Chapter 1 - Rebirth

Disclaimer: I do not owe DBZ or any of the characters involved in it. All of that belongs to Akira Toriyama and Toei / Funimation.

Cell Games Arena

"HAHAHAHAHAHA! Say your prayers!"

Cell was beaming with joy, immeasurably delighted at his imminent win. Any second now he was about to achieve victory over the insufferable half-breed that cost him so much. His Solar Kamehameha will not only engulf Gohan whole but destroy the entire solar system. The Sun all the way to Pluto will cease to exist, glorifying him to legendary status. Only then will his reign of terror on the universe will truly begin.

"Big Bang Attack."

"What?"

Unable to properly dodge or block, Vegeta's energy blast hit Cell squared in his back, bending his posture. With his ki tampered, his attack weakened considerably against Gohan.

"WAHHHHHH!"

Hearing the young ascended saiyan roaring with righteous fury, Cell became paralyzed with fear. To him, Gohan appeared like the reaper itself, ominously walking forward to deliver him judgement. It was simply impossible to conceive for the bio-android. Just minutes ago, he came back stronger than ever before, unequal to any other foe the Z-Fighters had faced. He received a zenkai, learned Goku's instant transmission technique, slapped Vegeta around like a fly, and significantly damaged Gohan. He should have killed them all when he had the chance.

Yet that damn boy surpassed him during the final hour. Slammed by the full might of Gohan's and his own attack, the auditory illusion of bells rang in his skull as his body started to disintegrate. The agony was unreal, eclipsing all levels of pain he has ever experienced before. Already his wings and crown were gone, vanished without a trace.

Without a doubt Cell morbidly realized he was a dead man. But he will be damned if he loses here.

"I…will…live…forever."

Summoning all his available ki, Cell stuffed it inside of his nucleus, the epicenter of his regeneration capabilities. Screaming hoarsely that sounded more like a demon emitting his battle cry, Cell mentally commanded the nucleus to move from his decaying head to the tip of his stinger. Concentrating, he formed a protective barrier around it.

Now up in outer space, Cell opened his stinger and shot out his last hope. Seeing it falling back to the Earth with his nearly destroyed eyes, Cell smiled before everything ceased to work within him.

'I will come back to destroy you all. Mark my words. You haven't seen the last of me.'

Cell then perished, all remaining traces disappearing from existence.

The Kamehameha traveled all the way to Jupiter, exploding in a dazzling light next to Titan, raining shards of energy down in its methane lakes. The Z-Fighters watched on, finding peace at last from the demented bio-android's tournament. Gohan, the Cell Games champion, powered down and fell back to Earth, relieved from the brutal ordeal.

Collecting the injured, the Z-Fighters all left for Kami's Lookout. It was time to fix the mess Cell left behind.

Landing in a deserted grass field, a purple egg shown no signs of damage, shielded with an energy barrier. When it dissipated, the shell slowly cracked open, releasing bio-luminescent light.

Boom!

Exploding out from all directions, a blue Cell Jr came about. Cold to the bone with amniotic fluid running down, Cell Jr opened his eyes for the very first time. Standing up fully from fetal position, he looked at the sky, still bright from the explosion that took his father.

Examining himself, Cell Jr clenched his fists, analyzing his dormant gifts. He was just as strong as his father, possessing all his memories and knowledge. His techniques, abilities, and mindset were inherited. By all definitions, he was born perfect.

In fact, he was ultimate perfection.

Using his ki to dry himself, Cell Jr stepped out of the crater that harbored his birth. Remembering this geographic location for sentimental reasoning, he began to cackle madly. Pure euphoria coursed through him, becoming drunk from mania as his dopamine levels made him madder by the second. His father's legacy will live on in him, the eighth junior to hold such a prestigious privilege. Dr. Gero's ambition will refuse to die until his dream is realized; universal domination.

Lighting up his aura though mindful to keep his ki to a minimal, Cell Jr cackled at his own strength. Placing two fingers to his forehead, he teleported to the one place he needed to see. A area where the worlds fate will be dealt with.

Kami's Lookout.

Appearing behind some hourglass pillars filled with sand, Cell Jr saw all his father's foes intermediating with one another.

They were utterly clueless that he even exists. Even the two nameks did not noticed him, too busy celebrating their good fortunes. And for some reason that inferior model Eighteen was hiding behind some buildings. Luckily, she did not see him. Fortune was on his side, though having the foresight of suppressing his ki was largely responsible.

Despite wishing to crash the party and take lives, he was not ready for the lot of them. His powers were still rather fresh and needed time to master it. Unlike his seven earlier brothers, most of his powers cannot be spontaneously used. And even if he successfully ambushes and kills Gohan, the likes of Vegeta can still end him. Best to remain cautious.

Summoning Shenron, Cell Jr was immediately captivated by the eternal dragon. Nobody in his lineage has ever seen it, making him the first to witness the dragon gods immense power. But to his great dismay he saw Yamcha making the wish to resurrect everyone killed by his father, Dr. Gero, and Android 19. Hot anger ran down him, seeing his father's work disappearing for the history books. But the next wish was a total waste since Krillin wanted to remove the bombs from Seventeen and Eighteen. Junior just for laughs wanted to hop out and decapitate her to smite them all but held back his urges. If he had his way, he would wish for ultimate power and to resurrect his father. That way both of them can slaughter them all for the travesties they committed to their family.

After watching Eighteen reveal her presence to thank Krillin, one by one all the Z-Fighters began to leave. Cell Jr, irritated beyond all hope simply teleported away. Returning to the spot of his birth, he crossed his arms and stared at the night sky above him. The light was still visible from the Kamehameha, allowing chills to rock the body of Junior. Sensing the heroes falling asleep one by one, imaginary scenarios of revenge crossed his mind.

And one day, one of them will become reality.