzilla's whereabouts before he made a meal of them and that was a massive Kaiju! He needed more information.

He just finished tracing his footstep back outside when he saw the clear view of the sky above him. "I'll have to go there. I hope that it's still in one piece."

With a brief stretch of his wings he allowed himself to take off, flying higher than he'd done since his time coming here. Air would be considerably thinner as he made his approach but he knew this was his only option now. There would be no records of Android 16 in human society. He needed to go above their heads in a more literal manner.

Cross checking his current location with his internal systems as well as the layout of this earth's geography he was able to pinpoint the direction in which he'd need to go. Normally to get where he wanted to go he'd have to locate the great Korin Tower. With his on board GPS and navigational data however, he knew where that was even when he was soaring above the clouds that blanketed his vision in white.

As the air thinned upon his ascension he worried that he might pass out from the oxygen levels that might have killed any normal person. He even started holding his breath for fear of that until a realization dawned on him. "Oh right…I have Frieza's genes inside of me…I have no need of atmosphere." In that moment he was glad nobody was capable of reaching this altitude less they see the cherry red blush that was on his face.

After recollecting his thoughts after that one minor embarrassing realization he took a quick look above himself and saw in the near distance what he'd been homing in on this whole time. A large circular platform remain hovering high above the planet's surface. It was what was always referred to in the source material as Kami's Lookout.

As he got closer to his destination he was quick to make out the trees that were obviously still well taken care of, and the palace that sat near the back of the platform. It looked small from a distance but he had no doubt that singular building had many branching pathways that stretched out even within the depths of the lookout. It was much safer to say that the whole of the lookout was the palace itself while the building deceived any onlookers of it's true nature.

"And deep within that palace are many secrets kept from men…Like the Sacred water…or the Hyperbolic Time Chamber." Cell allowed himself to gently set himself right in the middle of the lookout while keeping an eye out for anything that might pop out at him.

Even nearly 20 years after the loss of Kami the place was still well maintained. He had a few guesses as to why that might be but until they revealed themselves to him then he'd have to keep it as speculation. "First things first…Before I begin any sort of search…"

There was no greater place for privacy than where he was now. Nobody to sneak up on him…nobody to be alert for. Except a certain caretaker, and if they were watching he knew he'd never find them unless they WANTED to be found.

Straightening his posture, Cell's wing stiffened up behind him as his tail began to twitch and writhe behind him. A great deal of strain was going on in his body as he focused on his task at hand, feeling something of a decently sized shape, like a big round melon like bulge tunneling through his tail, snaking it's way out. He knew it wasn't the androids, he had them tucked away in his belly. THIS was something a little more personal.

It felt painful, a sensation in his body that was sharper than anything that Godzilla had put on him or those stinging acids. Finally with some effort he made a final push to get that roundish bulge out of his tail's tip and watched a black mass drop to the ground like a stone. He looked at it, studied it and wondered if he had made a mistake it's composition.

But then the stone moved, the blackness fading and slowly being replaced with a scaly reptilian green color, of a much lighter tone to Cell's as it began to take on a shame much like his own only at about 1/3rd the size. He looked with amazement as a little tiny stinger appeared behind this new creation of his as it's own cat like eyes gazed over it's surroundings then at Cell. It let out a rather eerie giggle that would have made his skin crawl along with the words "Paaapaaa!"

It's mischievous grin along it's beak made Cell smile himself. He knew of the Cell Jr's but figured he could only create them as a perfect form. Turns out all he needed was the androids tucked away inside of him. Now he could create his own little force…his own children that could protect the planet.

Twice more, Cell allowed his body the brief moment of discomfort and the pain that came from allowing such a large shape to come OUT of his tail rather than going in as if his muscles in the tail would much prefer to keep bio mass IN but he toughed it out. By the end of this most unusual ordeal, he had triplets, all of whom were giggling as if some mischievous band of children ready to play pranks on unsuspecting adults and yet they stayed staring at him, grinning and twitching their tails in anticipation for their orders.

"Alright you three…" He took a moment to catch a breath, let his body relax some and his tail to settle down after that excitement. "I have shared my power with all of you. You're not quite nearly as strong as myself but you're still quite formidable compared to others on this planet. Your job is to help in protecting the humans on this world. Aside from that, you can do most anything you want. But if you get into trouble it'll be YOUR skin. Got it?"

The trio cackled a bit as they heard what it was their tasks would be. None of them objected however but the looks in their eyes told that they might not be the most stable of peace keepers. With a nod of their heads they started flying out in separate directions of the lookout.

"Well…I can keep an eye on them from here. I'm sure the humans will be safe enough." He wondered though if Trunks would count as a human to protect but then reminded himself how Trunks and Vegeta were capable of fending off the Cell Jr's of the past and decided he wouldn't need to worry. Still…he'd send word just in case.

With that done Cell began to walk along the edge of the lookout, tracking and keeping an eye out for everything, looking for any signs that he might for Android 16. From up here…he could see everything. Feeling everything as well but when it came to the Androids, he could not feel their presence due to their Father's superb programming.

"If only perfection allowed me to sense what could not be felt…" It was a small thought, but one he felt was missing from Gero's final plan. Then again…why would it even be necessary? Once perfect he wouldn't need to find the other Androids that may or may not be loose in the world.

Still there was a lot of ground to cover. And from up top Cell could truly begin to understand the horror that his kind had wrought on this world. Entire cities from this vantage point GONE. In some places entire countries. Yet many of the snow riddled regions remained untouched. Were his brother and sister afraid of stiff joints? Of ice freezing their circuits?

"They'd know if Android 8 could survive the cold without hindrance then they could as well. And HE was an earlier less efficient model." Hearing himself speak made the Bio android cringe. He never regarded Android 8 or 16 as inferior. But still he had to face the facts that 8 was made at least a couple decades before any of them actually came into the conception stage of planning from their father.

From those snowy regions however he could make out Android 8 or Eighter's village…Jingle village looked so peaceful along with the red headed Suno who rescued Goku from the cold back during his younger years. Now she looked to be a well adjusted woman very much unlike his sister.

"Maybe that's why they never attacked Jingle village. Eighter maybe wasn't as efficient, but we've never quite seen just how powerful the older models were. Could prove quite a challenge, even for us." Cell entertained this thought, for a moment even considered it laughable until he recalled how the android was even stronger than Goku. Only his gentle nature stayed his fist.

Either way, inside his core he was happy there was at least one Android that avoided persecution because of his siblings behavior. "He'll keep that stretch of land safe. Maybe I'll visit him once I've found what I'm looking for. 16 where ARE you…"

This was becoming a needle in a haystack but he couldn't just leave his last brother behind. They had to know that they were free to live as they would again. Free from the tyrants that ruled this world prior.

"I'm over thinking again…" The reptilian like Android crossed his arms and closed his eyes as he thought it through. "Come on…there must be SOME nerd knowledge that can get me out of this pickle…A book…a video game…SOMETHING that would hint at 16's hiding place…"

That was when it hit Cell as if he'd been struck by his own tail. "Hiding place." He quickly circled around the lookout, trying to find the spot of land that might confirm his theory. "Maybe…if he's anything like his past counterpart he'll have fled to somewhere peaceful. Granted…he was injured back then…"

He was talking more to himself than anything but he could feel a presence looming around the lookout. He figured it may well be …Someone he'd have to talk to eventually but they seemed wary of him and given how well that short fellow could fight even a pair of super saiyans he didn't want to risk a negative reaction.

Finally he settled on a spot of the lookout where he could see what he was looking for. Papaya Island. It was…if memory served correctly, the battle grounds of Piccolo and Android 17's fight in the past before his alter ego interrupted and ultimately absorbed the android. It was far from peaceful…But a part of him couldn't help but relish in thought of how 17 felt sliding down his OWN tail and into his stomach. Such bliss…He subconsciously wrapped his hands around his belly and hugged it with a mischievous chuckle.

"Let's see…Ah…there they are…the Tropical Islands." They were located just east of the Papaya Island, and the hiding place that 18 and 16 had used to avoid detection. They were peaceful enough. Plenty of wild life and no humans to cause distress. Of course there were a few human cities scattered about but most of them were barren…only teeming with the local wildlife.

"This is it…he's on one of these islands…But which one…" Cell sat cross legged near the edge as he studied the landscape. "Not that island…it's inhabited…Let's see…ah!" He found it. The same island that 18 and 16 had hid on the last time. If there were ANY similarities between the past and here, then that's where it would be.

"I know you're watching me ." Cell rasped, one cat like eye glancing back towards the palace. "I'll be back. We'll probably have much to discuss."

On that note, he got back up on his feet and stretched his wings out, allowing himself to dive bomb somewhat towards the islands. Somewhere in the pit of his stomach…he had a feeling he was right about this. And it wasn't because of the two already inside him. "I'm coming brother."