The Tropical Islands. From Cell's recollection, some of them were inhabited by humans. Or HAD been inhabited by humans once before. Recent surveys of the area using his sensors told him that any settlement that may have once been in the region were destroyed by his siblings, leaving any crumpled buildings left to be reclaimed by nature.
This was evident as even hovering above just a few of the ruined cities he could see plants and bushes growing in the crevices of crumpled stone and rooftops. In a few more years one might not even see what once was. Humans would never inhabit this place again but seeing the natural beauty of the area told Cell that this was probably for the best.
Life sensors told of wild life that persevered even amid the destruction. There were wild wolves, bears and even in one island he spotted his favorite treat. The very meaty Triceratops. As well as smaller fauna like squirrels, rabbits and the like that provided a lush and balanced ecosystem. And yet…he felt as though the wanton destruction of his kin shouldn't have allowed these beings to thrive.
"They were protected. HE protected them." Cell surmized after taking a deep breath. This was the right place alright. Upon landing on one of the many islands he found not much in terms of the Android's Ki given how thorough their father was on keeping their presence hidden but he did see things here and there that should not be.
Foot prints. Heavy footed with an imprint he recognized from the soles of a red ribbon issued pair of boots. The army was dissolved and yet here the evidence was that one was around. "Android 16 I know that you're here…Let us talk. I promise that there will be no violence with me. You may even remove my stinger if it worries you so."
From his recollection, 16 was coy. He did not speak unless necessary, and he kept his mind clear of distraction. Though he was also what one might call being in the clouds as well. As long as the animals he loved were safe he was content to just remain there quietly. An enigma that baffled everyone around him.
Just as Cell was about to turn away however he heard the distinct heavy foot steps that could only come from someone who was of the mechanical variety. It could only be one.
"Well brother I was hoping I would find you he-"
"ROCKET PUNCH!"
The sudden bellowing of those words…the voice was deep yet monotone without a hint of emotion had caught Cell off guard. Certainly enough that when that broad fist came rocketing towards his face even HE with all the strength of perfection had been knocked down. A brief spin of Cell's body had him twirling before he landed on his belly.
"That's REALLY going to hurt in the morning…" Cell rasped, a pained groan coming out of him. He could still feel pain…He needed to get even stronger so this didn't happen again.
"What are you? You do not belong on this island and my scanners tell me such a hit shouldn't be enough to defeat you."
"Scanner this…Sensor that…That's really all we are aren't we brother?" Cell retorted, slowly picking himself up to his feet so that he wasn't eating cake full of dirt anymore. "I am the Great Dr. Gero's greatest creation, a being made to be pure perfection. An Android like you and yet…I am of flesh while you are of metal."
Standing tall with a post that seemed to impose pure strength was whom Cell had been searching for. Android 16 was in an attire much like he'd been in the past. Durable green armor layered across most of his upper body and along his forearm while underneath he wore a full black under suit that added an additional layer of protection. His hair most like an unkempt red headed Mohawk and a red Ribbon insignia on his chest
Looking at Gero's choice of design for the android, Cell wondered if his own physical appearance had been modeled somewhat after this one. Certainly the armor's layout was vaguely similar to his own physique.
"You are an android? What is it that you want with me? I've already told 17 and 18 that I will not play a part in their games."
He met them! Perhaps the theory of Gero releasing him to protect 16 had been false? His punch certainly felt stronger than it was back in the past. He was no match for that incarnation of himself even in semi perfect state and had been rendered a broken mess.
"You don't need to worry about them anymore…" Cell rasped, his hands gesturing to his belly. "They are inside me now. Inside to fulfill a purpose that will save this planet. But I need your help to see it come true. Don't worry, I won't be absorbing you like I did the others. You're much too valuable as you are now to become mere food."
"That would mean you are Cell."
The statement was definitely an eye opener for Cell. In the past, 16 knew nothing of him only that he was stronger than piccolo. Some alterations of this future perhaps. "You know of me already? That makes things a little easier. This world is bound for ruin. That is this world's fate regardless of if the androids continued their rampage."
"Is that a statement on what you plan to do with the life here?"
"No. But you're perceptive, and strong enough to knock me on my backside." Cell could still feel a bit of a sting from 16's impact...It was no joke, even IF he was at perfect strength. "The warriors that could have protected this world do not exist anymore. The Androids...our siblings killed them all. As of right now the only ones protecting this world are Trunks, my children and myself. If you joined our fighting force we can ensure a more peaceful transition and keep disaster from befalling this universe."
It was something of a marvel to Cell. Here he was meeting another character whom he loved back in his past life. An underrated character that in all honesty he thought deserved another chance. That his alter ego had destroyed 16 several times, he was glad that this iteration did not hold any ill will towards him.
Maybe because I have not done anything to indicate that I want this world's destruction. What drives 16 is a preservation of life, not it's death.
"I was born with certain...knowledge of the future that can be used to improve this timeline's way of life. Give these people a chance and give androids like us a shot at co-existing with humans. Will you join me? Help me protect the humans and other life on this planet."
The words sounded well meaning enough. His sensors the last few days had shown no more thermal signatures that were out of sight, like he usually detected when the Androids were out on a rampage. If this biomechanical android really did consume 17 and 18 then nature could begin to reclaim what had been destroyed.
"I don't have any programmable purpose. My chosen purpose was to protect these islands after our brother and sister slaughtered the residents here. I will not abandon my post."
That was a conundrum...If 16 had somehow modified his programming of his own accord, and input these islands as his new directive then nothing short of a memory wipe would get him out of this. Cell inwardly couldn't even process the idea, simply dumbfounded that he was even so close to one of his heroes.
But he needed to get his head in the game. Think...He had Piccolo's cells inside of him...that's where his intellect largely came from...even if he was outsourcing it sometimes for his knowledge of another life. Thankfully...his Piccolo genes weren't one to let him down.
"Remain here if need be. You have a home back at Gero's lab if you should ever decide to change your directive. Perhaps however...you can alter some of your selected programming to include the whole of earth as your protective domain. That way, when I have need of your assistance you will be able to answer readily. As I will have need of it in the coming years."
It wasn't the worst idea but given his knowledge of the android's personality and capabilities he wondered if 16 would go for his solution. Cell waited, the sound of his breathing being drowned out only by the chirping of the birds and chattering of squirrels that scrambled onto the armband of his brethren.
Complete silence from the android...And then...a slight smile from the corner of 16's lip. "When you have need of my power I will come. So long as your goal is not to destroy the life on this planet then I will not oppose you."
So 16 wasn't exactly a friend but they weren't going to be enemies either. That was good! As long as Android 16 had a desire to protect this world then that's all Cell could ever expect. It was all he wanted so long as they could all get out of this mess alive.
"Then I will leave you to it 16. Remember...I'll be calling." Cell raised a hand in good bye before leaving the islands for the lookout once again. It would be a couple years longer before the real trouble began. He needed to train himself up. Not only to prepare for the battle to come...In case they failed. But also so that he might be powerful enough to make a case for this world's safety many more years down the line.
It was in the room of space and time, the Hyperbolic time chamber that Cell now sought out. It was the final key in his grand plan to protect this world but there was one issue...
Even in his old life they never went into detail just WHERE the Time chamber was located! He had the cells of the strongest warriors in his system but none of them offered him an inkling as to where his desired location might be. Even Piccolo's cells remained dormant.
It wasn't until he stumbled into his fourth dead end that he recalled that the entirety of the lookout encompassed it's inner sanctum...It was a literal maze that could disarm anyone who hoped to intrude and cause harm to this sacred location.
"Alright...I get it. I am obviously not worthy to know where my goal is..." He sighed, resigning himself to being trapped but knew very well that he was being watched. " ...I know you're watching me. Isn't it about time you showed yourself?"
He expected the echo of his own voice being his only companion as he turned back the way he'd come when he finally saw them. standing right before his eyes in his usual genie attire, arms folded behind his back with that eerie blank stare. If Cell hadn't known much of Popo's behavior from the franchise in his world he might have had a heart attack.
Those eyes...even now were petrifying in some ways. Another character that Cell did admire in some ways. They trained Goku, and the other members of the dragon team in preparation for the Saiyans as well. It didn't help any of them in the end but they were all able to break past the barrier of human limitation because of this man.
"I have been waiting for your arrival."
Well that wasn't eerie at all. "You what?"
"I've been watching everything that's been happening on earth even after the last guardian passed and you've proven to be different compared to the other Androids in this world. I will take you to the time chamber."
Maybe Popo knew? He said he'd been watching the events of the earth unfold but hasn't done anything to step in and help their cause. The man that could parry blows of Goten and Trunks as Super Saiyans.
He must have assumed everything would be alright. Nobody knows where I came from. "I-Thank you . If it's any consolation, I am deeply sorry that you've lost Kami. But I might be able to help in that regard."
Cell didn't elaborate on how he could 'help'. Instead he just urged for Popo to lead him through the intricate mazes that made up the Lookout's inner sanctum. Several turns that left the Android spinning as he knew there were shortcuts but it still took a good deal of time.
{He still doesn't trust me. Or maybe he's testing my patience.}
Soon they stood in front of a tall wood door. Or at the very least it appeared to be a wood door. It had rectangular patterns, four on each side giving it a deeper sense of depth. It wasn't until Cell touched the handle that he realized this door...the Chamber door had to be more like fine stone work of some kind. It wouldn't break easy.
" ...For future consideration, I would suggest altering this door. Otherwise the people entering might well get lost forever." Cell suggested in a calm tone, knowing that while the door was sturdy it would not stand to the brunt force of a ki blast as Piccolo once demonstrated in the other timeline. "Oh...Do you have any cook books?"
"I'll see what I can do about the door but...Cook books...?"
"There's more to training than just strengthening your muscles. If you have them bring them to me. Trust me I'll need them later."
"If you're worried about food inside of the Chamber you shouldn't be. There's enough food regularly stocked in the room to last an entire year. But if you must have a cook book I'll see what I can find."
With that turned on his heel and started walking away from the hall so that he might get the book that Cell wished for. There was certainly a book or two somewhere on this floating unnatural island as he prepared many dishes for Goku during their younger years back when they'd first came seeking instruction from Kami. That was YEARS ago however and he hoped he hadn't lost it.
It was in his own private quarters that he checked first, clean and mostly devoid of unecessary clutter, save for any mementos of Kami he kept in his possession, as well as his Magic Carpet that lay hanging over his window to keep the sun from blinding him during the daytime. "What was I coming in here for again...? Oh right...! The book!"
He approached a short bookshelf with a handful of handwritten journals, many of which given the hand drawn labels indicated his time serving the other guardians with very FEW literature from the surface world below. Sure he had a novel here or there but that was whenever the stray wanderer managed to make it all the way up this far.
He was about to lose hope and was about to get back up to his feet to share the bad news when his big round eyes spotted in the corner of the shelf an old hard cover cook book. Unfortunately the cover art for the book had faded due to long time wear and tear but as he flipped through the pages he was pleasantly surprised to see the images were understandable and the writing still decipherable.
Judging from the wear he assumed this book had to be at least a century old. Would anything here even be worth whatever Cell was hoping to cook in the time chamber? Well...it was what he requested. He can at least be sure that his task was complete and carried the thick hardcover book back to the entrance to the time chamber.
He expected Cell to have already gone in but the Android was quietly waiting for him with his legs crossed, his tail funnel opening wide like a bell and closing just in front of their head several times as if he found amusement in his own body's workings. He only stopped in his entertainment when Popo made his presence known.
"I'm hoping that your quest was successful." Cell politely bowed to Popo as he took the heavy book in his clawed hands. "Trust me , While my power might be great, it will be THIS book that saves the world."
"A cook book will save the world?" didn't understand precisely why that was the case and when he tried to probe the Android's mind on the matter he found it surprisingly well protected. "If you remain in this chamber longer than 48 hours you will be trapped there forever."
Cell waited patiently for the door to be opened for him. This was it...He was finally going to be entering the training room that brought great strength out of each of the saiyans throughout their journey. It had also been the battleground in which Gotenks battled Evil Buu before escaping to the outside world. So much history. Though it would be lost in this time line as only one half of that fusion existed here.
"So two years, got it. I'll do my best not to wreck the place too much." Cell jabbed with a smug grin all while soaking in the implications of his statement. So much power and yet nobody on this planet could legitimately stop him. With a deep breath however he began to make his way through the threshold of the door and found the door slamming shut behind him.
The sound startled him, but not as much as the lack of sound in this new unfamiliar territory. After the door had shut behind him he beheld the amazing world that Popo had formed with his own hands.
The floor he observed, felt like it was polished stone with a shine that made him think Popo regularly came in to buff the floor. Then again...there was nothing to dirty this place save for the occasional occupant. Two beds had been set up in the left wing of the building which only proved that this chamber was built with a shared living space in mind for two people.
On the other wing he found a full sized kitchen with enough food supplies that he wouldn't go hungry any time soon. How any of this food remained unspoiled though baffled the Bio Android. Very little canned goods so it wasn't that they were using preserved food.
"Maybe it's the genie in him. confounds even Kami sometimes." Cell decided, setting the cook book down on a counter top before stepping away. "And with that, let's stop stalling. Time to get to work."
He braced himself for what was to come and spun around to make his way out of the building that comprised the living quarters for the chamber's occupants. From there his true amazement began...!
Stepping out into the open he found nothing but the vast whiteness of space. There was nothing...far as he could see in the horizon except more white. The air was thick and hot as if he'd just stepped into a sauna...And his body felt heavy. He recalled Goku not even lasting a month here as a kid and thought in some way maybe Goku was exaggerating.
"This is a test of will if ever there was any..." His hands trembled at the sights before him. Don't stray too far...less you be lost forever...But the gravity would also be more intense the further out he went. This was the ideal training situation but would also train your spirit. "To think Vegeta and Goku could come back here...Repeatedly and not suffer from mental exhaustion."
He recalled how Trunks felt in his first time in the chamber too. Overwhelming. There was a difference however. "I am perfection. My father created me to be the ultimate living organism. I will deal with this with ease."
"First things first...I need a partner..." He balled both his hands into a fist as his body started tensing. For this he needed to tap into the cells of Tien that were locked away within him. The technique was there, but he'd never practiced it as much as the other attacks in his arsenal. Lifting his arms upright, he lay them over his chest in an X like pattern as he dug into his reserves of energy.
"Rrrragggh...! MULTI FOOOOOOORM!"
His shout echoed into the unending space of the time chamber as a replica of himself forced itself out of him, specifically his back in a somewhat painful manner as his other self strove to break free of his flesh.
After a bit of effort on both their sides, Cell now stood staring at his clone, formed completely by his own energy and cutting it in half. He'd be weaker but the end result would be that he'd have a sparring partner who by the end of it would return to his flesh and with some luck double his training efforts.
"There we go...Now then, let's begin."
He stretched his wings outward and flew into the sky, clone following him in turn as fists flew out from both sides. A mirror match with himself where he knew exactly what he would do but then so did his clone as for a time neither of them would gain advantage over the other.
That was until one careless move on his part offered an opening to his clone in which his face was unguarded which resulted in a clean hit to his right cheek that left him disoriented. Something that shouldn't have happened under normal circumstances.
"It's the gravity. It's pull is greater here than on the earth, slowing me down." He surmised, guarding the next strike with his left shoulder as his body started making adjustments to time his attacks in this new environment.
Such stability would take time however. He continued to skirt around his clone as if to try and find a weak point and strike him from behind only to be fooled by a mere afterimage! His fist went through the afterimage form to which he quickly turned himself around, arms guarding his face in an X like pattern as a leg drop came down on him from above.
He spun back a good deal but managed to land on his feet none the worse for wear. That was twice his clone got the better of him. Maybe he DIDN'T know himself as well as he thought.
"Well...now would be a good time to learn now wouldn't it?" He cackled, getting right back into it.
This back and forth between his clone went on for a few hours, with each bout lasting a few minutes at best whenever one managed to outdo the other. His only saving grace that kept him from outright losing the fight completely was that his power had been split equally so once their last blows were traded he and his clone collapsed onto one another before they completely sank right back into him to become one whole.
It was a nerve wracking experience even though he only spent a few hours in here already. Thankfully he didn't really need to eat to survive...At least not like most organics did, but with the drain on his power as it was h definitely needed something in his stomach.
After he'd cleaned himself up in the shower of the chamber he made his way into the kitchen area to finally make use of the cook book that had offered him. Now came the time for his other bout of training...The culinary arts.
"Was I even a good cook in my old life...?" He couldn't remember. All he could piece together was that he definitely ate a lot of takeout fso the answer was probably no. He'd never had to...until now.
"Alright then...Let's get to it...!" He rolled up an imaginary sleeve and started perusing through the fridge for what he might be able to use. "Let's see...We have some pre cut meat...some eggs...Butter..." He continued listing things that not only was in the refrigerator but also within the storage area itself. As he listed everything and committed it to memory he realized if he followed the book's recipes then he might actually be able to make the inventory last longer than a year.
"At least I don't have Goku's appetite." Cell quipped even as he began to flip through the pages of the cook book. He had a whole year to refine himself...both in physical strength as well as with a spatula.
His first attempt...went about as well as Goku and Gohan's first cooking attempt however. Burnt meat...of which he couldn't even safely put into his mouth but at the very least it hadn't outright disintegrated when Gohan fired a Ki blast at his own steak.
Still...it might not be a complete waste. Cell tossed the burnt steak into the air and jabbed it with his tail. The heat made him involuntarily wince but just as he could with the dinosaurs of this world he quickly learned even with cooked meals he could use his tail. It certainly didn't taste great going down...but his tail could break down most anything organic and soon not even strips of bone were left to clean up.
"Ugh...it's going to be a looong year isn't it...?" He rumbled on. At least the milk was all good. Despite who knows HOW long it'd been here it still tasted as though it was fresh from the store shelves. "Well..I'm sure Trunks will be preparing for the coming battles as well. We'll definitely need it."
And boy would they. Though Cell's endeavors would only amount to a full day in the real world there was already plenty of developments that were going on in that span of 24 hours.
He didn't know it but then he couldn't given where he was...But the planet was being watched. A pair of onlookers from another world were examining earth from a crystal ball that sat in a bed of short green grass.
One of them was just as tall as Cell might have been in perfect form with deep red skin and flowing white hair along their back. The wrinkles on their face indicated age and wisdom as he calmly stared into the crystal ball with scrutinizing eyes.
The second was a man much smaller in stature, one could even consider him built like a twig with arms that looked as though they had only the barest minimum of muscle, same with his legs but his eyes were sharp and the way he carried himself indicated someone of importance. His skin unlike his companion was a bright purplish pink coloration with his hair like that of a white spiked mohawk.
What they were looking at was none other than Trunks who was helping his mother unload electronics equipment from her study back into the main lab of Capsule Corporation. Now that the Androids had been taken care of humans could now finally begin to live a life of normalcy.
If only things were ever that easy. "This is the one? He hardly looks like he'll be of use to us Lord Kai." The large red male remarked, finding nothing special in the half saiyan's physique that indicated anything that might be useful.
"You're looking with your eyes and ignoring the bigger picture Kabito." The smaller of the two spoke softly but tone indicated who was the one calling the shots here. "We've often heard that the saiyans are the most powerful warriors in our universe. Yet this is the only one that still exists. Furthermore it's THEIR planet that will be most at risk if we don't do something now while we still can."
"But...we don't even know where the ship is...! Shouldn't we wait until we find more concrete evidence that it's even here?"
"It's there. I assure you." The kai let the Crystal ball zoom closer to get a better look at Trunks's face. So innocent and yet the world had already tempered him like very few could have without cracking. "You forget that I slayed the wizards father. His son still lurks around...Until he makes his move we need to prepare for ours."
How many times had he failed? Cell couldn't figure that out. He'd already been inside this chamber for what he counted was a week. He never expected THIS part of the training however to be THIS difficult.
"Alright...One more time...Come on!" Cell bellowed to himself, tail twitching in front of him as it twitched and pulsed. A small bulge was coming through it in which his most recent attempt was being made.
"We're the perfect being. We cannot keep failing now." He waited upu until the bulge made it to the tip of his tail and it stretched out into a funnel like shape. Out of which came out was a replica of Goku's classic Keigoki...Or Gi as it was typically called in the Manga's in his old world. While the coloration was right, the size was not.
There's no way it would fit him. For one...the outfit he'd produced was the size of it's original owner. The only thing he'd managed to faithfully reproduce for himself was Piccolo's fighting Gi. He had a full sized mirror at his side as he looked at the purple combat gi he was wearing along with the traditional white cape that Piccolo was known to wear. His height was much closer to piccolo's over Goku's though he had to take liberties with the back portion of his outfit so that his wings weren't stifled...Same with his tail.
He'd tried putting on the traditional turban but his head shape made that very unorthodox so he thought against it.
"I WILL get this right...If it's the last thing I do I'll find the perfect outfit to match my perfect imperfect self." He huffed, suddenly turning his funnel shaped tail tip in front of the mirror so he could get a better look at the pink fleshy insides of his tail...A place in which many creatures and android have found their way inside.
"Eventually. Eventually more will go in there, and become a part of me. We need only wait." He said to nobody in particular.
For now...He needed to focus on his physical training once again. He once again got up to his full height and stepped back into the white expanse of the chamber and produced a clone for his multi form technique training. He could worry about looking imperfectly perfect later. He needed his strength to match that inner perfection.
And so...He charged once again at his clone, firing a Special beam cannon in sync with their own, a bright light enveloping the two of them as they resumed their traditional training session as was becoming their norm.
The time for training has begun.