Before diving into this continuation, I highly recommend reading the original Taken by Toto to fully grasp the story's foundation and characters like Taylor; while I've added my own twists and retconned certain elements, I hold deep respect for the original author's work and vision-feel free to ask me questions !

Chapter 1: Fractured Truth

The battle between Taylor and Android 18 had left the forest in ruins. Trees were reduced to splinters, craters scarred the landscape, and the once-serene wilderness now felt lifeless. Taylor, panting heavily, stood amidst the wreckage, glaring at Android 18. Despite the immense energy he'd unleashed, the android emerged from the rubble, battered but composed.

"You're tough, I'll give you that," Taylor spat, wiping blood from his lip. "But I'm not done yet."

Android 18's icy gaze met his. She adjusted the remnants of her tattered jacket, brushing away dirt and debris. "You're good for a kid," she said, her tone calm but edged with frustration. "But this fight is pointless. You're not strong enough to beat me, Taylor."

"Shut up!" he roared, his aura flaring as he prepared another charge.

Before either could make another move, a slow, deliberate clapping echoed through the clearing. The sound was unnerving, each clap carrying a weight that made both fighters pause and turn. Atop a nearby rocky outcrop stood a figure bathed in the fading sunlight—a tall, green-skinned creature with pink eyes and a sinister smirk. His tail swayed lazily behind him.

"Impressive," the figure said, his voice smooth and calculated. "I was wondering how long you two would go at it before noticing me."

Taylor immediately tensed, his sharp senses picking up the creature's overwhelming presence. "Who the hell are you?" he demanded, his fists clenched.

Android 18's eyes narrowed, a flicker of recognition crossing her face. "That tail… You're one of Gero's creations, aren't you?"

The figure chuckled, the sound unnervingly casual. "Ah, you must be Android 18. And you," his gaze shifted to Taylor, "you're just a boy playing warrior. How quaint."

"Answer the question!" Taylor snapped, his energy spiking.

With a theatrical bow, the creature introduced himself. "I am Cell, the culmination of Dr. Gero's brilliance. A bio-engineered masterpiece created from the cells of Earth's greatest fighters. And now, I stand before you in my quest for perfection."

"Perfection?" Android 18 echoed, her voice dripping with disdain. "Let me guess—you're here to absorb me, like some kind of parasite?"

Cell's smirk faltered, and for a moment, an expression of genuine disgust crossed his face. "Absorb you? Once, perhaps. But not anymore." His gaze hardened, and his tone took on a chilling edge. "You see, I've been… enlightened."

Both Taylor and Android 18 exchanged confused glances, unsure of what the creature was getting at.

"I've watched you," Cell continued, his voice now laced with venom. "Through Gero's old surveillance systems, I witnessed everything. Your battles, your struggles… and the atrocities committed in Parsley City."

Taylor's confusion deepened, but Android 18's expression turned cold. She took a step forward, her voice steady but dangerous. "What are you talking about?"

Cell's gaze locked onto her, and for a moment, his smirk disappeared entirely. "Parsley City. A few months ago. The day your partner, Android 17, was killed. And the day Future Trunks…" He paused, savoring the moment, "violated you."

Taylor's eyes widened in shock, the words hitting him like a freight train. "What? That's… that's not true!" he stammered, his voice trembling.

Android 18's face was unreadable, but her clenched fists and trembling frame betrayed the storm of emotions raging within her.

"Oh, it's true," Cell said, his voice now dripping with malice. "I saw it all. The righteous warrior, Trunks, killing 17 in cold blood. And then, instead of simply ending you as well, he chose to take something that was never his. A sickening display of 'justice.'"

Taylor turned to Android 18, his voice cracking. "Is he lying? Tell me he's lying!"

Android 18 remained silent, her gaze fixed on the ground. Tears welled in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. The weight of Cell's words hung in the air like a suffocating fog.

"You didn't deserve it," Cell said, his tone surprisingly solemn. "Even as a machine designed to kill, you didn't deserve that. It was that act—Trunks' hypocrisy—that changed me. It made me realize that perfection isn't achieved through blind hatred or mindless absorption. No, perfection is something earned. And Trunks…" His eyes burned with hatred. "I will make him pay for what he did."

Taylor's aura flared as he turned to Cell. "You're no better than him! You've killed countless people—absorbed them, drained their lives! Don't act like you're some noble savior!"

Cell chuckled darkly. "Oh, I don't deny what I am. I am a killer, a destroyer. But I am also a being of purpose. And my purpose now is to bring Trunks to his knees."

At that moment, a surge of golden energy lit up the horizon. Future Trunks landed between them, his Super Saiyan aura blazing. His eyes were hard, his jaw clenched. "Cell," he said coldly. "You talk too much."

Cell's smirk returned, but there was a glint of anticipation in his eyes. "Ah, the man of the hour. I was wondering when you'd show up."

Trunks turned to Taylor and Android 18, his gaze softening. "Are you both okay?"

Taylor stepped forward, his fists trembling. "Is it true, Trunks? What he said… about Parsley City?"

Trunks' expression darkened, guilt flashing across his face. "Taylor, now's not the time—"

"Answer me!" Taylor shouted, his voice cracking with emotion.

Trunks' silence was answer enough.

Android 18 finally looked up, her tears now streaming freely. "You didn't just take my partner away from me, Trunks. You took my humanity."

The tension was palpable, the weight of unspoken truths and buried guilt threatening to crush them all. Trunks' fists tightened, his aura flaring. "I can't change the past," he said, his voice heavy. "But I can make sure Cell doesn't destroy our future."

Cell clapped mockingly. "How noble. But let's be honest, Trunks—your hands are just as stained as mine. The only difference is, I embrace what I am. You? You're still pretending to be a hero."

The standoff ended as quickly as it began. Cell took a step back, his tail swaying lazily. "This isn't the time for our final confrontation. One day, Trunks. I will return to Earth. Prepare yourself—because when I come back, there will be no redemption. Only judgment."

With that, Cell vanished in a flash of light, leaving the three of them standing in the desolate clearing.

End of Chapter 1