Chapter One
"What would Goku do?"
This was the thought going through Tien's head as Cell advanced upon #18 sinisterly.
But even as he debated with himself he knew... and all logical thought left him.
"He'd do anything he could to save the Earth!"
Tien levitated over the evil android's head.
Imperfect Cell glanced up, irritated.
"What does that No-count think he's doing?," he commented mildly, not really caring at all, but still annoyed at the interruption none-the-less.
"I'm taking you out!"
Tien clasped his hands together, forming a triangle with his hands and preparing for one of his most deadly attacks. He knew he wasn't strong enough to take Cell one on one; he'd save that job for Goku. But he could atleast slow him down...do something.
"TRI BEAM!"
The earth shook as a pale yellow light shot down from his hands and straight for the lizardous Cell.
"What the...." Cell looked on in suspicion, and then confused shock as the beam came right for him, his shadow dancing around him, one, two....three full times.
And then he was hurled into the ground.
The earth below him was completely shaddered, and Cell was thrown, completely uncontrollably, into the black abyss below.
"HYAAAAA!!!!"
Tien didn't let up. He could feel Cell pushing against him, a deathly strong force in which he could feel traces of himself. He gasped, a little unnerved. It disturbed him greatly that a part of HIMSELF had helped make this creature.
He kept at it, pausing once he felt Cells energy lessen.
He gasped, catching his breath.
"Just a little something from the 'No-count'," he stated almost in satisfaction.
Then he glanced down.
And straight into the eyes of Android #18.
His third eye grew wide as he felt himself grow beyond frustrated.
"WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE?!" He screamed. He'd figured she'd be gone by now, so that atleast when Cell did manage to get past his Tri-beam, she'd be a good ways ahead.
The android only stared up at him in shock. Suddenly she squeezed her eyes shut and ran over to the bigger android.
Tien shook his head, still trying to catch his breath. His energy was decreasing fast and already he could feel Cells approaching dark ki. His brow grew wet. He was in for it now!
'No...I can't think like that....I have to give that android cover....'
The android, who was still below, trying to get that red-haired giant to come with her.
He felt a surge of anger.
Why didn't she just leave already? Cell surely wouldn't waste his time on that other android right now, especially when she was certainly more valuable to him.
He didn't have time to dwell on it. Cell was back full force. Tien felt the android's negative energy, darker than ever and VERY angry. He almost flipped out. He'd never felt a force so strong...so POWERFUL.
'I have to keep cool....can't lose it..'
"TRI-BEAM....HYAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!"
He gave it everything he had, not letting up at all. If he let up in even the slightest, Cell would find the slip and escape.....escape to absorb that android and gain his Complete Perfection.
But the android was leaving. FINALLY. Cell caught a glimpse of her as she flew off slowly with the other one. Angrily, he increased his power.
'Oh no you don't...' Tien thought, increasing his attack as well.
"TRI-BEAM!!!"
The earth was torn even more in half as his attack intensified. Cell, who was almost out of the hole, found himself being thrown back even further, like a demon being hurled back into the depths of Hell.
"STOP THAT!," he screamed in outrage, eyes flashing.
"Yea, right buddy!...." Tien muttered. "So you can go absorb that android? I don't think so."
It went on a few moments like this, this tug-o-war of power...precious moments for Cell, who was that much closer to becoming complete.
Tien knew he was wearing himself thin..maybe even signing his death warrant. If he didn't die from the enormous amounts of power he was emitting, when Cell got loose, he would kill him.
Never-the-less, he summoned up his last bit of energy, concentrating only on slowing down Cell, and pushed the being down as far as he could.
He was exhausted.
He'd never felt so worn..so spent. But atleast that android had gotten away. Surely this would at least give Goku or Trunks time to train more...right?
He gave a small smile.
He'd done his best, just as Goku would've.
"I'm sorry, Goku...it was all I had.."
His heart faltered...lungs filling with fluid.
And Tenshinhan fell to the ground.
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"NO! This isn't supposed to happen! We had a plan! Tien's not even supposed to be there!," Goku clinched his fists in frustration.
Gohan gasped.
"D-Dad!! I can't....I can't feel his ki!" he began to tremble. First Piccolo, and now this. How many people were they going to loose? And how could his father just let this happen?
Goku shook his head and vanished.
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Imperfect Cell floated slowly out the hole.
He was seething.
He'd lost the android! He felt like screaming. So close...he was so close to perfection. He could taste it on his lips. He could feel it. And now it was gone.
Angrily, he turned to the man who'd cost him his prize.
He sneered.
How could a insignificant person such as he have possibly kept him from the android?
He suddenly frowned, realizing something.
Tien wasn't supposed to be that strong.
Dr. Gero had records of all the Z senshi's power levels. Tien wasn't supposed to even be in his league. So how was it that he was able to keep him away from the android for so long?!
No matter. It made no difference. He'd gotten a large power boost from somewhere, and it could be valuable.
He would absorb Tien.
Yes.
He grinned.
The fool. He'd be a part of greatness now! He should be honored!
He advanced upon the guy when suddenly he felt an unfamiliar spark. A large pink cloud opened above him, and out toppled a girl, right on top of his head!
For a moment he was too shocked to do anything.
With the blonde hair, his first thought was, 'the android!'. But as he looked closer, he realized that this girl's hair was much too long to be that of 18's.
He scowled.
Oh well. No use in wasting time with her. He had better things to do. Like absorb Tenshinhan and finish locating that bothersome android, for one.
Stepping over the girl dismissively, he continued his trek to the fallen Tien.
"Ah Tien," he murmured almost sensually. "How powerful you've grown. This will suit me well in my quest," he stated, giving the man a hefty kick to the gut, which sent him flying 50ft. He heard a shriek behind him. Foolish girl.
"Hey!! What are you doing to that guy, fish lips?!" she screamed.
He paused, giving her a genuine laugh.
"Mind your own business," he advised stepping over Tien's un-moving body.
Unmoving?
He frowned. Was he dead? He must have been weaker than he'd originally thought.
"Silver Moon...Crystal Power Kiss!!"
He fented out the way just the girl launched a powerful blast of some sort.
He turned to her, meeting her angry glare with one of his own.
"I know you! You must be one of Galaxia's evil fiends trying to steel people's Star Seeds!! Well, Star Seeds are precious, and I won't let you take them away! For love and Justice, I'm Sailor Moon!" She did some stupid little motion with her hands.
Imperfect Cell snorted.
Perhaps he'd misjudged this girl. She seemed to be more than just a mere human afterall. But who was she? Had Gero somehow missed this girl in his evaluation of the strongest fighters?
He turned his back dismissivly, but grew surprised when the girl suddenly launched herself head on at him, intending to elbow him in his abdominal.
He vanished.
Or, atleast that's what it looked like to her untrained eyes. But actually he was levitating silently over her head, watching as she glanced around puzzled, suspicious. After scanning the area, not finding the green creature, she visibly relaxed.
She sighed in relief. He was gone. He'd been a lot stronger than the normal Youma....where were they getting all this energy from? And this particular one gave her the creeps.
She shivered. He hadn't looked like the average Daimon. But then again, Daimon's didn't have any particular look to them.
Remembering the man, she quickly made her way over to him, kneeling down.
She couldn't resist giving a gasp of surprise. He was huge!
His chest was bigger than anything she'd ever seen. Even unconscious like this, his muscles bulged. He wore a green half gi, which covered only half his chest, giving her a perfect view of just how large he really was.
She blushed.
Not only was this man big, but he was also tall too! Even her Mamo-chan wasn't this tall, and he was the tallest person she knew!
But something....something wasn't right.
She gently put her hand on the man's arm, shaking him gently. He was soaked in sweat! This couldn't be normal...could it? He didn't seem to be breathing, either!
She panicked, remembering something Ami had taught her once. Taking hold of his wrist, she gently placed her thumb on it, feeling for a pulse.
Nothing.
She felt her eyes tear up. Was he....
NO! She wouldn't let that happen! She was Sailor Moon! She was supposed to save people from things like this! She couldn't be too late! She refused to believe it!
She'd try again...maybe he just had one of those soft pulses that were hard to locate. She placed her golden head on his chest, listening for the familiar thump, THUMP of a heart beat.
But only silence met her ear.
She didn't like this! What was wrong with him?!
A thought came to her. Maybe she should try mouth to mouth...but that was only for if you stopped breathing, right? His heart had stopped BEATING.
He was dead.
She froze as she felt the cold realization of it sink in.
This man was dead.