01-04-2018, 07:54 AM
Cell stabbed the knight’s sword into the dirt before him, tearing the carpet of leaves at his feet, and pressed his palms onto the pommel. “This thing is so typical of your species. Unable to fight powerful creatures with your meagre limbs, you resort to digging ore out of the ground, melting it and sharpening it until it can slash through skin and bone. But what use is it when your enemy is wielding it? In fact, it becomes a hazard. A weakness. And what happens when you encounter creatures like me, who use tactics that mean you can’t even reach me with the pointy end of your weapon?”
The knight stared at Cell, his frown dragging his brow over the tops of his eyes. The helmet had been disposed of some time ago in case the human decided to confront the bio-android; in such an event, Cell had plenty of access to his neck. Cell hadn’t demanded any answers yet from the human, once he had extracted from him that no other search parties would be on the lookout for the bio-android or the knight.
Instead Cell had waxed philosophical to the human while he sat impatiently against the thick tree trunk, knowing he was in full control of the situation, something he hadn’t felt since he returned from death and killed Trunks.
The human kept his daggered-eye stare on Cell, only occasionally blinking when the wind rushed strongly over his face. Whether he listened or not, he seemed determined to prove he didn’t approve of the situation.
Cell hurled the sword over his shoulder and spinning into the distance. It clanked several times as it bounced off trees in the shaded unknown.
“Well, enough chit-chat,” Cell said, squatting on his haunches and meeting the human’s eyeline. He arched his tail behind him, the barb pointed threateningly at the knight like a cobra rearing to strike. “At least from me. Let’s learn all about you.”
The human glared unflinchingly. “Threaten me all you want. I won’t say a word. Just kill me already. I will be at peace and with my friends in the next world.”
“Now now, let’s not be too hasty,” Cell cooed, rocking his tail back and forth. “If you keep being stubborn, I’ll just drink your brain and learn everything I want. And then, with your knowledge, I’ll find your village and drink your entire family.” It was a bold faced lie but the knight had no idea what Cell was capable of. If he wasn’t afraid of death, and Cell had no reason to think otherwise, the next best threat was to aim at the loved ones. Probably some genetic malice from Frieza and his father.
The knight held his baleful stare, but Cell could see the streaks of sweat that cascaded down his temples and cheek bones, and the clenched fists that shook at his sides.
“And what will stop you from doing it anyway?” the knight said. “What reassurances are there that you won’t steal my thoughts even if I tell you?”
“Because I’d really rather not,” Cell said. “Trust me. Brains aren’t very tasty, but if it gets the job done, I won’t baulk from it. It’s up to you, little human.”
The human’s hard stare finally broke, and his eyes fell in his lap. Cell could see the defeat written all over his face. “Then ask me your questions.”
“Good. Nice to have some co-operation for a change.” Cell stood up and looked around the forest. “Where am I?”
“This is Camelot,” the human said after a quiet moment of scrutinising the bio-android. “Founded by King Aragorn. A place where we can be safe from the Empire.”
“I see,” Cell said, though none of what he said meant anything to him. “And what of this Empire? Do they have technology that didn’t involve a smith and a hammer?”
“Well ... yes,” the human said. “The Empire use gadgets and wizardry beyond my ken. It looks like some form of magic, yet none of those who use their relics seem like practitioners of spells. Not that I’ve had much to do with them. Few of those who live in Camelot do.”
Cell frowned. “What sort of gadgets?”
“Giant flying machines wrought of steel or iron. Some form of crossbow, but sleeker, and it shoots red projectiles instead of bolts. Armour that does not look like the domain of a knight. Strange and perplexing items that almost seem like something familiar, but are odd enough to be something completely different.”
A rudimentary description, but it sounded like the knight was describing an advanced civilisation, or at least one beyond the swords and shields of this realm. Perhaps Cell could learn more there.
“Which way is it?”
“You’re leaving?”
“I’m asking the questions,” Cell hissed. “Now answer the one I just asked you.”
“Go back to the Nexus, the world of white. Look for the portal within the arch of smooth steel. You will find the Empire there.”
“There are more portals?” Cell asked. Then quietly to himself, “how big is this place?”
“Yes,” the knight said, having overheard him. “The Omniverse is large. There are many different realms. Camelot and Coruscant, the Empire’s home, are just two.”
Cell stored those phrases away in his head. He had a feeling they would come up again.
“One more question,” Cell said. “Where are Androids 17 and 18?”
The knight shrugged. “I do not know who you speak of, nor what an android is.”
“Could they be in this Coruscant?”
“They could be. I do not know if they are even in the Omniverse. Who turns up here is mysterious and left to the will of Omni.”
“Well, you’ve been a big help to me, human,” Cell said. “Except for your babbling about some god. In any case, I will uphold my bargain to you.”
The knight stood up. “You’ll let me go?”
Cell’s barbed tail sank into the tender flesh of the knight’s neck. “No, I didn’t promise that at all. I said I would spare your family, and I will remain true to my word.” Never mind that I don’t even know where your family is, nor care to hunt them down specifically. “As you can see, I’m plainly not drinking your brain. Just everything else.”
“But ... but ...” the human sputtered, sliding back to the forest floor.
“Ssshhh...” Cell hissed, smirking as the knight’s head rolled to the side, his mouth hanging open, his skin deflating over his bones. “You did well. Now realise the true culmination of your life was to strengthen me, and become one with perfection.”
The knight stared at Cell, his frown dragging his brow over the tops of his eyes. The helmet had been disposed of some time ago in case the human decided to confront the bio-android; in such an event, Cell had plenty of access to his neck. Cell hadn’t demanded any answers yet from the human, once he had extracted from him that no other search parties would be on the lookout for the bio-android or the knight.
Instead Cell had waxed philosophical to the human while he sat impatiently against the thick tree trunk, knowing he was in full control of the situation, something he hadn’t felt since he returned from death and killed Trunks.
The human kept his daggered-eye stare on Cell, only occasionally blinking when the wind rushed strongly over his face. Whether he listened or not, he seemed determined to prove he didn’t approve of the situation.
Cell hurled the sword over his shoulder and spinning into the distance. It clanked several times as it bounced off trees in the shaded unknown.
“Well, enough chit-chat,” Cell said, squatting on his haunches and meeting the human’s eyeline. He arched his tail behind him, the barb pointed threateningly at the knight like a cobra rearing to strike. “At least from me. Let’s learn all about you.”
The human glared unflinchingly. “Threaten me all you want. I won’t say a word. Just kill me already. I will be at peace and with my friends in the next world.”
“Now now, let’s not be too hasty,” Cell cooed, rocking his tail back and forth. “If you keep being stubborn, I’ll just drink your brain and learn everything I want. And then, with your knowledge, I’ll find your village and drink your entire family.” It was a bold faced lie but the knight had no idea what Cell was capable of. If he wasn’t afraid of death, and Cell had no reason to think otherwise, the next best threat was to aim at the loved ones. Probably some genetic malice from Frieza and his father.
The knight held his baleful stare, but Cell could see the streaks of sweat that cascaded down his temples and cheek bones, and the clenched fists that shook at his sides.
“And what will stop you from doing it anyway?” the knight said. “What reassurances are there that you won’t steal my thoughts even if I tell you?”
“Because I’d really rather not,” Cell said. “Trust me. Brains aren’t very tasty, but if it gets the job done, I won’t baulk from it. It’s up to you, little human.”
The human’s hard stare finally broke, and his eyes fell in his lap. Cell could see the defeat written all over his face. “Then ask me your questions.”
“Good. Nice to have some co-operation for a change.” Cell stood up and looked around the forest. “Where am I?”
“This is Camelot,” the human said after a quiet moment of scrutinising the bio-android. “Founded by King Aragorn. A place where we can be safe from the Empire.”
“I see,” Cell said, though none of what he said meant anything to him. “And what of this Empire? Do they have technology that didn’t involve a smith and a hammer?”
“Well ... yes,” the human said. “The Empire use gadgets and wizardry beyond my ken. It looks like some form of magic, yet none of those who use their relics seem like practitioners of spells. Not that I’ve had much to do with them. Few of those who live in Camelot do.”
Cell frowned. “What sort of gadgets?”
“Giant flying machines wrought of steel or iron. Some form of crossbow, but sleeker, and it shoots red projectiles instead of bolts. Armour that does not look like the domain of a knight. Strange and perplexing items that almost seem like something familiar, but are odd enough to be something completely different.”
A rudimentary description, but it sounded like the knight was describing an advanced civilisation, or at least one beyond the swords and shields of this realm. Perhaps Cell could learn more there.
“Which way is it?”
“You’re leaving?”
“I’m asking the questions,” Cell hissed. “Now answer the one I just asked you.”
“Go back to the Nexus, the world of white. Look for the portal within the arch of smooth steel. You will find the Empire there.”
“There are more portals?” Cell asked. Then quietly to himself, “how big is this place?”
“Yes,” the knight said, having overheard him. “The Omniverse is large. There are many different realms. Camelot and Coruscant, the Empire’s home, are just two.”
Cell stored those phrases away in his head. He had a feeling they would come up again.
“One more question,” Cell said. “Where are Androids 17 and 18?”
The knight shrugged. “I do not know who you speak of, nor what an android is.”
“Could they be in this Coruscant?”
“They could be. I do not know if they are even in the Omniverse. Who turns up here is mysterious and left to the will of Omni.”
“Well, you’ve been a big help to me, human,” Cell said. “Except for your babbling about some god. In any case, I will uphold my bargain to you.”
The knight stood up. “You’ll let me go?”
Cell’s barbed tail sank into the tender flesh of the knight’s neck. “No, I didn’t promise that at all. I said I would spare your family, and I will remain true to my word.” Never mind that I don’t even know where your family is, nor care to hunt them down specifically. “As you can see, I’m plainly not drinking your brain. Just everything else.”
“But ... but ...” the human sputtered, sliding back to the forest floor.
“Ssshhh...” Cell hissed, smirking as the knight’s head rolled to the side, his mouth hanging open, his skin deflating over his bones. “You did well. Now realise the true culmination of your life was to strengthen me, and become one with perfection.”