Dr. Gero's Conspiracy

"Three days."

Dr. Gero held up three fingers and announced to Son Gohan and the others in an unquestionable tone, "I will hold a martial arts tournament in three days. All of you must participate."

"The rules will be the same as the World Martial Arts Tournament, but I will have two Cells fight. You must also send out two people each time, two-on-two, until everyone on one side is dead."

"This is the only chance I am giving you, and there is no room for choice. If you do not participate, I will slaughter every human on Earth."

Android 16, Android 17, Android 18, and Android 19 stood where they were like lambs waiting for the slaughter, their eyes filled with despair.

No matter which side won, all four of them were doomed.

Android 18 stood directly facing Krillin. Seeing the despair surging in her beautiful eyes, he could not help but feel a sense of pity.

Combined with what Dr. Gero had just said, Krillin was instantly consumed by rage and roared, "You bastard!"

A Destructo Disc shot out, suddenly splitting into six blades in mid-air. Like six sharp swords, they whistled as they tore through the air, sealing off every direction for Dr. Gero.

"You scoundrel, what do you take the humans of Earth for!" Piccolo was also incensed. He had accepted the commission from the old Kami to protect the Earth well.

Before Piccolo had even finished speaking, he vanished from his spot. A second later, he suddenly appeared above Dr. Gero's head, his palm striking down from the sky.

Just as his palm was about to touch the top of Dr. Gero's head, Future Cell reached out and grabbed the doctor. With the androids gathered together, they vanished into thin air with a whoosh.

"Heh heh heh, enjoy your final three days!"

Dr. Gero's laughter echoed through the air, the grating sound piercing the hearts of Son Gohan and the others.

Piccolo's palm strike hit nothing. He stood where Future Cell and the others had disappeared, his expression complex.

Through his brief exchange with Lightning Cell earlier, he felt the opponent was not as strong as he was. With his semi-immortal body, he was certain he would win if the fight continued.

It was a pity they had all escaped, missing a perfect opportunity to annihilate them.

The six blades of the Destructo Disc also lost their target, striking the iceberg behind them with a thunderous boom. Countless massive chunks of ice fell, crashing through the ice sheet and into the sea, triggering a significant tsunami.

"Dr. Gero is too arrogant. Future Cell didn't go through all the trouble of traveling here just to live under someone else's thumb," Son Gohan said, looking worried.

"I have a premonition that these three days might not be our final time, but Dr. Gero's own death date. Next time we meet, just how powerful will Cell be?"

"I know! Dr. Gero and the others must have returned to their base laboratory," Trunks suddenly said with a hint of excitement.

"We can go to that place and defeat them before Cell becomes even stronger!"

He remembered what Bulma had once said: Dr. Gero's laboratory was in the mountains near the north, built by hollowing out the mountain itself.

"It's useless. Future Cell wouldn't overlook that possibility. They must have moved from their original location," Son Gohan dismissed his idea.

"I want to go look. It's better than everyone just waiting around here," Trunks said, his mind made up as he flew toward the north.

"I'll go with him." Piccolo chased after him; if they truly found Dr. Gero's laboratory, Trunks would be walking to his death alone.

"I'm going too. At the very least, I can help them restrain two of the androids." Tien Shinhan took a small bag of Senzu Beans from Chiaotzu and sped off.

Son Gohan nodded. Everyone was anxious, and it was better to be doing something.

"I'm afraid I won't be of any help if I go now; I'd only be a burden," Yamcha said, clenching his fists before letting them go powerlessly, mocking himself.

Son Gohan patted him on the shoulder, not knowing how to comfort him. Yamcha was undoubtedly at a low point in his life, suffering setbacks in both love and war.

Krillin was surely blaming himself as well. His strength couldn't help anyone; he must be feeling very lost.

Son Gohan looked to the other side and saw Krillin looking dejected, muttering to himself, "Android 18, Android 18..."

Never mind, forget I said anything.

In the gloomy underground laboratory, the hum of giant computers echoed. Green liquid surged in several incubation tanks, where unfinished android bodies were submerged.

Android 16, Android 17, Android 18, and Android 19 lay scattered on the floor. They had become mere objects, no longer treated as people.

"Dr. Gero, these four have lost their utility. Let me consume them!"

The current Cell, in his first form, revealed a cruel smile with his insect-like mouthparts.

Dr. Gero agreed with almost no hesitation, "Of course. Both of you must fight in three days, and your current strength is too weak."

The current Cell received permission and licked his lips with his tongue, as if ready to enjoy a grand feast.

The end of his tail suddenly expanded like a giant python opening its maw. He swallowed half of Android 19's body in one gulp, sucking him into his frame with a glug.

Next, the current Cell devoured the remaining three androids. Both his appearance and his aura began to undergo a earth-shattering transformation.

Dr. Gero's hands flew, his ten fingers becoming a blur of motion over the supercomputer's keypad, the click-clack of typing continuous.

A massive protective shield covered the entire laboratory, isolating the aura that was currently surging from Cell so that those outside would not sense it.

After a long while...

"Is this the perfect form?"

The current Cell obsessively felt the energy within his body. Golden lightning flickered around him from time to time.

"What kind of perfect form is this?"

Dr. Gero spoke with disdain, but a hint of greed flashed in the depths of his eyes.

"After my modifications, you can theoretically consume all the androids. At that point, your power will reach a level of destruction that is simply unimaginable."

"It's a pity we won't see it now, as the androids have been split between the two of you. But in the future, I will create more," Dr. Gero painted a beautiful blueprint.

"Actually, you can see it."

Future Cell smiled maliciously, "As long as you let me consume the current Cell, that is."

"You want to consume me? Do you think you can beat me?" the current Cell sneered.

Seeing the two of them at each other's throats again, Dr. Gero said impatiently, "Stop arguing!"

"The two of you exist to help me better exact my revenge. Do not say these meaningless things again."

"I think it's very meaningful."

Future Cell acted out of character, looking at Dr. Gero with an evil glint, as if he knew some earth-shattering secret.

"Seeing that both of us Cells have evolved perfectly, you can rest easy now, right?"

"Dr. Gero, your calculations were flawless. You truly are the most brilliant scientist."

Future Cell paced slowly around the laboratory and stopped in front of Dr. Gero, looking at him with a playful, inscrutable expression:

"So, when do you plan to make your move, consume both of us, and evolve yourself into the strongest warrior in the universe?"