Super Dragon Ball: Redux Kaizen

Arc 1: C9

(Previously, On Dragon Ball Tenkai From The Last Chapter. . .)

Cell grinned, and his thoughts were already sure of victory, "A little closer. Bring yourself to your demise." His left hand began to glow as his fingers shaped into a spear ready to pierce, much to 21's obliviousness. 16's eyes widened, his next action solely based on a reaction instead of a rational response as Cell raised his hand and thrust towards 21's chest. Her eyes widened as she was unable to slow her momentum down to dodge or block the incoming strike. Her face grew pale, and everything seemed to slow down.

She could see every detail as her eyes widened, her body being pushed back by 16 who appeared in between them. . .His face contorted into pain as Cell's hand punctured right through his chest. Cell's evil grin was wide as ever, the monster's eyes burning with such intense energy as it crackled across his hand before he pulled it out, and 16 body dropped to his knees. Oil and bolts fell to the ground as the hole in his chest sparked with electricity, but the android remained unmoving, and his eyes dulled before 16's head dropped. The silence of the forest made the sight of the fallen android all the more shocking to 21. Her eyes seemed to regain some sanity in them as she tried to speak.

"16. . ." She muttered quietly, her body beginning to tremble, "I. . .I. . ,"

Before she could finish her sentence, she was kicked square in the face. She sent skidding across the dirt while Cell stood behind Android 16, who was barely clinging on. Cell scoffed as he looked down at the back of 16's head in annoyance, "I told you to stop budding in your piece of scrap." Without hesitation, he palmed the back of 16's head and raised it so 21 and 16 could make eye-to-eye contact. The moment was silent between them, but. . .16 still smiled.

"Li-Live. . .Andro---" Then, without even finishing his sentence, Cell blew his head clean off with an energy wave as 21 watched in horror. There were no parts or bolts to scatter this time. Only ash and dust were left where his body once sat. His headless body remained unmoving before finally falling flat down. 21 couldn't breathe for a second, her entire body shaking.

Her red eyes and black sclera returned to normal as her thoughts ran rampant, "His memory chip was stored in his head. . .but, there is nothing left now. Cell vaporized it. . .which means. . .which means. . .he's. . .16 is gone." Her face was frozen with wide eyes of disbelief until the silence was interrupted. She couldn't feel the blowing wind and the falling ash that fell from the burning leaves. As she sat there in shellshock, Cell couldn't help but notice her sudden will to fight dying out. His face turned into one of disgust.

"No more fight left? All because of some useless lunk of metal? Unlike you and me, we both know he never had a soul." Cell scoffed as he began to walk over to the unresponsive android. She was too shocked to say anything. Seeing this, Cell sighed, "What a shame, you showed so much promise of going out in a perfect blaze of glory. No matter, you'll live on. Inside me. Just like 16 wanted in his final moments."

21 didn't move. She didn't show any signs of wanting to struggle. Only her thoughts spoke at this point, but not to Cell. . .But to herself, "I. . .16 protected me. He protected me all this time. In both sanity and in the end. What did I do to repay him? I led him to his death. . .I'm so pathetic. So damn pathetic. Shouldering all of the burden? Fulfilling my mission alone? If I had just listened to him and tried to seek more help then. . .he wouldn't have died." She looked up at Cell through the strands of her hair, her eyes defeated and tired.

She muttered to herself, "It's my fault. Maybe this is my punishment."

Cell grinned and didn't say anything as 21 closed her eyes to accept her fate. His tail sprung out from behind, and the suction part of it opened to begin absorbing her as she waited patiently. She pursed her lips tightly, fear taking over as her body shook again, this time in anticipation of the process. Her eyes widened as she saw Cell's tail close in. The appendage was so close she could feel it on her face, the suctioning part open and waiting for its prey to enter it, and her mind screamed as she felt a bit of it begin to suck her in. In just moments, she'll. . .