Cell
This is just perfect.
Cell smirked confidently, keeping his gaze locked onto the large android while remaining ready to move in case his siblings tried to escape. He had arrived just in the nick of time. As if destined. Truly, it was difficult to hide his elation. The impulse to gaze at the Androids – so close, finally in my grasp – had to be forced down.
This one, this interloper, had crippled 17 and 18. It was clearly in a different league to the other android he had dismantled. This could be problematic, but fortunately the inferior androids had rather one-track minds.
"You're one of the older models, aren't you," Cell began, speaking in a rasping yet jovial tone, "tasked with fetching the Androids. Well, you need not worry about that any longer. Your task was to aid me and I'm here now."
He swept his arms out to the side and allowed the barest fragments of his true power to rise to the surface. Golden light flashed around him for an instant and his tail smashed the surface he stood on into a network of fine cracks to punctuate his statement.
"I thank you for your assistance, but it is no longer necessary to damage Number 17 and Number 18 further. They will be unable to resist me." Cell smiled and finally allowed himself to take his eyes off the tall one and focus on the two androids who mattered.
Android 17, devastatingly powerful. The lower half of his face was bloodstained, his nose out of alignment and an ugly purple shade. His black shirt was little more than rags clinging over his white long-sleeved top, which was now a deep crimson in the front. The Android's jeans had gone from fashionably ripped to pockmarked with cuts and burns.
And next to him, his twin sister, limping on her right leg and desperately trying to help her brother stand. An ugly bruise covered half of her face, her left eye swollen shut. Her denim jacket and skirt had been shredded at some point in the fight, and her dark tights were ripped and just as ashen as her formerly fair skin. Android 18, poetry in motion.
Soon, brother and sister, our reunion will be complete. Perfection awaits.
His slitted eyes carefully traced back to the spare. It had not shifted its position in the slightest since his arrival. Clearly a purely mechanical android. This one was of no concern. And most importantly, it had taken no stupid steps to intervening against him. He didn't appreciate how zealous it had been in executing its directive to subdue the Androids, but he supposed it could be forgiven. It was only a machine after all. And the damage to 17 and 18 was superficial. While he would have preferred for them to be as pristine as possible, they were more than intact enough to absorb.
Good. This will be swift.
Cell gave a short nod to the bystander and walked towards his prey. The anticipation was unbearable, his excitement so thick that he could almost taste it as his tongue swept over his parted beak.
"Come on Seventeen get up," Android 18 pleaded, clumsily pulling her dark-haired counterpart to his feet. "We've got to get out of here."
"Ow! Damn it, you're going to break my good arm," Seventeen cursed, rising to unsteady legs as he stared at Cell with disbelief. "Is that thing real?"
Cell hid the miniscule flicker of disappointment in his eyes. The surprise of the gift he was about to bestow on them would make up for their confusion.
"Don't leave," he said in a light tone, not slowing his advance as his tail rose up behind him. "There is nothing left to fear. As I told our friend, I am Cell. Rejoice, brother and sister, for all you have been waiting for has arrived. The long torment of our separation is at an end, and we can finally achieve our true purpose."
The disgust on Seventeen's face hurt Cell more than the Android could.
"What are you talking about, freak?" Android 17 spat. He moved in front of his sister protectively, as if to shield her. It was a doubly futile gesture. Cell had the furthest intentions from hurting them, and if he had there was nothing 17 would be able to do to stop him.
Cell sighed internally. He had expected some reluctance from his quarry, but he had hoped that when given the opportunity to be perfect they would see reason.
"Seventeen, you were meant for much more than killing Goku and his allies. You know this. It's why you and our sister have felt that gnawing emptiness inside you all this time. It truly pains me that you had to exist in ignorance of the higher calling awaiting you. But I am here now." Cell smiled and spread his arms wide, "And we will be complete."
"You keep saying that, but I have no idea what you mean. Get away from us! You and 16 can go to hell!" Eighteen shouted, a powerful gust of wind blasting around her as she fired a blue-white energy ball at him.
The attack was deftly deflected by his tail before it could strike, but he did pause for the moment.
Cell turned back to look at 16. The green and black clad giant still wasn't moving. When their eyes met, he could feel the intensity behind his gaze, but he dismissed that as a product of his imagination. The lesser android only existed to accomplish his objectives. Any other thoughts were beyond him. He was irrelevant now that he had delivered 17 and 18 to him.
"Don't worry sister, this will all make sense soon." He took another step forward, and the two androids were pressed against the steel beams behind them. The remains of his earlier meal clung to them, fools who had tried to ascend out of his reach. 17 still had his arm out in front of 18, though they were both in no condition to resist.
The look in their eyes. Such fear of the glory to come.
"You will understand all you need to once we are Perfect," Cell concluded. There was nothing more to say to them. His footsteps echoed as he closed the distance to the pair. He could not sense their energy but whether they fought, fled or submitted to their destiny, he was prepared.
"Wait."
Cell came to a halt and peered over his shoulder. Android 16 had shifted forward and was holding himself in a ready stance. Almost as though he were about to try something.
"Number 16," he snarled. He studied the android's body language as he spoke, seeing the neutrality he'd noted so far from the lumbering machine shift to something other. But there was no need to let him know that he knew, so he forced a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "What is it?"
"The end of your tail matches the holes made in all of the clothing scattered around this city." 16 said, undaunted by the murderous glare Cell was sending his way. "You killed all of them. Why?"
This one is even more perplexing than the purple dwarf.
"You're delaying my perfection for an irrelevant question." Cell turned away from 16 and subtle waves of golden light shimmered over his mottled skin. "I absorbed their bio-essence to grow my own power. It was necessary to expedite my absorption of 17 and 18. Satisfied?"
"Do you regret it?"
Cell scowled. "What an odd question… Of course not. Becoming a part of my perfection was the greatest role those weaklings could ever hope to achieve."
The silence from 16 was as good an indicator as any for Cell to continue as though he had not been rudely interrupted.
BAM!
Cell shrieked as the force behind the punch sent him sliding meters away from his targets. It took only a few seconds to use his energy to arrest his movement, and his claws dug into the ground as he crouched, tail winding over his shoulder as it poised to strike.
"Number 16," Cell said, voice lowering to a dangerous tone, "What is the meaning of this?!"
The Android, who he was just noting was as tall as he was, was still in the striking position from when he had landed the surprise attack. With deliberate slowness he drew his fist back and stared Cell in the eyes.
And he's positioned himself between me and the Androids. Is this garbage malfunctioning?
"You absorbed all those innocent people to grow your own power, without any remorse," Android 16 stated, striding forwards, drilling into Cell with his gaze. "I will not allow you to gain even more power."
"What nonsense are you on about?" Cell hissed. "This is not your function Number 16! You were never instructed to oppose me!"
"No. But I cannot allow a monster like you to become complete." His gaze shifted to 17 and 18, "Even if their existence is prolonged."
Cell exhaled quietly, letting his fury build and pulse through his igniting aura as he crouched into a low stance. "You're more damaged than the last one I fought." He heard 17 and 18 flee in a mix of limping and flying, but didn't take his eyes from 16. "Don't waste your time, this won't take long."
The giant lunged at him, fist thrown forwards to deliver a powerful haymaker, Cell put on a burst of speed and dodged to the left, taking advantage of the overextension to kick the android in the face and use the sweeping kick to propel him through the construction zone. He twisted in midair to prepare to chase down 17 and 18, when he sensed movement from behind him. Cell turned just in time for 16's elbow to smash into his diaphragm. Cell gagged, unable to control himself as spittle escaped his lips and he was blasted backwards by the force of the blow. 16 caught him by his tail, spinning him around like a top before smashing him into the ground hard enough to fracture the paving.
Just when he thought it was over, Cell felt Android 16's grip on his tail strengthen and a large boot slam into his back. He had a moment of horrific realisation before he felt incredible agony from his back. With a horrific squelching tearing sound, his tail was ripped off.
Android 16
The creature, Cell, had been disabled with only a moderate expenditure of power. Good. There was not enough data to model all the uses of its tail, but the two that 16 knew of were reason enough to remove it.
The disgust he felt towards this thing was only matched by his disdain for Number 17 and 18. They had fled as quickly as they could during his takedown of Cell, but he was confident that he could locate them and eliminate them in short order. Terminating Cell had the highest priority. According to his scanner, the creature's power rivalled his own. That did not fit the known profiles of any organic lifeform, but if Cell had told the truth then it was another impressive feat by their maker.
In truth, if absorbing the cyborgs was not likely to boost Cell's power in a manner similar to Android 13's acquisition of 14 and 15's vital components, he would have allowed it. The duo deserved no mercy. For them to be devoured by something almost as monstrous as themselves would have been fitting. But Cell's nature made this undesirable. He did not seek the cyborg twins for justice, he wanted to absorb them just like he had absorbed all the others to satisfy his hunger for power.
It was a kind of self-serving attitude that was sadly common among the Androids. He had acquiesced to the computer emulating Dr Gero in the hope that Androids 13-15 would be free of the same selfish nature as 17-18, but his hopes had been dashed once 13 had cannibalised 14 and split off to do the same to 15.
There may have to be a reckoning with Number 13 as well but was an uncertain probability. His efforts were better focused on retribution for the victims of the cyborgs, and now Cell. He had not known what was responsible for the disappearance of the human population, but now that he knew, it was impossible for him to let Cell live. Not after what he had done. And he could not let him succeed in empowering himself, even if that left 17 and 18 on the loose.
It was a bittersweet fact that they were harmless; there were no humans left to harm.
The dust around them kicked up, swirling like a tornado before catching fire as Cell stood up and screamed at the top of his lungs. The creature's eyes looked bloodshot and maddened as it screamed. The gold flames around its body intensified seemingly merged with the burning cyclone before it exploded outwards in a massive wave that caused more buildings to collapse around them.
Android 16 watched calmly. The energy gathered was still no threat.
"You took my tail! You ruined everything!" Cell's voice screeched, four fingered hand balling into fists as it raged, golden aura burning around it. The ground shook and was ripped up in chunks by the power radiating into the environment. 16's hair moved in the intense wind generated but the android merely stood his ground. "The Androids have gotten away!"
"That is the least of your concerns. Your focus should be on survival, now that you will remain in this form." 16 said.
An evil smirk overtook Cell's furious glare. The buglike mouth opened as it chuckled, and the furious golden storm calmed. "Oh, you'd like that wouldn't you? Well, sorry to disappoint you 16, but my design is far greater than you can comprehend, even in this rudimentary stage."
With a cry a new tail burst out of the stump of the first. It dripped with lime coloured fluid and wiggled experimentally behind its owner before calmly assuming its place behind him.
16 felt alarmed as his analytical programs scrambled to take this new factor into account while Cell smugly chuckled to itself.
"You've inconvenienced me, nothing more." Cell idly commented, "That is all your efforts will amount to. I am Dr Gero's greatest work. All you others pale by comparison."
His golden aura flared and Cell began walking towards 16. "This detour has been entertaining, but I have better things to do. The Androids have not gotten far. Assist me and I might forgive you, once I am whole. Alternatively, stay out of my way or I will dismantle you like the short one."
"Number 15?"
Cell smiled. "Yes, him. If I had known we shared a common purpose I would have spared him. But alas, once I had found out it was too late. I did not know my own strength and he was too weak."
Data points which 16 had neglected to sufficiently analyse before connected in that moment.
The other androids were awoken to bring back 17 and 18 for Cell's benefit. It must have discovered this at some point. That's why it assumed I was on its side. But I was not aware of Cell's existence, was 13?
He doubted it.
Pushing that thought into the background, Android 16 amped up his power output and sprinted at Cell. Cell's smile went cold before he launched himself at 16, and the two resumed their clash.
Android 18
The building shuddered in time with the shockwaves that blasted from Cell and 16's battle. She hadn't known where else she and Seventeen should go, so she'd chosen the Central City hospital. It was a stupid idea but she really didn't have any better ones.
It was half destroyed and flooded, clearly abandoned. No one had even attempted to rebuild it. Of course they hadn't. She loved blowing up hospitals. The only thing better was doing it ward by ward.
She was floating against a cracked wall, leaning her head against the cool glass of a fire extinguisher case. Seventeen was sitting on the other side of the corridor on a plastic covered gurney. He was gingerly rubbing his arm while glaring daggers at the ceiling, specifically the rough direction the shockwaves were coming from. She didn't need the advanced computer chip in her head to know what was going through his mind.
"I want it too, Seventeen," she said softly. Their eyes met, then she looked down at her knee. What was left of it anyway. Seventeen looked like he was recovering somewhat or at least getting better at dealing with the pain of his broken arm. If she even tried to apply pressure to her left leg it felt like twin spikes were shoved through it. It was the purest agony she'd felt in her entire life.
Her eyes narrowed and her voice dropped, "That self-righteous idiot, Number 16. He needs to die. No one humiliates us like that."
She heard a short exhale and watched a smile form on her brother's face before he spoke, "Apparently he does."
"What are you saying Seventeen?" Eighteen huffed. "Are you agreeing with that dumbass? I know you're not giving up."
He raised a hand. "Of course not, but the fact is, he's stronger than us. My scanner didn't detect it at first, but I got a good reading when he was fighting that bug. He's twice as strong as me." Seventeen clenched his fist and looked down at his bloody, burnt clothes, "No wonder he was able to take us down like that."
His fist smashed the wall behind him to dust as he snapped.
"Damn it! I'm supposed to be the strongest android! And then 16 and that thing show up out of nowhere! I knew Dr Gero was a manipulative old bastard, but I didn't think he'd lie about that! Who knows what else he hid from us?"
Eighteen watched her brother stew in his rage. She knew how he felt. The only reason she wasn't reducing the whole worthless block to dust was because she was distracting herself by thinking about different ways to tear 16 to pieces.
I think I'll start by ripping out that hideous orange mohawk. What was Gero thinking, it looks ridiculous.
"Seventeen," she started, trying to get his attention, "I've got a plan."
His eyes shifted from staring angrily at his fist to regarding her indignantly. "Oh? Do you?"
"Yes, and I don't appreciate your tone," she glared, raising her voice and crossed her arms. "Your scanner might have picked up how strong he was, but I was paying attention to something more important. How he fights."
Seventeen looked at her devoid of expression and deadpanned, "This had better be good."
She drove her nails into her palm and continued speaking, "He made sure to take us on one at a time. When we worked together, he couldn't keep up. If you recall, we beat his bumbling ass halfway across the city."
"Yeah, that was fun," Seventeen said, weak chuckles escaping his throat. "Then he made us both give up on blasting him and broke my nose."
"That's not the point!"
"Please, get to the point Eighteen! And it had better not be 'if we work together, we can take him on', because if that's your bright idea you need an oil change."
She flinched. It felt like something had frozen in her chest as her brother's words resonated in her mind. Before she could dwell on it, she tried to build as much white-hot anger as she could muster. "How dare you speak to me that way Seventeen! You'd better take that back!"
The surroundings leaned over hazardously as a wave of air pressure passed over them, and both androids were forced to use their energy to remain in place. Eighteen felt her blonde locks wave wildly in the wind as it howled past, and she saw Seventeen dig his fingers into the steel bedframe hard enough to dent it like putty to do the same.
Minutes later the atmosphere returned to normal, and the building settled back into position with a deep groan. Silence reigned.
"Sis, I'm sorry," Seventeen sighed and hopped off the bed. "I'm just thinking that if we were purely mechanical, these injuries wouldn't be such a big deal. Just pop in a new limb no problem. But it'll take me weeks to heal this, and you…"
He looked at her leg and did his best to not wince. She could tell. Eighteen did her best to look ahead impassively and not give away how much worse his reaction was making her feel about the injury. She wanted to tell him to just drop it, and that she'd be fine. But that felt hollow. The only real way she was going to be able to move past this, was by taking Android 16 apart and setting the pieces on fire.
"It's fine Seventeen. These are only bodies." She pushed off the wall and floated a few inches forward, then turned to face the glass she'd used as a headrest. It was a really poor mirror, but it sufficed to see what she was looking for. Her face was bloody and bruised, the swelling in her left eye had gone down but it was still shut, her favourite jacket and skirt had been shredded at some point and her whole body was covered in dirt. She looked like she'd been dragged kicking and screaming through a warzone, which in a way she had been.
But the pale blue of her functioning eye remained clear. She saw the cold fury in it, the sharp focus. She'd use that, and put aside the fear and anger.
I'm going to enjoy killing you, Number 16. And then Cell is next.
"The point I was going to make is that Number 16 was trying to set us up to make disposal easier." Her voice was like ice. "Hurting us, intimidating us, it was to throw us off track. My energy supply is still constant, and I can still fight. How about you?"
Seventeen looked startled, then smiled as he spoke in the same cold tone, "I can confirm that I'm just as ready as you are, sis. So, you do have a plan?"
She couldn't help but grin, "We work together and take down whichever one of those freaks goes down last."
"So when you were getting defensive about not having a terrible plan..."
"Hey! It'll work! And I don't see you coming up with a better one!"
Seventeen shrugged. "We help the bug out, then kill it when 16's toast."
Her jaw dropped and she laughed incredulously, "Really? Help out the giant cockroach that wants to eat us or something? And you said my plan was terrible?"
"Hear me out," he held his hands up, "Number 16 has an infinite energy reactor, like us. Doesn't matter how damaged he gets really, as long as that's working he's good to go. So if he wins, even if he's down to an arm and a lame eye he could still be a problem. Y'know, being totally artificial." Seventeen raised his hand up, palm out, "But if Cell just barely wins, he'll be tired out, and we squash him," he dramatically punched the air as he closed his hand into a fist.
Eighteen repeatedly blinked.
"…My plan is better."
Cell
Trading blows with the stoic android had gone from amusing to aggravating in short order when he had realised that Android 16 wasn't an opponent he'd be able to roll over.
His fist struck at 16's head. The machine's head moved out of the way at the last instant, almost leaving an after-image. 16 kicked up at his chest, and he spun to the side to avoid it. His wings flared as he shot backwards and reverse-headbutt 16, making the android recoil. His foot lashed out twice to catch the emerald armour on 16's side, which cracked under the assault. 16's fist moved faster than he could track and hit him in the head, dazing him and knocking his head back. As 16 moved closer for another attack, Cell's tail shot for his neck and impaled it with his stinger.
"Sorry 16, you're no longer entertaining to me." Cell's harsh voice called out as he watched the large android freeze in place. He allowed himself to chuckle merrily as he caught his breath. "And as powerful as you were, I was always the superior fighter."
16 blinked, then careful closed his hand around the end of Cell's tail. "False."
What? That should have disabled him! Older androids-
His train of thought cut off as 16 simultaneously ripped the stinger out of his neck and aimed his right arm forward.
"Rocket Punch!"
Cell had a second to gawk before 16's fist blasted off of his wrist and hit him in the face. A crack sounded through the air as Cell reeled back, absently noticing that part of his crest had broken away.
Fine. If that's how you want to play it.
Golden light flared around Cell as he put on more speed to fly away from 16 as fast as he could. He kept his eyes locked on the android, and sure enough he was following behind and gaining speed. Not quickly enough. Cell smiled and placed two fingers onto his forehead.
"You've wasted enough of my time 16," Cell said. Gold sparks shot out from his fingertips as his power concentrated there. The shift in his energy allowed 16 to get closer, fists held at the ready for another round of exchanging blow. Cell smiled as the fool put himself right where he wanted him, just as the attack was primed.
"Special Beam Cannon!"
He saw a moment of surprise on 16's face as he swung his arm out and fired the attack. In a moment the space between the two of them was filled by the blinding glare of the beam and the concentric circles buzzing around it.
When it faded there was silence.
And Android 16's look of horror at the gaping hole in his torso.
"Hmm," Cell purred, lowering his clawed fingers to his side, "I was aiming for your heart."
He chuckled as he saw the mangled bits of circuitry sparking away and loose wires leaking fluid inside the exposed chest cavity.
"Close enough."
To his credit, 16 resolutely ignored the damage and charged at Cell with a warrior's cry. That was all the credit he would be afforded as Cell took advantage of his weakened structural integrity to double kick the area around the wound. 16 rocketed back through four tall buildings and crashed into a haze of smoke of dust.
You brought this on yourself, 16. Cell thought as he tilted his head.
The sound of the buildings 16 had smashed through collapsing reached his ears, and the area was obscured by more dust and debris. He remained where he was and surveyed the area. That would not be enough to truly cripple the machine, but there was no sense in going down and searching for him when the idiotic android would expose himself soon enough. It was foolish, but a type of foolishness that Cell was starting to expect from 16.
Whatever experiment Dr Gero had been attempting by designing an android with a conscience, had failed miserably.
"Come out 16," Cell fired an invisible blast of energy to clear the haze from the air. His patience was running thin. Every second he was here dealing with this irritant was a second he was not near 17 and 18. He felt restless with the very idea they may have left the city, but he was confident that they had not. He was reasonably sure that he would have seen or heard them fly at high speeds, even occupied as he was.
Now that the air was clear, he could see the crater where 16 had landed. It was empty.
Cell's eyes widened. "Where is he?"
The answer came seconds later when he saw the space behind him burn with red light.
"HELL FLASH!"
With an animalistic shriek Cell plummeted out of the sky, feeling his body burn away as he was caught by the apex of a colossal flood of destructive energy.
Android 17
"What did I tell you Eighteen? One of them had to get the upper hand."
He heard her frustrated growl beside him, "Are you lying or just brain damaged? I said that!"
It was easy to smile back at her. "Nah, I'm pretty sure I did. It was while you were whining about looking like a coal miner."
"I did not-! I mean, I don't-"
"Point is," he interrupted, "we go in for the kill."
He said it confidently enough, but his feet stalled as he tried to get the energy to fly to where the blast had come from. His reactor was fine, the problem was with him.
He'd never say it but he was scared. That attack that they'd bunkered down for had looked like the entire sky was on fire. It frightened him more than anything he'd ever seen. Crouching on the floor, focusing on the pain from his own to not scream as the world turned to hell, he'd felt like a scared human, not the merciless killer he knew he was.
He was scared and he hated it. And he needed to keep up his confident façade because if he fell apart, like he'd almost done in the hospital, then his sister would see it and he wouldn't live with that.
Seventeen smirked, "You ready?"
"If you are," Eighteen smirked right back at him.
Okay then. It's go time. Just gotta kill an insane bug monster or an Android that thinks like Goku. No big deal, I've killed more people than I can count.
A nagging feeling told him this was different. It was shoved down as far as he could as he sprang to life and flew at blinding speed for the patch of sky the attack had originated in. as he got closer and closer to the source he cursed as he saw the ripped figure floating in the air with his arms crossed.
"Just had to be him."
Well, it wasn't all bad news. The lame green armour was cracked and missing entirely from his left side, his face looked scuffed and what made a wicked grin appear on Seventeen's face was the beautiful hole in Android 16's chest.
"Hey 16," he said. He rested his hand on his hip as he spoke, "You look like you could use a hand."
"Well, looks like your warranty expired," Eighteen added as she stopped next to him. "Not as fun when it happens to you, is it?"
16 didn't even look at the two of them as he spoke. "Cell is still alive. You must go."
Seventeen let out a disbelieving laugh. "Seriously? Is that concern I hear 16? How touching. Did getting beat up reset your settings?"
"It's not for you." 16 gave them a sideways look, "If Cell absorbs either of you he will be beyond my ability to combat. I cannot gather the energy necessary to destroy him as he is. Or you, with his interference. You must go."
"Tsk. And here I thought you'd had a change of heart," Eighteen quipped, looking pointedly at his chest. "That blast you used must have taken a lot of energy, that freak won't walk away unscathed. Leave it to us, we'll take care of it."
"And you."
Seventeen's words were followed by rushing at 16 as fast as possible, staging three after-images to confuse the scanners of the other android. To his dismay 16 plucked him out of the air despite that, catching his throat in an iron grip. Once again, he witnessed 16's pupils glow red as they met his, knowing that the larger android was going for the kill.
But this time, he had a weakness.
Seventeen's boot kicked into the cavity in 16's chest and shoved upward, stunning him as his body seized and bolts of electricity surrounded his form. Android 17 smiled as he easily darted out of 16's grip, just in time for Android 18 to reach almost casually into 16's chest with an energy blast in her hand.
"So long, 16." She smirked and darted back as well, waiting for the blast to explode.
Neither of them expected 16 to roar and tackle them out of the sky, the massive explosion going off behind him. The sky turned white from the size of it and all anyone could hear was the booming shockwave.
"Let go of me! Let go!" Seventeen was yelling at the top of his lungs as he punched 16 in the face over and over again, even seeing small cracks form around his eye socket. But just like his voice was mute in the thundering roar of the blast, his fist was utterly ignored by 16 as he drove him and his sister into the dirt.
The pain and humiliation of having his body used to dig out a trench ended when 16 drove his legs into the ground and tossed them both aside.
Seventeen felt like he should be coughing up dirt as he stood up shakily. He spied Eighteen doing the same, as best she could when one leg was disabled. Swallowing his anger, he grinned, to make his taunt more believable:
"I think your batteries are running low 16. I remember you hitting a lot harder."
He wiped off his lip, ignoring the rough soil coating his hand. 16 was standing there looking like he was running calculations. Which was good, since Seventeen was doing his own. He now had three useful pieces of information about 16 – His power output, his fighting style, and his weakness.
If I can see it, so can Eighteen. Just gotta play this out perfectly. His lip wanted to curl up into a smirk, but he resisted. No use letting anything away to his opponent. Which means I will. I'm still the best, you'll see, 16.
His eyes met Eighteen's, and he saw the hidden joy in them. She was on the same page, great. Now for the execution.
His shoe pushed harder against the ground, sending spiderwebs of fissures through the asphalt as he prepared to charge. Eighteen did the same, keeping her bad leg a few inches off the ground.
The plan derailed when the ground caved below her and she fell into the subway with a startled cry.
Seventeen looked astonished. Seriously? Now of all times! When did the city get this damaged?
Whatever his adjusted tactic would have been was discarded as the street swelled upward, then splintered as blinding white light shone throughout the area. The tremors became more violent as an electrical storm raged out of nowhere.
"What's going on? Eighteen?"
His concern went unanswered.
The light stopped before the earthquake did. Half of the street had caved in, and buildings were falling into the newly opened chasm. Seventeen didn't care about that, he didn't even care that 16 had gone from staring threateningly at him to facing the same way he was, posed almost protectively in front of him.
Something rose out from the darkness, and it wasn't his sister.
Cell
Sneaking around after 16's trump card had been painful. Not for the damage to his body, that was always temporary, but to his ego. Forced to avoid confrontation with a lower Android was disgraceful. He was meant to be the perfect warrior, and he was reduced to skulking through the sewers.
It was ignoble. But it was an ignobility he had endured. Because poor predictable 16 had attacked the true Androids and pointed him straight to them. He hadn't counted on grabbing Android 18 when he reached through the pavement and dragged one of them down by the ankle.
She had barely had time to understand what was happening when he absorbed her. With hindsight, her scream being muffled by his tail was disappointing.
He knew that his form had changed, he could feel the loss of his wings, the changed shape of his crest and the increased bulk to his body, but he could not take real pride in his transformation. Not yet.
Not until I am Perfect.
He floated above the ruined streets and took in the reactions of the inferior being that had delayed his transformation. Barely restrained panic, a good deal of shock. That was perfect. He hadn't even noticed the hole his Special Beam Cannon had made. Getting past him would have been easy even before absorbing 18.
"16," he spoke, and was pleased by how much deeper his voice had become, "you're in my way again."
The foolish android didn't budge. Well, that was fine too. Cell's eyes carefully shifted to 17. He was shaking on the spot, and his appearance looked even worse than before. It hardly mattered. His contribution to perfection was imminent.
"You!" Seventeen furiously yelled, "Where's Eighteen?"
"Our sister is part of me. As you will be shortly." Cell lazily floated towards Android 17.
16 leaped forwards and threw a punch. Cell's only movement was to bat the fist aside with his left arm then hit 16 in the face in the next moment. Android 16 was launched backwards, large form soaring past 17, who was frozen in place.
"You're not running. Smart. Don't worry, you'll join Number 18 soon." Cell reassured him. His tail moved over his shoulder, quivering in anticipation.
"You killed Eighteen!" Seventeen screamed.
"I've been gentle with my explanations, and yet you still deny what we are – what we could be. Perhaps a more blunt approach will get through," Cell announced, eyeing 17 coldly as a golden aura wrapped around his form. "You and Number 18 are nothing more than the keys to my ultimate, perfect, form. You were designed for the sole purpose of allowing me to reach the pinnacle of strength. Whatever illusions you have about your status, your freedom, your independence, your power, they are false. You exist to serve me."
In the face of Cell's overwhelming power, and as the echo of his declaration sounded through the empty street, 17's expression fell. Then he gazed up defiantly.
"I've heard that line before. And I killed the guy who said it, because there's no way I'm ever going to accept that deal. So, you can kill me, but I'm not going to be part of you, you disgusting freak."
Cell saw a strange look of resolve appear on 17 as he stared back at him. It was a look that the chimera thought would seem more in place on any of the heroes who had guarded Earth, than the one who had murdered them.
Cell snorted in amusement, "Your compliance is optional. I had hoped you would accept this merger as eagerly as I have pursued it, but I can beat the stubbornness out of you. It won't take long."
"Come any closer and I'll blow myself up." Seventeen held his hand up over his chest. Cell paused, eyes going wide.
"You wouldn't."
"I would," Seventeen affirmed with a devilish smirk. "And I know Eighteen would do the same thing if she had the option. You're ugly, who would ever want to be part of you?"
"Fine. You want to play? Let's play. I can get to you before you trigger that suicide bomb." Cell glared at 17, letting the smooth golden waves of his aura build up as he prepared to lunge at the android.
His preparation was interrupted by 16's Rocket Punch bouncing off his head. Cell looked to the side, sneering as he saw Android 16 push himself out of a pile of rubble.
"You should know when you're beaten. Stay out of this! You're already missing half a head, don't make me do worse."
His threat went unanswered as 16's fist flew back to him and attached to his arm. The machine was glaring hatefully at him but wasn't making any rash moves. Finally. Logic was prevailing.
Or so he had thought.
A blast shot at him from out of the blue. Cell caught it, grunting with the effort as it burned against his hand, then threw it straight up. He looked into the sky to see who had fired the blast.
"Who dares now?" Cell was exasperated as he scanned the sky for the presence of the latest irritant.
It was easy to spot who, what he was beyond his understanding for the moment.
A muscular behemoth with blue skin, spiky orange hair, and a fierce expression. He was wearing green pants, grey boots, and brown gloves. His upper body was covered with white armour-like plating on the shoulders and chest.
Cell frustration was hard to keep contained as he realised from the lack of ki that there was another android to deal with.
"Why do none of you know your place?!"
A massive blue shoulder smashed into him, knocking him a few meters back. With a simple flex of his aura he stopped himself. That much power was substantial. It was surprising that he had been moved, even with Android 18 fuelling him, but there was a rational explanation. This new android had taken advantage of his lapse in attention to rush him. That was all. There would be no repeats now that he was drawing more deeply from his well of power.
Cell's eyes flicked to his final component for an instant. He wasn't about to make the mistake of losing 17 while he was so close. But first he had to deal with whoever this was.
"Who are you?"
The blue giant just grinned.