The morning sun cast pale golden rays over the abandoned cliffs just east of Diablo Desert. Wind rustled across jagged rock formations, stirring the dust from old battlefields. The silence was thick—the kind that warned of something approaching. Something dangerous.
Androids 17, 18, and 16 stood atop a wide plateau, having pulled over their red convertible for a break. 17 leaned against the hood with a smirk, his arms folded as he watched the vultures circling high above. 18 sat lazily on the edge, legs crossed, brushing her platinum hair from her face. 16 stood at the plateau's edge, staring into the distance with quiet contemplation.
"I swear," 17 muttered, "these humans are no fun. We haven't found Goku, and the strongest thing we've faced is a police helicopter."
18 scoffed. "Maybe he's hiding. The mighty Goku running from a pair of androids? Pathetic."
A chill ran across the plateau.
Something was here.
16 turned slightly, his red optics flickering. "Unfamiliar energy signature approaching."
Before they could react, a shadow fell over them.
The cliffside exploded.
A blur of green and black shot forward like a bullet. Cell landed with a thunderous stomp, his golden eyes gleaming with hunger.
"You… are mine," Cell hissed, voice wet with distortion and menace. His tail arched like a scorpion's stinger behind him, twitching with excitement.
17 pushed himself off the hood. "The hell are you supposed to be?"
"Some kind of bug cosplay?" 18 snarked, standing up casually.
Cell didn't answer. He lunged.
With horrifying speed, his fist rocketed toward 17. The Android barely had time to raise his arms before he was flung backward across the plateau, tumbling like a ragdoll.
18 gasped and turned to counterattack, but Cell was already in front of her. A roundhouse kick smashed into her ribs and sent her flying into a boulder, shattering it on impact.
16 turned slowly, gaze narrowing. "Unknown organism confirmed to be hostile. Genetic structure: partially Saiyan, Namekian, and Frieza lineage. Designation: Cell."
17 reappeared with a growl, blood dripping from his lip. "Alright, bug boy. You're asking for it."
The battle ignited.
17 charged first, ki bursting around him in a teal flame. He darted around Cell, launching a flurry of high-speed strikes. His fists connected with Cell's armor-like skin, causing brief flashes of energy, but Cell remained unimpressed.
With a sudden pivot, Cell caught 17 by the wrist and slammed him into the ground with bone-shaking force. 17 cried out in pain, but retaliated with a ki blast to Cell's chest at point blank. The explosion kicked up smoke—but when it cleared, Cell stood unfazed.
18 rushed in next, joining her twin in coordinated strikes. Their synergy was fluid and precise—punches, kicks, and twin energy blasts. Cell began to falter under the double assault, pushed slightly backward as the Androids fought with mechanical precision.
"He's fast, but he bleeds!" 18 shouted.
They managed to land a synchronized blow that sent Cell skidding across the plateau. He groaned, hunched forward. Then he chuckled.
"Yes... fight harder. It makes your energy taste better."
His tail shot forward.
It grazed 18's side, but 17 pulled her out of range. "That thing again. He's trying to absorb us."
"No kidding!" she snapped, blasting a crater into Cell's leg. It regenerated instantly.
"Enough," said 16, stepping forward at last.
His arms split open.
"Hell's Flash."
Twin cannons on his forearms roared with power. Massive yellow beams crashed into Cell with earth-shaking thunder. The plateau cracked and split from the pressure, a crater forming beneath the attack.
Dust swallowed the battlefield.
17 and 18 shielded their eyes.
When it cleared, Cell stood amidst the rubble, half his chest missing.
He smiled.
"You have power," he said. "But it's wasted on toys."
His body regenerated with sickening squelches. Without warning, he lunged at 16, driving a knee into the android's stomach. The towering redhead staggered, eyes wide.
Cell twisted and flung him aside like a doll.
Then he turned to 17.
"Now... we begin."
17 was already moving, trying to retreat. He fired a rapid volley of ki blasts. Cell blurred past them. His tail whipped forward.
It pierced the air.
And connected.
The tip of the tail latched onto 17's back.
"No—!" 18 screamed, rushing forward.
16 grabbed her arm. "Too late."
17's scream echoed through the canyon as Cell's tail expanded, engulfing him like a serpent swallowing prey. 18 fired everything she had, ki blasts crackling into the side of Cell's body, but it was useless.
There was a blinding green glow.
A surge of energy.
Then silence.
Smoke drifted from Cell's tail as it retracted.
The wind stilled.
Cell's body twitched.
And then he began to change.
His muscles expanded. His face sharpened. The wings on his back grew larger, sleeker. The horn-like protrusions on his head curved backward.
Lightning cracked above.
The transformation was complete.
Cell stood tall in his Semi-Perfect form.
His power now radiated in massive waves, shaking the nearby mountains. 18 and 16 could only stare in horror.
"This... is only the beginning," Cell said, voice deeper, more refined.
He raised his arm and fired a beam into the sky, blowing apart a mountain with ease.
18 trembled. 16 stepped in front of her.
Cell smiled. "Don't worry, my dear 18. You'll join him soon enough. Then, I will be perfect."
The air trembled with residual energy. The dust hadn't even settled as Android 18 clutched her arm, eyes wide in horror. Beside her, Android 16 lay in a crumpled heap, part of his headplate shattered and sparking—his systems dormant, maybe beyond repair.
Above them, Semi-Perfect Cell hovered with a twisted smile, his newfound power rolling off him like a tide. His green carapace shimmered under the sun, his now-bulkier form casting a terrifying shadow across the plateau.
"You're next, 18," Cell said softly. "And then… perfection."
18 gritted her teeth and stood tall. "You're insane if you think I'll go down like 17!"
Cell raised a brow, amused. "Is that so?"
He began descending slowly—ominously.
Android 18 turned to flee, scooping up 16's body effortlessly and flying off across the broken landscape. Cell didn't rush. He gave chase with confident ease, his figure flickering in and out of view behind her.
But a sudden flash of light interrupted the pursuit.
A ball of energy spun through the air, slamming into a rock face and exploding, catching Cell's attention just long enough for 18 to get further away.
"Over here, Bug Brain!"
Krillin stood in the center of the canyon, fists clenched, aura flaring around him. Sweat dripped from his brow, but his stance was solid.
Cell tilted his head. "The bald one with the pitiful power?"
Krillin's brows raised with eyes wide in shock. "What the heck are you!? I-I can feel everyone's energy but Darker"
"You don't need to know for now, but-" Cell pointing at Android 18 "You know what she is," Cell said, stepping forward. "An android. A machine built to destroy you all. Would you really throw your life away for her?"
Krillin didn't hesitate. "I don't care what she is. She was scared. She was protecting someone. That's more than you'll ever understand."
Cell sighed mockingly. "So be it."
He vanished—and reappeared right in front of Krillin with a devastating elbow aimed at his face.
Krillin barely raised his arms in time, skidding back from the impact, boots digging into the stone.
Cell didn't let up. He launched a flurry of punches and knees, each strike heavier than the last. Krillin was being pushed back, panting, bruised, but still standing.
"Why do you even try?" Cell sneered. "You're nothing next to me!"
Krillin shouted—his aura erupted as red lightning danced across his body.
"Kaioken x10!"
The explosion of energy caught Cell by surprise. In an instant, Krillin surged forward and decked Cell across the jaw with a left hook that echoed like thunder through the mountains.
Cell flew backward, crashing into a cliffside.
Android 18 blinked from her hiding spot. "He… hit him?"
Krillin didn't stop.
He appeared above Cell with a flurry of rapid strikes—fists glowing red, each blow striking true. A barrage of ki blasts followed, knocking Cell deeper into the canyon floor.
Cell roared, finally swatting Krillin away with a backhand.
"You little—!"
"Solar Flare!" Krillin shouted, his fingers at his forehead.
The light blinded Cell, who staggered back, cursing.
18 watched in awe as Krillin reappeared, eyes fierce, and blasted Cell point-blank with a twin energy wave that consumed the monster in fire and force.
The plateau trembled. Smoke rose.
Krillin landed beside 18, panting slightly. "Can you still fly?"
"…I could ask you the same thing," she said, stunned.
"You're lucky I'm too nice to leave pretty people behind."
Before she could say anything, Cell's aura surged again.
The smoke parted.
Though battered, he stood. Armor cracked, rage in his eyes.
"You insect!"
He launched a beam—Krillin grabbed 18 and dodged. Another beam followed, scorching the canyon.
Krillin ducked and weaved through the rubble with 18 in tow, barely keeping ahead.
"You can't escape me forever!" Cell bellowed.
But just as he prepared to dive—
A sudden explosion from the west caught his attention. A massive ki spike—Vegeta? Piccolo?
"…Tch." Cell snarled. "Another day, then."
He turned with a final glare and vanished into the horizon.
Krillin collapsed near a cave with 18 beside him.
"You okay?" he asked, breathing heavily.
18 stared at him, clearly shaken.
"You… really fought him for me?"
Krillin smirked. "Guess I'm just bad at letting people die."
There was a long silence before 18 said softly, "…Thanks. Cue ball."
Krillin chuckled, even as he waited for the others to arrive.