Android 15
Ginger Town was probably nice once. Lots of wide-open spaces. Loads of greenery. The billboard on the flight in advertised a peach festival.
Would've been nice. Too bad about all the screaming.
15 sighed and reached for his flask. It was just one thing after another. This wasn't even the thing he was after. No energy blasts and his scanner was picking up an abnormally high power reading from the area where the humans were rapidly disappearing.
This was the thing that had emptied Bridgetown.
The boss had made it clear that it wasn't their business, but he was here now and its not like there was anything better to do. Besides, he was bored. Go there, take a minute to kill the thing, go back to the wild goose chase for the cyber twins.
He tipped the flask back into his mouth and reflected on what a bad mission this was. They were designed to kill Son Goku. He was dead. What was the point of this? They could spend weeks trying to find 17/18 and fail because the teens flew somewhere else, and just keep going in circles like that forever. It was madness.
He'd never say that to 13 though. He made up for in brains what he lacked in height, and he could see that 14 was stepping on toes he really shouldn't be. Dr Gero didn't like backtalk, and he'd programmed that into the designated commander of their unit.
Tracking Human Life Energy:
140…
90…
45…
15…
2…
1.
And 15 was standing in the middle of the street waiting for it to come to him. There was only one way the monster was getting to its prey, and that was through him.
'Me, playing the hero. What a joke,' 15 snickered and shook his head.
The sound of frantic footfalls reached his auditory receptors and he put his drink back into his pocket. It was go time.
"Help me! Please!"
A dark-skinned woman with shoulder length curls, wearing a pastel blue business outfit was running towards him with absolute terror on her face. She was barefoot, but was ignoring that and his appearance as she sprinted closer to him.
"Hey, it's cool. You don't got to worry about anything now that I'm here," said Android 15, smirking. He could see the relief in her eyes as she drew closer, so close in fact that her shadow fell over him.
Wait.
It wasn't her shadow.
Something stabbed through his chest and he heard her shriek in terror and throw herself backwards so fast that she fell hard onto the ground.
15 looked down and saw a flesh coloured spike poking out of his chest.
"What the fu-"
"Ah. You're completely inorganic. How interesting."
He just felt a sharp tearing sensation as the thing penetrating his back suddenly wrenched upward, tearing his body in two and popping his head off like a cork.
"So, who are you?"
15 was picked up by the creature, and held up at eye level. He would have recoiled in disgust, but being just a head made that impossible.
"Kinda late for introductions now, don't ya think?" 15 said, nonplussed.
The bug did something similar to a smile, "You're still able to speak. If you have information that is valuable to me, I might keep you intact. Or return you to Dr Gero's laboratory."
"Wait. You know about the lab?"
It nodded. "Of course, it is where I was born."
"What are you?" asked 15, perplexed.
"My name is Cell. And I am the one asking the questions." The insectoid smiled, and tightened its grip on 15's skull, "Tell me who you are, and why you were here?"
He wished he could have had a drink before he had to speak, voice filling with static, "The name's Android 15. I was sent out with my squad to track down and deliver 17 and 18 back to the lab."
The green features of the monster froze. "Why?"
15's eyes narrowed with interest at the reaction, how it had instantly become more serious as soon as he mentioned the cyborgs. Would be good intel, if he made it out of this.
"Dunno, but the computer wants them back. Wants them bad."
It chuckled, smile returning to its features. "I can imagine why. Oh, 15, if I had known that you were my subordinate we could have avoided this unpleasantness."
15 experienced a nauseating moment of disorientation as he was dropped from the hand that had held him. He rolled a few centimetres away, and looked up to see Cell's raised foot.
"Wait. You said if I told you what ya wanted to know, you'd let me go."
"I did. But you're useless to me in this condition."
The dwarf's eyes grew pale with fear behind his cracked glasses, then there was a cracking, crunching sound as the three-toed foot smashed his head into the asphalt and everything went black.
…
The next thing he experienced was a single moment of blinding light that seared away his consciousness.
Cell
A hair's breadth away from perfection, and this trash dares get in my way.
"Well? Answer me!"
The giant just laughed and approached Android 16. He looked up from his kneeling pose, surprised, as a hand was offered to him. "Number 13…"
"On your feet soldier, we ain't done yet," Android 13 said in a deep, gravelly voice. "Looks like you had a party without me. I'll finish it."
13… Definitely one of the ones supposed to be my helpers. Are all these fools faulty? He observed the new arrival's form more carefully. He remembered 13, well Eighteen did, but they were one and the same now. Number 13 had changed and changed substantially. Was it a consequence of being repaired from the scraps he'd been left in? Were bargain bin replacements why his skin was blue?
Cell chuckled as he saw 16 be helped to his feet. "So, you have a friend. You're full of surprises Number 16, I thought you hated your own kind."
"Only… murderers…" 16's voice was pained, and errant sparks shot from the exposed circuity in his head as he gave half a stern glare.
Cell stopped holding back his laughter. "And who's this? Another weakling? Bring on all the discarded playthings you want, you won't stop me from getting what I want."
His tongue swept over his lips, enjoying the sensation and the overwhelming emotions playing on Seventeen's face. The final piece of his immaculate design looked torn between anger, fear and horror. The cyborgs were so human despite their insistence otherwise, it was laughable. It was an attempt to reclaim what had been taken from them, and something they eroded with all the blood on their hands. He could see it as clear as crystal now that Eighteen was part of him. Her power fed his, her skills were his, and her thoughts were there for the taking if he wished. His hunger for Seventeen had deepened, not only for the sake of his own completion, but to reunite her with their brother.
"Nor should you want to. Once I have absorbed Seventeen, my strength will be unchallenged. And you would be wise to earn my mercy now, while you have the chance." Cell floated towards the three assembled androids, "That goes for you as well, Number 13."
Android 17 continued to glare hatefully at him but remained in place as he approached. So, he'd have to plan around his resistance, which wasn't a substantial issue. Eighteen had a better chance of escaping his absorption then than Seventeen did now.
Android 16 looked defiant but hadn't stepped out of line. He didn't put it past him to try something foolish and heroic if given the opportunity, but his participation in the battle was over. With the internal components of his skull and torso exposed, and his right hand mangled, he was less of the speedbump he had been and more of a pebble.
Android 13 was looking back at him, arms held loosely at his sides. Cell knew what the look on the yellow eyed android was, it was the look a predator had when it studied prey. The presumption, the foolishness to believe that was their roles, it irked him as much as it had Eighteen. But if he stayed out of his way, he could be as foolish as he wanted.
Tac.
As soon as his boots touched the edge of the crater where the three androids had assembled, 13 acted.
The flame haired brute kept the predatory grin on his face and aimed his hand at Android 17, a pinpoint of red light nestled in the middle of his enormous blue palm. The flickering red ball became the centre of a vortex of swirling crimson that shot outward at fantastic speed. Cell blinked into position half a second later and grabbed it out of the air, holding it with contempt and giving its owner an icy look before crushing it between his palms.
"So, you're going to be difficult." Cell deadpanned. His golden aura fired up around him, easily burning with twice the energy he had demonstrated in his prior form. He stepped forward to deal with 13. Then he paused as he felt a fist impact the back of his head.
"Seventeen, the better way to express your gratitude would be by holding still."
His tail swiftly rose up, the sucker expanding to its full width. He didn't take his eyes off 13 as his tail instinctively plunged at where Seventeen was standing.
KRAKOOM
Cell's let out a wet gurgle as he felt the massive, gloved fist drive into his stomach. Android 13's pure yellow eyes held his gaze, a cocky smirk extending over his face when he drew his fist back.
"You want him? Get in line."
The transformed Android 13 threw a powerful haymaker at Cell, that was blocked by his forearm, the impact sending out a shockwave that blasted the rubble of the city into the air. Unnervingly he could actually feel the force behind the blow. Impossibly his arm hurt where he had been punched.
"You're strong for an Android," Cell grunted, feeling the pain radiating down his limb.
"You ain't seen nothin' yet."
Even with no detectable power Cell could feel it in the air the moment before 13 screamed and they were both enveloped by raging red energy. Android 13 kept screaming as he threw a punch at Cell's skull that was coated in crimson light. Cell weaved around it, and the following punch from the left, then met the knee strike with his own. The red bubble surrounding them quaked from the force.
Cell's fist met 13's forehead a second later, making the giant stagger back. His boot crashed into the side of the android's bulky leg and made him cry out in pain as it bent. Android 13 dropped to one knee, and Cell twisted to fire a kick from the opposite side at his temple. That was halted by 13's bulging arm suddenly getting in the way to stop it. A stronger wave of force blasted across the environment.
Still the red orb that contained them both hadn't dispersed, the energy reforming as 13 hopped back to his feet.
Cell stared coldly at him. The destructive energy that surrounded them flickered against his armour, distorting his appearance with its sheer density. Yet it found no purchase. His lip slowly curled upward.
Even with only half of my perfection unlocked, I am beyond this pitiful robot.
"Is this supposed to hurt?" Cell rolled his shoulders, searching for Android 17 while he also cracked his neck to the side.
Android 13 tilted his head, voice low and cruel. "Just wanted to make sure you didn't scurry off, seein' how sweet you are on ol' Number 17." He spat to the side. "I didn't waste time cozyin' up to 14 and 15. Just ripped out what I needed. You? You coddled 'em. The Doc musta been feelin' soft when he built you."
Surprise overtook his features as he absorbed what had been said. What he saw changed for an instant, Android 13 and Android 14 as they had been, the shorter android standing in front of the taller one, then the figures merging to form the blue hulk in front of him.
"You absorbed 14 and 15?"
It was hard to believe that there was another being that shared his design. His perfection was singular, there were no others like him. The enumerated androids and cyborgs were similar to each other, but his had been an evolutionary step that left them behind. To look at a savage like 13 and possibly find similarities, perhaps even clues to what secrets his perfect form held, was disquieting.
The super android laughed and pounded his fist against his chest. "The parts that mattered are in me now. And I'm gonna use every bit of 'em to grind you into the dirt. Maybe I'll start with 17. Watchin' your face when I tear him apart? That's gonna be real priceless."
This creature is completely insane. Cell concluded. He crossed his arms. There was a sound like thunder as his aura lit, clinging tightly to his skin, then shining brighter and brighter as it forced the red waves of 13's power away. The edge of the barrier rippled at an increasing frequency as the golden light of his aura pressed against it, tearing fragments off from the inside in growing sizes.
"You're a prototype. You should be honoured to see how your obsolete design was perfected." Cell smiled.
13 crouched slightly, muscles coiling. His voice dropped to a growl, "No, I'm the upgrade. I'm gonna enjoy murdering you!"
Android 13 charged at him, the energy that had surrounded them shrinking into a blazing hot sphere around his left hand. Cell kept his expression neutral as he brought his energy to the fore.
13's bulky azure body crashed through the After-Image and received a high kick to the back of his neck for his effort. He flew forward, then abruptly turned and fired the collected energy at Cell.
He felt the energy wave before it struck. The heat and power behind it was astounding. He had a split second to bring both arms up into a cross guard and steel his energy against the immense beam. It forced him back halfway into space before he could use his ki to reinforce his arms and split the beam in two, the halves continuing past Earth's atmosphere.
There wasn't any time to recover as 13 chased after him like a bloodhound.
"You don't get it, do ya, bug? You ain't fightin' some off-the-shelf Android anymore!" He jabbed a thumb toward his chest, "This is Super Android 13 you're lookin' at!"
The claim was as laughable as it was egocentric. A Super Android? This dim echo of his perfection? Hardly. He had more of a claim to that title than 13.
"The power of three worthless beings in one. How intimidating!" Cell said with a smirk as he powered up, "Eighteen alone could have destroyed you all with little effort, if she had been serious."
A wicked grin spread across his face as he tapped his forehead. "That little angel of yours whisperin' in your ear? Cute." He leaned forward. "My power didn't just triple, jackass. My processing power went through the roof. I got tricks you ain't even seen yet."
Cell didn't react at first. He felt more secure in his power than he ever had before. It had deepened in a way that he had only dreamt of before. The energy he had gathered from the humans was nothing compared to what he felt with Eighteen within him. The comparison was like droplets to a lake. He was certain it was enough to drown 13.
"I'm a hell of a lot more than just the sum of my parts. I'm the one who's gonna end you."
"Show me then."
Their clash resumed, intensifying as both decided the warmup was over.
Android 17
It was staggering to see how much stronger 13 had become.
That android had been a joke. His henchman, 14, had been an even bigger one. And now with their power combined with some other weakling, he was matching Cell. Cell, the monster who had devoured his sister. Who even before that, had stalled the avenger who was crippled next to him.
Every fibre of his being demanded that he do something to take revenge, on Cell, 16, 13, all of them.
But he couldn't.
He wasn't strong enough.
It took a lot to look away from the confrontation in the sky, where evening clouds were gathering but the space still looked like daytime from the immense energy output of the two combatants. 16 was still tracking the fight. His processor locked onto the vulnerable parts of him, the broken skull and exposed torso wound. Subtly he loosened his fingers and concentrated power into a pale blast.
"Don't."
He sneered wryly. "Or else what? You can't defend yourself, 16."
"I cannot gather enough energy to destroy you without Cell intervening," said 16, voice flat. "These injuries won't allow it. But I can defend myself for long enough to activate my self-destruction."
"So, that's an option for you?" Seventeen asked, then gave a bitter, humourless laugh. "Then why haven't you done it yet, since you hate me so much."
Android 16's harsh eyes locked onto him. "I am not eager to destroy myself for no reason. Number 13 has enough power to defeat Cell."
Seventeen looked back to the sky. "You think so? They look evenly matched to me."
"13's power cores are syncing perfectly. His energy output is climbing beyond predicted parameters. He will win," 16 explained.
"And kill me," his expression darkened. "Great. Why don't you people form a line?"
"Do you feel regret?"
His voice was like an ice-pick, "For what? Having fun? Living free? Maybe if you pulled the stick out of your CPU, you'd understand what that feels like."
"Because of your choices… you're alone. And when you're gone, no one will mourn you."
He didn't have anything to say to that. His hand fell to his side and the energy winked out. For a moment he felt the weight behind what 16 had said, all the guilt of it. Then he scowled and looked back to the sky.
Super Android 13
Processor A: Defence
Processor B: Offence
Processor C: Energy Management
Having three processors was better than one, and the contributions of 14 and 15 to his victory were far more substantial now than when they had been apart. Fighting was almost automatic now, each action governed by background processes that allowed him more time to appreciate the fine details of the battle. This fight was decided as soon as it had started. This bug just couldn't accept that it was destined to be squashed under his boots.
Cell.
He had 15's memories of being crushed by this thing. He could connect it with the tank in the basement laboratory. This was the thing that Android 17 and Android 18 were meant to empower.
It was beyond ugly. Worse, it was weak. They had started out evenly, but it was burning energy to keep up. The thing was still flesh and blood, while he was metal. One of those tired, the other didn't.
"Had enough, cockroach?" He growled, grabbing the burning fist in midair. There was a moment of resistance as Cell tried to extract his fist from his grasp, but 13 held on. "Looks like you're workin' up a sweat. This too hard? Need a time out?"
The hate in the bio-droid's eyes was delicious.
"Not as chatty when you're losing, aren't ya? Come on, have a free shot. Right here." 13 tapped his right cheek with a smirk.
"Don't you mock me!"
A thunderclap rang through the sky as Cell broke the sound barrier with a flying punch aimed at the spot 13 had indicated. Unfortunately, he had no intention of actually getting hit. The super android moved his head to the side to dodge, enjoying a moment of Cell's shock, then hit him with two brutal punches to the glittering gem in the middle of his head. Cell stumbled back, dazed.
"Come on, put 'em up," jeered Super Android 13, bringing his fists up in a boxing stance 15 hadn't had the chance to utilise. "Round 2! What's wrong? Throwin' in the towel already? You some kinda pansy?"
"RAAAAAAAAGH!"
Oh fuck.
A golden cyclone manifested around Cell as he screamed up at the sky.
Cell
"THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING!"
His frustration had boiled over and he had lost control. Which was distasteful, but it shouldn't have been happening!
Android 13 – or was that Super Android 13 now?! – should have been nothing next to him. The three had barely tread water against 17 and 18, yet combined their power could do this? It made no sense! Where was all their power coming from?!
Where is Seventeen? I must achieve my Perfect form. That this overdesigned blue toaster pushed me this far is unthinkable, but I have heights to my power yet to be seen, while he is at his limit.
Cell brought his hands back down to his sides, clenching and unclenching his fists as he panted and glared at 13 with bloodshot eyes. The pure yellow sclera of his opponent just held his gaze, while his mouth remained in the cocky smirk that had been present since their fight had started. He took an opportunity to look down at the destroyed city. 16 was there, with Seventeen sitting beside him.
I must absorb Seventeen now!
His form blurred out of the air as he furiously sped at Android 16, energy flaring wildly around him. Before he reached 16, 13 slammed into him from behind, driving his body into the ground.
"You're about to be a stain on the pavement," 13 drawled with a wicked grin. "Damn—if I'd known I'd be squashin' a bug this big, I'd've worn bigger boots."
I refuse to lose to this moron!
His leg shot out to trip the blue giant, and he heard the satisfying sound of 13's surprise at hitting the cracked earth. A second kick before the android hit the ground hurled him back, and he pursued with a third that blasted him away at super sonic speed. The golden aura flashed as Cell shot ahead of 13 and flew into him with both fists. He felt the satisfactory clang of 13's metal plates buckling and the brute gasping in pain. Cell flipped backwards, landed on his back foot and dashed ahead with an uppercut aimed at 13's square jaw. The hit landed and Android 13 jerked back, then grabbed Cell by the arms as he stumbled.
13 lifted him up over his head and roared before slamming him down over his leg. A crack resounded through the air and Cell coughed up blood, dropping weightlessly to the ground.
Android 13 floated into the air, bringing both hands together over his head and forming a beachball sized red energy sphere. Cell's eye twitched as he recognised the attack. This was the same one 17 and 18 had defeated, thoroughly, in West City. This was supposed to destroy him?
"Maximum S.S. Deadly Bomber!"
Cell still couldn't stand, but he didn't to. Even lying on his back he brought his hands forward together, aiming them at the approaching orb.
"Galick Gun…"
His energy turned purple as the crackling waves of light surged around his hands. It was the first time he used this technique, and he was placing more energy into it than Vegeta had generated in his entire life. Even as the attack falling towards him like a meteor grew in size and intensity he was confident this would defeat it.
"FIRE!"
All light in the area turned to purple as the beam shot from his hands and expanded to gargantuan proportions to match the Deadly Bomber. Where the two attacks clashed the world was sheared in two, half red and half purple, the clear red static of the encroaching sphere pressing against the surging jagged waves of the pressurised ki. The Galick Gun gained steady ground, advancing by inches as it pushed Android 13's attack backward.
Then to his dismay, the beam froze a meter away from 13.
"S.S. Deadly-"
This was 13's strongest attack, it had taken a great deal of effort to form, and now he'd just making another one?!
"-Bomber!"
The violent red energy vortex ballooned at the end of the Galick Gun, doubling and tripling in size in no time at all as artificial ki was fed into it. Cell could fell the end of his beam destabilise. His options were to try and overcome 13's attack, disengage or try and minimise the damage.
He glanced to his side and felt his lip twitch in irritation as he witnessed Android 16 observing him impassively. "Not even going to try to save yourself 16? If this blows up you'll be wiped out along with this entire region."
"It is a worthy sacrifice to kill you."
"Annoying as ever," Cell grumbled, feeling his arms tremble as the backlash of energy became stronger. "I don't suppose you'd do something useful and hand Seventeen to me."
16's judgemental stare spoke for itself.
"Fine. I don't need your help. I will be perfect. And you'll regret your recalcitrance." His words were somewhat lessened as trying to stand made the ground cave in below him, and the wall of energy flowing back towards him became critical.
It won't end here. I won't accept this! Damn you 13!
His scream of anger and pain was muted as the waves of energy became an irresistible flood of red that consumed him whole.
Android 16
The probability that he could have survived the explosion with his own power was less than 1%. The probability of outside intervention was higher than that, but still so small that he had discarded it as a possibility. When his vision returned and he saw the muscular form of Android 13's transformed state standing in front of him with his arms crossed, a red barrier around them, he couldn't help but look surprised.
"What happened?" he asked weakly.
Super Android 13's reply was immediate and triumphant, "What's it look like? I won."