Around a year's time. Not including the year that Cell had spent in the Hyperbolic time chamber was how long it took him to finally gain a respectable level in the skills he'd been training for. His materialization technique was spot on, he could now provide his humans with clothing if one desperately needed…and help the now growing android population find more suitable threads.
The way the future changed for this world was already greater than the bio android could have ever predicted. After six months of studying the plans for Androids 17 and 18, Bulma better understood the workings on their creation and even how fundamentally they had originally been human.
Such revelations quickly turned things around and she was even beginning a volunteer list. People willing to go through the permanent change so that the process could be perfected through real world applications. Many were hesitant…but one such human that Cell never expected to volunteer was the same man whom he'd found half dead in Ginger town. Apparently his act in rescuing the human had transformed them…They spent a long six months training with the sword that Cell had given them but upon hearing that Bulma needed volunteers for an Android defense project…he signed up with a gung ho attitude.
They stopped using numbers so as to make their transformation a little more personal. So instead of Android 22 being his name as it would have been under the Red Ribbon insignia he was named Android Sword Master. Mainly because of the sword he retained and continued to train with after his transformation.
Currently there were only 10 androids that existed in this universe…Himself…16, and then the 8 volunteers who remained on stand by in case their assistance out in the world was needed. "Hopefully…they won't. Not in the near future anyway."
What he knew was coming was rapidly approaching. They had one goal…To make sure the Supreme Kai survived this next ordeal. The future…HIS future depended on it.
His thoughts on the matter however were interrupted when he'd unknowingly brought his tail up towards his beak. Whenever he got lost in thought he had a habit to bring his stinger up to his face and peer at the lethal tip that could spell any living organism's demise.
It certainly had for Androids 17 and 18 who were now resting permanently within his stomach. No Gohan to force him to up chuck them and decrease his perfect power. Perfect in the terms of speed and strength. Though his memories of a distant life reminded him there were much bigger fish out in the ocean that was this universe.
He flexed the tip of his tail a few times, forcing it into a bell like funnel at it's tip so he could gaze at the pink fleshy depths of his body. Such a perfect body. At one point he'd even made to test out a theory he'd long held about the stinger and if he could consume non-android's with it whole. Sure…In one setting his alternate timeline counterpart had consumed Goku in hell but was that even really canon?
"No matter." Cell's cheeks went pink as he gripped his tail in his arms and hugged it, much like a plush, squirming in place as he delighted in how his body was so perfectly crafted…so well made. His father had been right on the money.
"Thank you father, for this chance at ultimate perfection."
"Oh right…I guess I got a little carried away…" Cell cleared his throat once and released his tail, staring out at the world beneath him. "I suppose…I should check on Trunks. See how his preparations are faring."
On another world, way beyond the realm of mortals, Trunks was performing his own training on the sacred world of the Kai's. A place where normal mortals wouldn't even be allowed access to even after death.
On this lush green planet, free of the pollution of mass production and factories that littered his own world, Trunks found the most ideal training program in a two step process. First remove the Z-Sword…in which the Supreme Kai had been so sure he would be able to remove as the chosen warrior that would save the universe.
The second were the two Cell Jr's that Cell had insisted come along with him for sparring purposes. The bio android had argued that in the future their opposition would not allow them to rely solely on their current power, and Trunks needed the strength to fight him on a more level playing field if he wanted to stop Majin Buu from being resurrected.
Kabito objected. The large red skinned Vassal to Shin had opposed the idea of even Trunks coming to their most holy realm, but to allow these…monsters on board as well was borderline blasphemous. Needless to say, the Supreme Kai won over that battle, rightly surmising that the more of them that were able to fight off Babidi's henchmen when the time came the better.
Even as Trunks grew accustomed to the weight of the Z-Sword, he would make use of it's sturdy blade to either deflect or cut through one of the Cell Jr's that took him to be adequate target practice on a world were very few powerful fighters were actually present.
Their training aside, hearing the miniature Cell's laughing at him could be mentally exhausting. They were like children that delighted in causing mayhem. One of the Jr's after finding Trunks' explosive growth irritating because they couldn't knock him off his feet decided to take it up a notch.
"Ke-he he he! Kaaaaa…Meeeeeee…Haaaaaa…Meeeeeee…Haaaaaaa!"
The abominable creature let the lethal blue energy that it had been collecting gather in it's palms. Purposefully charging the attack for it's full lethality before stretching it's arm outward palms forward to unleash the powerful wave that was undoubtedly one of their most powerful attacks
"You have no right to use such attacks! They belong to Gohan and his family!" Trunks cried in his own injustice even as he took the blunt edge of the sword and held it with his palm to brace for the impact. One which dug his boots into the soft soil and dragged him along the surface of the kai's world a good 10 meters before he could finally get the leverage he needed to toss the wave into the atmosphere.
There was a moment of blinding light and the rumbling of an explosion some many miles above them that made Trunks' hair a mess for several seconds before finally settling back into place. Saiyan hair rarely needed to be maintained unless you were looking for a specific hairdo.
"Kehehe…It's OUR attack too Trunks!" The Cell Jr spoke up even as it started walking so casually, unguarded towards the half saiyan."
"Quiet you freak…" Trunks flinched, hand clenched to his side as he bent his knees for a forward dash only to be stopped by a force that kept him firmly where he stood. He couldn't move! "What…What is happening!"
It was Shin, the current Supreme Kai's doing. The small purple skinned deity whom held the foremost authority in their galaxy approached the trio, even holding the two Jr's in place as his eyes retained a rather mesmerizing blue glow "That's enough Trunks." He spoke firmly but with a gentle sound in his voice like one would expect from someone living hundreds if not thousands of years.
"You…Expect me to stop…? I almost had him…! I almost had my revenge!"
"You mustn't dip your head into Darkness Trunks. You'll only become easier for the evil wizard Babidi to control you. Besides…As evil as you say they are, they haven't done anything that I've observed that warrants their destruction…"
"Nothing?" Trunks retorted, moving just the barest of inches with his head to gesture to the holes that have been burned into several trees, boulders and even one mountain that could be seen in the distance.
Shin did take a glancing view at some of the wreckage on their homeworld and couldn't deny that these little guys had an explosive personality…But compared to the horrors that they were trying to prevent, THIS was very tame, very acceptable. "I know you've seen it before you came here. The ones still on your planet are helping in rebuilding your civilization. Cleaning cities up, helping stragglers out of some more complicated situations. I haven't seen real evil from these children."
"You didn't see what those androids did to my world! They-"
"Trunks I am the Supreme Kai of the East. My responsibility is in overseeing your part of the universe. I've seen the horrible atrocities they've committed. However…" Shin pointed to the Cell Jr's who had one moment gone from wildly charging after Trunks to sitting down by the lake and tossing their lines into the water.
A half smile came onto Shin as he observed this. Such a wild nature and yet they did not seek to harm anyone. Not truly. "The creature whom spawned these children is not evil. In fact I've seen him assist your people. Shouldn't you be willing to give him a chance and try to open up even a little?"
"ACHOO!" Cell sneezed once on the lookout and started rubbing his beak. "Someone's talking about me…It should be of no surprise though I DID save their world." He crossed his arms in the usual demeanor of someone who believed they were infallible.
Inside though he knew that wasn't the case. It's been well over 2 years since he was first born into this world. The words of his father flashed into his head every now and then from his first breath. He thought he'd been dreaming at first. That he'd wake up any moment and be back to his old life, but that never happened which led him to eventually come to the realization that this was not a dream.
His body…his cellular makeup…It was all perfect and the culmination of nearly a decades worth of research from his father. All to make sure he could exist. "I am the apex predator of this world. I am perfection. Thank you again father for making me as grand as you have thought to do so.
Cell's reminiscing was however cut short when he felt as though someone had stabbed him in his chest. The pain tightened and he gripped at his abdomen, panting as if he started a whole marathon. "What…Was that…?! It felt…My children…"
The bio android heaved a few times, almost as if he were bordering on a panic attack but his programming quickly allowed for him to regain his composure and close his eyes to still himself. One of his children was in distress…It wasn't Trunks though…He sent those two along after explaining to them the possibility that the half saiyan might try to end them…And so he knew their pain would not be quite as sharp…This was…something unexpected.
With his eyes closed Cell attuned himself to where the origin of his pain was coming from. Soon he was not looking from his own eyes but from the eyes of his children.
A wasteland. There were some craggy cliffs here there but for the most part it was barren. No…Not completely barren. His child was stepping back a bit and looking to their left and their right. Arms outstretched, he realized they were in the midst of combat.
Then he saw it. Coming towards them, kicking up a dust cloud as he made for a mad dash towards his child, he saw the familiar light blue suit that enveloped most their body but leaving their chest exposed and a white spiked cape shuffling behind them. Their bodily appearance was most certainly that of a devil. Red skinned with two horns protruding from their forehead and a goatee that gave them a most villainous sneer. ON their foreheads however told Cell of the threat that had finally arrived.
A big black M right along the forehead of this mysterious foe. No wonder his child was struggling…Dabura ranked in power similar to his own!
The Cell Jr put up their arms as a means to defend themselves from the oncoming assault. They were fast, faster than the little android could muster as they not only evaded the Jr's strikes, the landed a high kick right into their face.
Cell Jr went sprawling a couple feet back, body bouncing at least once before it managed to get back up, teeth clenched in rage only to see the demon king spread their jaws only slightly to spit on them! The indignant response left the diminutive android frustrated that the demon's saliva splatted right on the chest. They tried to retalliate, tossing an energy blast from their right palm towards Dabura who needed only to turn his head to avoid the blow.
"Weak." The demon king rumbled, already turning to walk away, clearly bored of this whole ordeal. "The energy I got from YOU is worthless."
"Keh keh…Get back he-" The Cell Jr wasn't done but his body was. They looked at their chest as a tightening feeling came from it and saw that it was solidifying…Greying as if becoming stone. There was an intense pain that came through the android as his body was failing to respond! Steadily…the petrification was worming it's way to the rest of his body.
Cell's nails dug into his own arms in rage as he watched…His vision slowly darkening when his son no longer breathed life and became a statue…A gargoyle was the closest thing Cell could think of at this point. And from his growling, he was unamused. His child was attacked…And judging from Dabura's comment, the initial pain he felt was likely Dabura extracting the power from his child in the same way Spopovich and Yamu had taken Gohan's in the past.
"You are mine Dabura…Mark my words…" Cell growled out each word. He was determined now. Trunks could have Babidi…He could have the entire force at Babidi's disposal, but he was going to personally ensure that Dabura regretted ever targeting his children and petrifying him.
Elsewhere, in the sacred realm of the Kai's...
"TRUNKS! SUPREME KAI! KABITO!"
Trunks was filling up one of their canteens by the lake when he heard Cell's booming voice in his ears. The forcefulness of his words nearly forcing him to drop the water filled canteen but thankfully one of the Cell Jr's came around and grasped it before it hit the ground.
"Aagh…What do YOU want Cell? Isn't it bad enough you sent your lackeys with us? And how are you talking to us?"
"Piccolo's Genes kid. Get over it."
That…didn't sound like the Cell that he'd heard before. The Cell he came to know this past year was a jokester. He'd even booped his nose when they first met in an attempt to break the ice much to Trunks' displeasure. Right now they sounded…angry.
"Piccolo could communicate with telepathy and so can I. Not over long distances like THIS but that's what my children are for…Wherever they are, my voice can reach." Cell's fingers dug into his own biceps. "That's not important right now…I could make a joke about CELL service but I have grave news."
"Cell…Service…?" Shin wasn't in the know about current technology or the audacity of such a pun but right now that didn't seem like here or there. As a Kai his position wasn't to know about such mundane technology. "What are you contacting us here for Cell? Has something happened?"
"Use your instantaneous movement to get back to the earth pronto. Our enemy has revealed themselves." Cell let the rasp in his voice come out, both anger and impatience fueling him right now. "The demon king Dabura has made his move…And judging by the big M on his forehead he belongs to Babidi. They're trying to resurrect Majin buu."
The mention of the Majin forced Shin's eyes wide. He knew that the wizard would make his move soon, but he didn't expect them to start this soon. "How do you-"
"I'm linked to my children. When one of them is killed or injured I can feel it much like King Piccolo did in his time. In one of my children's dying moments I saw Dabura…they kicked him around before spitting on my boy." Cell growled out, growing ever more impatient. "What Dabura didn't anticipate is that my child's energy that he stole will lead us right to them…So now…Are you coming or not? I don't mind hogging all the glory."
Trunks, Kabito and Shin all looked at one another. They didn't have a reason to believe that the android was lying, neither did the Jr's who after processing the information that their sibling had been murdered they just gripped at Shin's clothes, eyes glaring at some unforeseeable adversary. They wanted revenge just as much as their father.
"I hope this will all turn out alright…but Cell's right." Shin finally said, waiting for Kabito and Trunks to place their hands on his shoulders. "We have to stop Babidi if it's the last thing we do." He put a finger to his forehead and began their transportation.
Instantaneous movement was useful as it was well…instantaneous. No sooner than Cell had stopped speaking did he sense the five that were now standing behind him. He was barely able to stop himself when his tail out of his agitation nearly cut into Trunks' collarbone. "Sorry about that…" He quickly turned so that his tail wouldn't be a danger to them anymore.
"Be more careful with that thing. It's as deadly as a sword you know…" Trunks rubbed along his neck as if he could feel the stinger there and at the moment he was grateful it WASN'T…Else he'd already be gone and inside the android. Not a fate he wanted to have with his CURRENT mindset.
Cell apologized again and looked at his two children. Both Jr's looked eager for a fight but he had a feeling inside his gut that they might not be ready for it. "I want you two to protect the Supreme Kai. That's your role in all of this."
"Keh!? But father! We-"
"That is your role." Cell rasped, tail smacking the ground for a moment in his anger. The dent that formed within the solid earth was enough to convey just how serious he was. "I know you want to avenge your brother, but if the Supreme Kai dies then all of this is for nothing. Don't worry…I know you're all as strong if not more so than a Super Saiyan. You won't let me down."
The words of encouragement didn't do anything to brighten up either of their moods but they understood. As angry as their father was at losing one of them they had a job to do. They stood closer to Shin, one guarding his front while the other held up the rear just as everyone started taking to the sky with their father at the front of it.
His original or rather his alter ego as Cell liked to call them never really had the ability to sense any of their kin but he did. Part of him wondered if it was because the Cell Jr's hadn't been around long enough for the skill to matter or perhaps they were more detached from their children than HE was. Each one important to him as they developed their own personalities while they helped pick humanity back up.
They were mischievous but what child wasn't? It was part why back in his past life he didn't want anything to do with kids. How things changed now…
{I can always create more…I can't recreate their persona's though. But if Shin dies then this whole place is FUBAR anyway…I'm sorry my sons. Hopefully we all make it out of here in one piece…}