Cell's Squeaks

Trunks abruptly halted his steps, his eyes locked onto 16 as he stepped out of the stasis pod.

"Brother Gohan, is this the Android you mentioned who is even more terrifying than 17 and 18?"

Trunks couldn't sense any dangerous aura from 16, but he remained cautious, refusing to underestimate him.

After all, 17 and 18 had also appeared harmless at first, yet they were actually two great demons.

The Android before him might be just as much of a monster.

"Brother Gohan, let me kill him."

As Trunks spoke, his aura rapidly expanded, whipping up a gale inside the laboratory that made their clothes snap violently and threatened to tear the roof off.

"Trunks, don't act yet," Son Gohan quickly intervened.

Had he been a second later, Trunks would have lunged to kill.

Hearing Son Gohan's sharp command, Trunks, though confused, obediently suppressed his violent aura.

16 stood motionless, eyeing Trunks with vigilance before turning his gaze toward Son Gohan.

He remained silent for a few seconds, then said in a low voice, "Are you Son Gohan?"

"Yes, I am," Son Gohan nodded, observing him with curiosity.

After another brief silence.

16 continued, "You are different from the records."

Son Gohan replied, "Of course I am, because I'm over twenty years old now. When Dr. Gero died, I was only nine, so the data in your database is likely just information from my childhood."

Upon hearing the news of Dr. Gero's death, 16's pupils visibly contracted, but he quickly returned to his calm state.

"So the Doctor is already dead. That is a pity."

"And who is he?" He looked toward Trunks.

In 16's database, there was no record of Trunks; it was a very outdated version.

Son Gohan said, "He is Trunks, the son of Vegeta."

He then added, "16, now that Dr. Gero is dead, do you still intend to fight us? Or rather, what are your plans for the future?"

16 shook his head and said, "No, I do not like to fight."

He thought for a moment, then continued, "I do not know what I shall do. Perhaps I will wander, and eventually live in the mountains to protect the small animals."

Son Gohan nodded, "That sounds good. I know you love peace and nature, so if any crisis ever threatens the Earth, please, if your abilities allow, defend the planet and help protect this home. Can you do that?"

16 looked at Son Gohan earnestly and replied, "I can."

His expression remained as cold as ever.

He was a man of few words.

16 nodded and said, "Very well. May I leave now?"

Son Gohan stepped aside to clear the path and said, "You may. However, 16, there is a powerful bomb inside you. If you ever wish to have it removed, feel free to come find me or Trunks. We will take you to Bulma, and she can help you dismantle it."

"Understood."

16 agreed, then strode out of the laboratory.

Watching 16 leave, Trunks was deeply puzzled.

He asked Son Gohan, completely bewildered, "Brother Gohan, what is going on?"

Son Gohan explained, "He is not the target we are looking for. Although this 16 is a powerful Android, he has no aggression and will not harm the Earth. There is an advantage to leaving him be."

"Oh," Trunks replied, only half-understanding, then continued, "Brother Gohan, how do you know 16 has no aggression? 17 and 18 didn't look fierce either, but they were devilish creatures."

Son Gohan said, "I cannot explain that to you, but if any accidents occur, I will personally step in to destroy him."

"Right. If you're busy, Brother Gohan, I can do it instead. By the way, we've searched the entire laboratory, but there is no sign of the intelligent computer you mentioned that is still producing Androids."

Son Gohan pointed at the floor beneath his feet and smiled, "Who said we finished searching the laboratory? Below us, there is still a secret base."

"Ah!!!" Trunks was shocked.

"Watch closely." Son Gohan grinned and stomped his right foot down with force.

"BOOM!!!"

"Crack, crack, crack!"

The floor beneath them shattered, revealing a massive, pitch-black hole.

"There really is another world down there," Trunks remarked in surprise.

"Let's go down and see," Son Gohan said, taking the lead and jumping into the dark opening.

Trunks followed right behind him.

In just two seconds, both of them landed firmly on the floor of the basement.

The basement was dimly lit, making it difficult to see the surroundings.

Trunks fumbled around for a moment until he found the light switch. "Click," he turned the lights on.

The previously dim basement was instantly illuminated.

The two finally got a clear view of the basement's structure and size.

Compared to the spacious laboratory, this basement was several times smaller.

The structure was also very simple.

In the center stood a massive intelligent computer, three meters tall and five meters wide. Its screen still glowed faintly, indicating it was still operating on its own.

Next to the intelligent computer was a half-human-sized machine, with a cylindrical transparent glass container inverted on top.

A power conduit as thick as a thigh connected the intelligent computer and the machine.

Inside the glass container was filled with a vibrant green nutrient fluid.

Small bubbles continuously formed at the bottom of the nutrient fluid, all drifting to the top of the container.

And right in the center of the nutrient fluid, a grotesquely ugly embryo was being nurtured.

It was Cell.

At this moment, Cell had grown to the size of an arm. Although its body was curled up, its powerful heartbeat was already visible.

Trunks placed his palm on the transparent glass.

Cell's eyelids twitched, as if it could wake up at any moment.

"Gohan, am I right this time? Is this ugly thing it?" Trunks asked.

Son Gohan nodded, "Yes, it's him."

Trunks said, "Why does it give me a sense of familiarity?"

Son Gohan replied, "Perhaps because this guy has my cells in him."

"Ah, how can this monster have your cells?"

"That's because Dr. Gero used Machine Bees to collect cells from many strong individuals and fused them together to create this monster."

"As far as I know, it not only has my cells but also the cells of my dad and your dad."

"Cells from many of our elders were collected by Dr. Gero. It even has the cells of Frieza and King Cold."

"That truly is a monster," Trunks exclaimed in surprise.

Son Gohan said, "Trunks, move aside for a moment. I'll kill it."

"Oh, okay." Trunks responded, promptly stepping aside.

Son Gohan raised his hand, fingers spread, and a ki blast shattered the glass container holding Cell's embryo.

"BOOM!"

As the container exploded, green nutrient fluid splashed everywhere.

The Cell embryo, now out of the nutrient fluid, rolled on the ground before trembling and emitting a "squeak, squeak" sound.

It was like a hairless mouse struggling in its death throes.

Son Gohan showed no mercy, stomping on it and instantly turning it into a smear of pulp.

Immediately after, he raised his hand and sent a blast of ki flame onto the pulp.

After a crackling sound, only a scorched mark remained on the ground.

Cell's embryo was thus annihilated.