Android 17 leaned against the front counter of the clothing store, arms crossed, his face a mask of annoyance. The frightened sales clerk and her boss cowered behind the counter, trembling as Android 18 rifled through racks of clothes, searching for a decent outfit for Z. So far, nothing had met her standards.
17's patience was wearing thin. "Come on, 18. How long does it take to find something for him to wear?" he asked, his frown deepening.
"Instead of whining, 17, how about you help me?" she snapped, not looking up from her search.
"No, thanks," he replied dryly, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
"Then shut up!" 18 shot back, causing her brother to groan in exasperation.
After a few more moments of searching, 18 finally found something she deemed suitable: a sleek leather jacket, a crisp white shirt, blue jeans, black sneakers, a fingerless black glove, and a simple necklace. "Here, try this on," she instructed, handing the clothes to Z.
Z reluctantly complied, standing in front of the mirror. As he donned the outfit, a faint memory flickered in his mind—an echo of a past life where he wore similar attire. 18 noticed his faraway look and her concern grew. "Hey, are you okay?" she asked, her voice softening.
Z snapped out of his trance and forced a smile. "I'm fine."
"Are you sure? You seem out of it," she pressed, her eyes searching his face for any sign of distress.
17 rolled his eyes dramatically. "Come on, 18, quit worrying. He's fine."
Z nodded in agreement. "He's right, 18. I'm fine. No need to worry."
"Okay..." 18 replied, though her tone betrayed her lingering concern.
"Now that this is settled, how about we blow this joint? We still have a Goku to find," 17 suggested, already heading towards the exit. As they left, the manager finally mustered the courage to speak up.
"H-Hey! You need to pay for those!" he called out, his voice shaking.
The androids ignored him, making their way to the pink van parked outside. 17 and 18 hopped in, while Z lingered for a moment, glancing in the direction where he sensed high levels of ki, miles away in Gingertown. His mind raced with curiosity and a touch of unease about the source of this power.
"Z, what are you doing?" 17 shouted from the passenger window.
Z flinched, then glanced at his fellow android. "Get in or we're leaving you," 17 added, a playful edge to his voice.
Z spared one final glance at the distant source of power before climbing into the van. 17 hit the gas, and they sped off towards Goku's house.
Meanwhile, back in Gingertown—or what was left of it, now a desolate wasteland—Piccolo stood his ground, facing a grotesque creature. The creature, a bio-engineered monstrosity, claimed to be another creation of Dr. Gero, known as Cell. The air was thick with tension and the remnants of recent destruction, as Piccolo demanded answers.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" Piccolo's voice was steady but forceful, his eyes narrowing at the creature before him.
Cell's lipless mouth curled into a sinister smile. "I am Cell, the ultimate android created by Dr. Gero. I have come here to achieve perfection by absorbing Androids 17 and 18," he replied, his voice a chilling blend of arrogance and malice.
Piccolo's fists clenched at his sides, his aura flaring with energy. "Perfection? What are you talking about? What is your purpose?"
Cell's eyes glinted with a dangerous light as he began to explain. "Dr. Gero designed me with the cells of the greatest fighters, including you, Piccolo. My purpose is to attain my perfect form by absorbing the androids. Once I achieve that, I will be unstoppable."
"You're insane!" Piccolo spat, his anger boiling over. "I won't let you harm anyone else!"
Cell chuckled darkly. "Oh, Piccolo, you can't stop me. But by all means, try."
With that, the two launched at each other, the ground trembling beneath their feet as they clashed. The force of their blows sent shockwaves through the ruined city, and the sky above darkened with the intensity of their battle. Piccolo fought with all his might, but Cell's power was overwhelming, and it became clear that this was no ordinary android.
Piccolo managed to land a powerful flying kick to Cell's face, sending the android hurtling backwards. However, Cell quickly recovered, standing his ground with ease. He rubbed his lipless mouth and chuckled darkly, amusement dancing in his eyes.
"Impressive, Piccolo," Cell taunted, his voice dripping with mock admiration. "You have strength, I'll give you that."
Piccolo glared at him, breathing heavily, his muscles tensed and ready for the next move. But as Cell shifted into a familiar stance, a cold dread washed over Piccolo. Sweat slid down his face as he realized what was happening. Cell was preparing to perform the Kamehameha wave.
"No, this can't be..." Piccolo muttered, eyes widening in shock.
Cell's chuckling grew louder, more sinister, as he continued to adjust his pose. "Oh, but it is," he replied, a cruel smile spreading across his face. "You see, Piccolo, I told you before. I possess the abilities of all the greatest fighters, including Goku. Allow me to demonstrate."
Cell's hands moved into position, his fingers splayed as a blue light began to glow between his palms. The energy crackled and surged, illuminating the wasteland around them with an eerie glow. Piccolo's mind raced; he knew the devastating power of the Kamehameha wave and what it could do.
"Ka...me...ha...me..." Cell's voice echoed through the ruins, each syllable sending a jolt of fear through Piccolo.
Desperation fueled Piccolo's next move. He couldn't let Cell unleash that attack. Summoning every ounce of his strength, Piccolo charged at Cell, hoping to interrupt the energy buildup.
But Cell was ready. He pivoted on his heel, his eyes locking onto Piccolo with deadly precision. "HA!" he roared, releasing a massive wave of energy.
Piccolo barely had time to react. He crossed his arms in front of him, bracing for impact as the Kamehameha wave collided with him.
A massive explosion erupted.
Meanwhile, back with the androids, Z suddenly shouted, "Stop the van!" His unexpected outburst made 17 slam on the brakes. Z exited from the back, his eyes narrowing as he sensed the high readings of energy coming from afar.
"Hey, what's the deal, Z?" 17 demanded, approaching him alongside 18, who looked equally concerned.
"Yeah, you've been acting strange since we left the clothing store," 18 added, her voice tinged with worry.
"Don't you guys sense that?" Z asked, his gaze fixed on the horizon.
"Sense what? Dr. Gero never installed us with ki sensory systems. Don't tell me he did it with you?" 17 frowned, his suspicion evident.
"Maybe," Z replied hesitantly.
Just then, Android 16 stepped out of the van, his expression serious. "I sense strong readings of ki coming from miles away in a city called Gingertown. Z is not wrong."
17 rolled his eyes, dismissing their concerns. "You two are being paranoid. Get back in the van or I'm leaving you behind."
As 17 and 18 headed back to the van, 16 and Z stood side by side, still gazing toward the source of Cell's energy. 16 spoke, his voice low and steady. "You're not losing your mind, Z. I too sense a tremendous power in the direction of Gingertown. We should be on our guard."
Z nodded, relieved. "I thought so."
"Come on, you two!" 17's shout came from the driver's side, impatience clear in his tone.
Z and 16 exchanged one last look before heading back to the van. As they climbed inside, Z couldn't shake the feeling that whatever awaited them in Gingertown was far more dangerous than anything they'd encountered before.
Meanwhile, Cell had managed to escape his fight with Piccolo, leaving the Namekian battered but still standing. Sprinting towards the nearest town, his mind was consumed with thoughts of the carnage to come. His plan was to feast on more victims to boost his ki, but the anticipation of eventually confronting Androids 17 and 18 was a constant, tantalizing thought.
As Cell approached the outskirts of a small town, he chuckled darkly to himself. "Ah, so many lives ripe for the taking. It's almost too easy," he mused, his voice echoing with malevolent satisfaction.
Reaching the town, he slowed his pace, savoring the fear that would soon grip its unsuspecting inhabitants. He could sense the life forces around him, and a wicked smile spread across his lipless face. "Let the games begin," he said softly, as he began to drain the life energy from the townspeople.
Screams and chaos erupted as Cell made his presence known. A young woman, trembling in fear, cried out, "Please, no! What do you want from us?"
Cell's eyes glinted with cold amusement. "What do I want? Just a little snack to satisfy my hunger. And to think, you're all so generous," he replied, his voice dripping with cruel irony.
As he absorbed the energy of several victims, Cell relished the growing power within him. "Yes, this is it," he said, feeling the surge of energy. "Every soul I consume brings me one step closer to perfection. And soon, very soon, I'll add Androids 17 and 18 to my collection."
The townspeople's terror only fueled Cell's hunger. "You should be honored," he continued, his voice echoing through the devastation. "You're contributing to the birth of a new era. An era where I reign supreme."
With the town's population decimated, Cell paused to admire his handiwork. "Such splendid chaos," he murmured, a satisfied smile on his face. "Piccolo was a mere distraction. The real prize awaits."
Resuming his journey, Cell's thoughts turned once more to the android twins. "17 and 18," he said with a sinister edge. "You will be the final pieces in my evolution. I can't wait to see the look on your faces when you realize what's become of me."