Bulma went to the laboratory while Chi-Chi and Launch prepared supplies.
Meanwhile, Son Goku walked through the streets of West City, searching for Androids 17 & 18.
They didn't know about Cell yet.
He couldn't just let them walk blindly into danger.
But after searching for a long time, he still couldn't find them.
They had no detectable Ki.
Trying to locate them through energy sensing was pointless.
Goku thought it through.
Cell hadn't finished absorbing enough life energy yet — he likely hadn't even completed his first stage. He probably wasn't strong enough to defeat Androids 17 & 18 yet.
So they shouldn't have been absorbed already.
Goku stopped worrying about failing to find them.
For now, he had something else to do — he needed to talk to Bra about entering the Hyperbolic Time Chamber tomorrow.
Bra actually loved training.
Goku just hadn't pushed her too hard because she was still young — and because she was a girl, he had been extra cautious.
Even so, she had already learned many techniques from Raditz, Krillin, and others at the resort.
Her martial talent was exceptional.
He had only hesitated because he worried intense training might affect her physical development.
As Goku left the city, Androids 17 & 18 appeared nearby.
18 crossed her arms. "Do you think he was looking for us?"
17 shrugged. "Looks like it."
"Whatever. We've bought everything we need. Let's leave."
18 nodded. "Yeah. Let's go back to our island and set up the Capsule House. I'm exhausted from shopping."
"I want a bath and a long sleep."
"Let's fly back."
17 shook his head. "Too flashy. Let's buy a car instead."
18's eyes lit up. "Then it has to be red!"
17 grimaced. "No. That red sports car is too expensive. Red is for girls anyway. White is enough — just transportation."
18 frowned. "No. I like the red one. Cars are for enjoyment, not just transport."
17 sighed. "Fine. Use your money then. I don't like red."
18 thought for a moment. "Actually… white is acceptable too."
17 smirked. "As expected of you — changing your mind to avoid spending money."
The next day, the Lookout.
Vegeta stepped out of the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, looking refreshed and confident.
At the same time, Goku arrived with Bra.
Feeling Vegeta's immense power, Goku smiled.
"As expected of you, Vegeta. You've gotten much stronger."
"Of course," Vegeta replied smugly.
Bra greeted him politely. "Hello, Uncle Vegeta."
Vegeta blinked in surprise.
"Kakarot, you're bringing a child into the Hyperbolic Time Chamber?"
Goku nodded. "Yeah. We won't stay long though."
Vegeta snorted. "There's no point in you training now. I'm going to destroy the Androids — and no matter how you train, you won't surpass me."
"I've gone beyond Super Saiyan."
"Congratulations," Goku said cheerfully. "But I have some news — the Androids aren't the real enemy. A powerful monster named Cell has appeared."
Vegeta scoffed. "Whatever it is, it won't stand against me."
Goku tried to say more, but Bra tugged his sleeve impatiently.
"Dad, stop wasting time. Let's go already!"
"Alright, alright!"
They entered the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, and the door shut behind them.
Unable to locate the monster, Vegeta returned to Mount Paozu.
Saiyan appetites were enormous — and his training had burned through his food supplies months ago. He had survived on Mr. Popo's terrible cooking ever since.
Now he needed real food — and sleep — before the next battle.
Two hours later.
Cell began moving again.
At the Lookout, Kami watched the events unfolding below, cold sweat forming on his brow.
Piccolo glanced at him. "Enough watching. Tell me what's happening."
Kami turned.
"No need to explain. Once we fuse, you'll understand."
Piccolo smirked. "So you've finally decided."
"A terrifying monster has appeared."
Kami nodded. "We can't allow more victims."
Though Kami was eager, Piccolo hesitated.
"Just remember — my body will be the foundation."
"Of course," Kami said. "You're the combat-type Namekian. Stronger and younger. You must be the core."
"It's unfortunate that the Dragon Balls will disappear… but Earth needs warriors now, not wishes."
Mr. Popo looked reluctant.
Kami reassured him. "Piccolo has changed. The evil in his heart has faded. When we merge, I won't disappear — we will simply become whole again."
"Thank you for taking care of me all these years."
Mr. Popo lowered his head.
In the next moment, a bright light flashed.
Kami fused with Piccolo.
His power surged enormously, and his expression became calmer and more composed.
He turned toward Popo.
"I'm going."
"Goodbye… don't die," Popo said softly.
Piccolo leapt from the Lookout, flying toward the devastated town.
Soon after.
A deserted town.
Sensing Piccolo alone, Cell appeared.
The three-meter-tall creature held a balding man struggling in his grasp.
"Help me! I'm rich — save me!"
Piccolo frowned. "You might not understand me… but let him go."
Cell ignored him.
Its tail pierced the man.
In seconds, he shriveled into nothing but clothing.
Cell looked at Piccolo.
"You're next, King Piccolo."
Piccolo's eyes widened.
"You know my name?"
Cell unleashed its Ki, shaking the ground.
"I am your brother."
Piccolo felt strange energy emanating from him.
Goku's Ki.
Vegeta's Ki.
Frieza's Ki.
Even his own.
A grotesque fusion of energies.
"What… are you?"
At the same time, Krillin, Tien, and Yamcha sensed the energy and rushed toward it.
Back at Mount Paozu, Vegeta woke abruptly.
"What is that…? Kakarot's Ki… mine… and—"
He flew toward the source.
Meanwhile, Piccolo stared at Cell.
"Why do you possess our energy? Who are you really?"
Cell's eyes narrowed.
"It doesn't matter. You'll soon become my food."
Piccolo smirked.
"You've mistaken me. I'm not King Piccolo anymore."
Cell blinked.
"What?"
"Then who are you?"
Piccolo replied coolly, "You first."
Cell shook his head.
"No need. Whoever you are, you're just more life energy."
Piccolo glanced around.
The town was already empty.
"Good. No civilians left. That means I can fight freely."
He raised a hand and unleashed a massive energy blast.
The town vanished under a sea of energy.
Piccolo stared in surprise at his own power.
Fusion had elevated him beyond anything he expected — stronger even than Vegeta when he fought Androids 17 & 18.
He was no longer merely Piccolo or Kami.
He was a complete Namekian warrior.
The energy faded.
"The Ki is gone… did I kill it?"
Something felt wrong.
He remained cautious, scanning the surroundings.
Far away, Android 17 sensed the shockwave.
"Did you feel that?" he asked.
18 nodded. "Atmospheric disturbance… maybe a volcanic eruption?"
Suddenly, Android 16 appeared beside them.
"16? What are you doing here?"
"Bulma contacted me," he said calmly. "She asked me to find you and hide you."
"Hide?" 17 frowned.
"Why?"
"Dr. Gero's true purpose in modifying you… was to feed the Ultimate Android — Cell."
18 froze.
"What?"
17 scoffed. "We're not anyone's food."
16 replied flatly.
"My power exceeds yours, yet I am purely mechanical. If Dr. Gero could build me from scratch, why transform humans like you instead?"
Realization dawned on them.
18's expression darkened.
17 clenched his fists.
"Let him try. I'm the strongest."
"For now," 16 said. "But Cell is absorbing humans to evolve. Soon, he will surpass you — and then he will come to devour you."
17 narrowed his eyes.
"If he's still absorbing humans, then he's not stronger than us yet."
"Good. Take us to him. We'll destroy him first."
"I agree," 18 said firmly.
16 stepped forward. "No. My mission is to hide you."
They exchanged a glance and smiled.
Then both shot toward the battle site.
16 clenched his fists.
"Humans are emotionally unstable… they never listen."
He followed after them.