Cell

"You see, I'm perfect, my strength is perfect, and with that I shall bring equally perfect destruction through the rest of the universe."
— "Combine Your Strength! The Final Kamehame-Ha!"
Cell (セル, Seru) was the ultimate creation of Dr. Gero, who came from a future timeline, designed to possess all the abilities of the greatest fighters to have ever inhabited or visited Earth; the result was a "perfect warrior", possessing numerous favorable genetic traits and special abilities. He was one of the few Red Ribbon Androids not directly completed by Dr. Gero; he was completed by Dr. Gero's Supercomputer. He is the main antagonist of the Cell Arc, which includes the Imperfect Cell Saga, the Perfect Cell Saga, and the Cell Games Saga.
== Appearance ==
In his Imperfect form, unlike his larval form, Cell walks fully upright on two legs. His facial features have not yet fully developed, and he still retains an orifice-like mouth (which generally obscures four sharp teeth, as revealed in "Silent Warrior"), rather than traditional human-like features seen in later forms.
The two sections of his head shoot off in a V-shape resembling a boomerang-shape, rather than nearly straight upward, as in the next two forms. Cell is later shown using the power he absorbed from his victims by having a golden aura with the appearance of wailing souls. Cell has orange color parts near his abdominal area, the back of his head, and even near his groin area. He has two wings which are both emerald green with black spots. He has an emerald green and lime green mix all over his exoskeleton (including head, arms, legs, tail and hands) along with black spots. He has three fingers in the manga, but five fingers and three toes (just as similar as Frieza and King Cold) in the anime.
He has a tail like Frieza and King Cold, but has a stinger included at the end of it. He has black sections as well near his abdominal area, in the middle between the two sections on his head, and even the black part of the opposite side of his tail. He even has azure veins in both of his arms, legs, and even some in the joints in his upper body. His eyes are pink (blue in the manga colored pages) with thin reptilian-like slits.
Cell DBZ Ep 177 001.png|Cell
CellConcepts.png|Some initial sketches of Cell (Daizenshuu 4)
CellLarvalFormEp145.png|Baby Cell floating in his incubator
Cell's_genetic_makeup.png|Cell's primary genetic makeup: Goku, Piccolo, Vegeta and Frieza
CellGettingOut.png|Cell's birth in Dr. Gero's lab
Dbz164-30.jpg|Cell's moult escaped and crawling from Dr. Gero's laboratory
Dbz164-31.jpg|Cell growing out of his moult
Dbz164-32.jpg|Imperfect Cell absorbed the people's energy
CellFlashback.png|Cell, in a flashback, invading a town
Dbz164-33.jpg|Imperfect Cell smile about used the Explosion Wave
GFT_-_Explosive_Wave.png|Imperfect Cell used the Explosion Wave technique
164_12.jpg|Imperfect Cell began to feed people's energies to grow stronger
Imperfect_Cell.png|Cell in his adult form
ImperfectkillsFutureTrunks.png|In his timeline, Cell kills Future Trunks by strangling him
128-22.jpg|Cell stealing Future Trunks' Time Machine
Larv.jpg|Cell in his pupal stage
125-21.jpg|Gohan, Future Trunks, and Bulma discover Cell's moult
SeruMue.png|Cell's moult
CellImperfectFormTheReunionk.png|Imperfect Cell's first appearance in Dragon Ball Z
Cell11.jpg|Imperfect Cell meet Piccolo at Gingertown
Cell_show_evil_grin_at_Piccolo.jpg|Cell shows an evil grin at Piccolo
DBZKai_Ep_69_-_Cell_power_up.png|Cell powers up
PiccolovsICell (1).png|Cell vs. Piccolo
dbz142-40.jpg|Cell used Piccolo's Special Beam Cannon technique
dbz142-46.jpg|Imperfect Cell prepare to use Goku's Kamehameha Wave to Piccolo
dbz142-47.jpg|Imperfect Cell is about to use Goku's Kamehameha Wave at Piccolo
dbz143-02.jpg|Imperfect Cell fire the Kamehameha Wave
dbz143-03.jpg|Imperfect Cell absorbed Piccolo's energy
CellImperfectVsPiccoloKami.png|Imperfect Cell meeting Piccolo at Gingertown about his plans to absorbing Androids to reach Perfect Form
dbz143-11.jpg|Imperfect Cell asking Piccolo to surrender
dbz143-15.jpg|Imperfect Cell realized that Piccolo tricked him
128-30.jpg|Imperfect Cell about his rematch with Piccolo
CellSolarFlare.png|Cell used Tien's the Solar Flare to escape from Z Fighters
IMG_0280.png|Cell looking up at Krillin
CellImperfectFindsAndroids17&18-02.png|Cell confronts the Androids and Piccolo
CellRises.Ep.152.png|Cell is angry
430466_249040621844499_184952538253308_578089_7190724_n.jpg|Cell behind Android 17
CellImperfectAbsorbingAndroid17.png|Imperfect Cell absorbing Android 17 to achieve his Semi-Perfect form
DBZKai_Ep_75_-_Cell_transform.png|Cell begins to transform
CellSecondFormNV.png|Semi-Perfect Cell
CellSemiPerfect01.png|Cell transforms into his Semi-Perfect form
CellDefeatsAndroid16.Ep.152.png|Semi-Perfect Cell after defeating Android 16, and going after Android 18
Sacrifice_-_Cell.png|Cell attacked by Tien Shinhan
CellAttacks.jpg|Cell blast Big Bang attack destroy islands to find Androids
CellSecondFormNV..png|Semi-Perfect Cell
CellSemiPerfect02.png|Semi-Perfect Cell smiles at Vegeta and Future Trunks
VegetaSuperVsSemiPerfectCell.png|Cell punched in the stomach by Super Vegeta
SemiPerfectCell.jpg|Semi-Perfect Cell, underwater, tries to find Vegeta
Wiki68_n.jpg|Semi-Perfect Cell finds Android 18
159_14.jpg|Semi-Perfect Cell putting into practice the Solar Flare
CellSemiPerfectAbs18NV.png|emi-Perfect Cell absorbing Android 18 to achieve his Perfect Form
144-26.jpg|Cell began to transformation into the perfect form
144-27.jpg|Cell then puts up an impenetrable barrier while he evolves yet again, this time to Perfect Cell.
Dbz159-37.jpg|Perfect Cell's true face during the transformation
Dbz159-36.jpg|Cell still transforms into the Perfect Form
PerfectCellIsBorn.png|Cell finally attains his long-desired perfection
160 2.jpg|Cell achieves his Perfect form
PerfectCellfirstappearance.png|Perfect Cell
Dbz160-01.jpg|Perfect Cell is complete by tricking Vegeta for learning his weakness
Dbz160-02.jpg|The first appearance of Cell's perfect form
Perfect.png|Cell looking at his perfect body
KuririnKicksCell.Ep.160.png|Krillin attacks Cell
CellvsKrillin.png|Perfect Cell ignored Krillin's punches
CellObtainsPerfection.Ep.160.png|Cell achieves perfection
Dbz160-13.jpg|Cell continues to admire his new body, completely ignoring Krillin and Future Trunks' assault
CellKienzan.png|Cell about to get hit by Krillin's Destructo Disc
Dbz160-15.jpg|Perfect Cell is ineffective by Krillin's Destructo Disc
Dbz160-16.jpg|Perfect Cell is felt Krillin's Destructo Disc techniques with no effect
145-26.jpg|Perfect Cell punches before he's going to kick Krillin
145-28.jpg|Perfect Cell is about kick Krillin for attacking him
PerfectCell.Ep.160.png|Perfect Cell is staring at Krillin and kick him
CellKicksKuririn.png|Cell kicks Krillin
160 11.jpg|Cell snaps Krillin's neck
146-01.jpg|Perfect Cell after kicking Krillin by using his true power and strength 
146-03.jpg|Perfect Cell talking to Android 16 about hurting Krillin for touch his body
VegetaChallengesCellInHisNewForm.png|Vegeta challenges Cell
146-04.jpg|Perfect Cell prepared to challenge Vegeta 
146-06.jpg|Vegeta vs. Perfect Cell 
161_1.jpg|Perfect Cell faces Super Vegeta
VegetaFacesPerfectCell.png|Cell gets ready to fighting Vegeta 
146-08.jpg|Cell blocks Vegeta's knee kick
161_2.jpg|Super Vegeta attacks Perfect Cell
161_3.jpg|Perfect Cell vs. Super Vegeta
dbz161-02.jpg|Perfect Cell still blocking all of Vegeta's attacks 
146-09.jpg|Perfect Cell was toying with Vegeta 
161_4.jpg|Perfect Cell vs. Super Vegeta
dbz161-03.jpg|Perfect Cell smile at Vegeta 
146-11.jpg|Perfect Cell screams and release the powerful blast against Vegeta 
161_5.jpg|Cell destroys a cliff with a powerful punch
Cell4.png|Perfect Cell smile and taunting Vegeta 
146-21.jpg|Perfect Cell is being chased by Super Vegeta 
146-23.jpg|Cell looking up at Vegeta's blasts 
161_10.jpg|Perfect Cell dodges Super Vegeta's punch
146-27.jpg|Perfect Cell grabbed Vegeta's hands
dragon-ball-z-puntata-160-lessere-perfetto.jpg|Perfect Cell flies towards Vegeta 
146-29.jpg|Perfect Cell is behind Vegeta 
161_11.jpg|egeta delivers a swift kick to the back of Cell's head
CellConfident.Ep.162.png|Cell mocking Vegeta
In his Semi-Perfect form after absorbing Android 17, Cell's wings disappear, and he becomes much more humanoid, he also becomes quite a bit more muscular. His exoskeleton is still emerald green and lime green with black spots, but now has black plates on the arms and legs and the black spots on his hands are completely gone.
While the nose is not yet fully formed (as it is in the next stage), he now has an actual mouth. The two jutting sections of his head now go straight into the air. In this form, he is at his 2nd largest (next to his Power weighted form) with his height being one and a half times that of Vegeta.
His tail is longer and slightly thicker than before, and protrudes from his back, as well as becoming segmented orange and black instead of emerald green and black from his previous form. His voice is deeper than his previous form. The back of his head and the black section on his forehead are now formed together as a ball in between the two sections on his head. His lips are now the color pink, and the black sections above his lips look like a mustache (except it is part of his skin).
He now has light blue eyes in this form (a direct result of absorbing Android 17). He even has boot-like feet in this form and metal-like plates all around both of his ankles. He has the same shape of ears as Frieza's, except that his have an orange line that goes down to the chin and to both sides of the ears. His wings regress completely into his back. In his self-destruction form, Semi-Perfect Cell bloats himself, his belly greatly expanding in size. He also claimed that his bloated appearance was unstable, and that a single touch may set him off when dissuading Gohan from trying to stop him.
Cell becomes much more humanoid in his Perfect form after absorbing Android 18, complete with both a fully-formed nose and mouth. His tail is retracted and now used for the creation of Cell Jrs, although it is shown in various media that he can still extend it from his back and absorb other people (as seen in Dragon Ball GTand Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai). Along with his previous two forms, Cell can transform into a Super Saiyan.
He is also smaller than in his previous form, being roughly about Piccolo's height, although this still means he towers over characters like Goku and Vegeta. His wings have grown back and now are shaded black. His exoskeleton (including the abdominal area and arms) is now colored light-green with dark green spots and has black plates located on his shoulders and chest, and the plates on his ankles as well as the previously orange section near his groin are now shaded black. He also retains the boot-like feet from his previous form.
His skin is now pale all in his face, neck and hands, he now has purple lines in both sides of his cheeks, similar to Frieza in his first three forms, and the orange line across his ears and chin is now changed into a yellow color. His eyes are now pink, and his blue veins are now purple. In his Super Perfect state, Cell's appearance is identical to his Perfect form. Nonetheless, his power increases exponentially. His aura crackles with surges of blue electricity, much like a Super Saiyan 2. In the video game Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2, Super Perfect Cell's intense energy flow makes his carapace glow a lighter shade of green.
== Personality ==
"You fool! Don't you realize yet you're up against the perfect weapon?!"
— "Save the World"
Cell has an original personality, with various other characters' personality traits added in; Gero's computer redesigned the weak parts of the original personality, adding in the personalities of various different characters to make him the perfect weapon.[2] Throughout the Androids Arc, Cell's personality changes drastically with each transformation. At first, Cell's desire to complete his evolution by absorbing both Android 17 and Android 18 is what fuels him in his imperfect form. Upon reaching his final form, his eagerness to test the limits of his newfound power is what defines his character. Cell is unique among most villains of the series in that he is quite sophisticated. Because of his genetic composition from other warriors, he is able to psychologically manipulate those warriors and exploit their weaknesses to his advantage. He also found the Dragon Balls' reviving ability to be a nuisance, as evidenced by his relief when he learned that the Dragon Balls were rendered inert due to Piccolo and Kami's fusion.
Initially, Cell is completely single-minded in the pursuit of his goals and is very cautious, sneaky, cunning, and calculating in achieving his main goal of perfection. Upon reaching his first transformation, he becomes far more brash and impulsive in his actions, relying less on strategy and more on brute force, often becoming clouded and losing his ability to think rationally when things don't go his way. Upon reaching perfection, Cell displays a number of traits shared by those whose cells he possesses; Piccolo's cunning, Vegeta's pride, Goku's laid-back disposition, Frieza's smugness (as well as some of his psychopathy), and the Saiyan lust for battle. He is also shown to be calm and genuinely polite in this Perfect form. Perhaps Cell's most distinguishable trait in this form is his uninhibited vanity, which he shamelessly puts on display by launching the Cell Games, a tournament organized for the sole purpose of showing off his newfound power. It can also be seen during Cell's confrontation with Gohanwhen he affirms his true purpose: the annihilation of anything he considers imperfect, a category in which he places everyone and everything but himself. But when he is outmatched he quickly becomes desperate and makes mistakes. Ironically, the arrogant trait Vegeta displayed to allow Cell to achieve his perfect form was the same trait Cell used to force Gohan to awaken his hidden powers, which led to his own downfall, almost directly emulating Vegeta.
In the English manga, Cell is referred to as "it", while in the anime (and the Japanese versions of both), he is referred to as "he." He is likely described that way in the English manga to emphasize the fact that he is an artificial being.
As Imperfect Cell, Cell is completely single-minded in the pursuit of his goals to complete his evolution, as he is extremely eager to discover what attaining perfection would feel like. His desire is to absorb both Android 17 and Android 18. Imperfect Cell is very cautious, sneaky, cunning, and calculating; he does not chase after the Androids directly, since he knows he cannot beat them before he absorbs enough human energy. Although obsessed with attaining perfection, Cell was willing to temporarily put aside his plans to absorb 17 and 18 if it meant that he had to deal any possible threat to his plans, as seen how he chose to dispatch Piccolo and attempted to do so with 16 rather than immediately going after 17 and 18.
However, despite his usually cautious and savvy nature, Imperfect Cell could still be seen to be somewhat arrogant, seen by how he openly revealed his plans to Piccolo when under the impression that he had won.
After he achieves his Semi-Perfect form, Cell no longer cares about absorbing other creatures, and becomes obsessed with finding Android 18 to complete his quest for perfection. He also becomes slightly more arrogant because of his power increase, as well as rash and impatient. His arrogance is short-lived though; he is easily outclassed by Vegeta's 2nd Grade Super Saiyan form. After finding that his Semi-Perfect form is no match for his opponent, Cell convinces Vegeta to allow him to absorb Android 18 to attain the Perfect Form (which he is able to do as he appeals to Vegeta's ego and the natural Saiyan drive to fight stronger opponents, both of which Cell is aware of, as he possesses Vegeta's cells).
According to his bios in the video games Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 and Budokai Tenkaichi 3, in his new form, he seems to feel that he is the most powerful living specimen on the planet, and it is suggested that this arrogant attitude may have been influenced by Vegeta's genes (meaning Vegeta's cells may become more prominent while in this form, which seems to be supported by the fact he uses at least two of Vegeta's signature moves in this form, albeit only in the anime: Galick Gun and a modified Big Bang Attack). It may also be due to his absorption of Android 17 and the genes of Frieza, both of whom are very egotistical and intolerant of the idea of anyone being better than themselves. To further support the notion of his superiority, Android 16, who barely survives his brief encounter with this form of Cell, thinks to himself that there should be no one in the universe ready to challenge him at this point (and that it is odd how he is still so obsessed with achieving completion), until this preconception is shattered by Cell's embarrassment against the self-proclaimed "Super Vegeta."
After absorbing No. 18 and becoming perfect, Cell becomes significantly more arrogant in this form, due to the massive increase in power. After attaining the perfect form he had long desired, Cell admitted to Trunks that he had found himself with no other purpose, even killing Goku, which was Dr. Gero's intended purpose for Cell, did not seem to satisfy him. Thus, he saw his Cell Games as the opportunity to discover a new purpose; to test his new-found power. This could also be attributed by his own vanity.
In this form, Cell gains Frieza's polite mannerisms (though without the snide sarcasm) and sadistic personality, relishing in seeing people terrified, as he admitted to Future Trunks when he revealed his intention for the Cell Games. This was further shown in the anime, while waiting for the Cell Games, he chose to terrorize the people of Earth simply for his own amusement.
Much like Goku, Cell seems to take on a carefree and laid-back attitude, not losing any form of his composure until he was faced with the prospect of a being stronger than him. Cell has adopted Goku's, as well as Vegeta's, desire to battle strong opponents, which was another purpose of the Cell Games. The fact that prior to facing Super Saiyan 2 Gohan, Cell still chose to hold back his full power, Cell was willing to handicap himself in order to challenge his own limits. Despite this, however, if Cell finds that his opponents were not of a challenge, he would not hesitate to finish the battle quickly or discontinue it. This reflects on how his arrogance, that he saw unchallenging opponents unworthy to fight him. Before fighting Gohan, Cell saw Goku as the only worthy opponent, and displayed excitement when fighting him. Cell even displayed anger when Goku had decided to forfeit his battle against Cell.
After coming back in his Super Perfect form, the huge influx of power causes his already inflated ego to increase dramatically. He becomes notably more deranged, frequently shouting and exhibiting bizarre facial ticks at random intervals (although this may be largely due to his rage over being humiliated by Gohan). In addition, the intro narration for Cell Returns has the narrator referring to Cell as a "demented demon". Cell also became more hotheaded and rash, seen by how he immediately chose to risk destroying the entire solar system simply to defeat Gohan.
After returning from his brush with death, Cell saw himself as true perfection, believing himself to be immortal, as was he was unable to die (save for the unlikely possibility of dying in battle). Oddly, despite having every intention of destroying the planet, he was heard thinking "That's the spirit" when Gohan's challenges Cell to a Kamehameha duel (although this was likely because he wanted the latter to give it his all as a means to prove Cell's own superiority). Even as he was slowly destroyed by Gohan's final attack, Cell could not comprehend why he was defeated, exclaiming that he was perfection itself. When in the throws of defeat, Cell seems to almost lose his sanity. Screaming in rage and confusion cause he believes no one can defeat "perfection" (or himself). These traits show that Cell most likely has some of Frieza's mental illness and insanity (also matching his psychotic and sadistic traits).
"Like Piccolo I can fully regenerate as long as my core remains. Like the Saiyans my power increases greatly after I heal from near death, and like Frieza I can survive anywhere."
— Super Perfect Cell in "The Horror Won't End"
Cell is composed of cells from Goku, Piccolo, Vegeta, Frieza, King Cold, and according to the manga title page, a number of other lifeforms (in the FUNimation dub, it is also stated that he has cells from Krillin and Gohan). Strangely, most sources fail to include King Cold as one of his genetic donors, including the anime on some occasions. He also possesses the information on Nappa, Raditz, Chiaotzu, Tien Shinhan, Yamcha, and Future Trunks which were collected by Dr. Gero's remote tracking device and stored in the Super Computer. Cell is therefore able to use their attacks (ex. Kamehameha, Regeneration etc.). His genetic composition is very much a part of his character. It is also implied that, when using these attacks, he often changes his genetic code so he can match the genetic source of his attacks, as when he is going to fire the Kamehameha at Piccolo, Gohan and Vegeta sense Goku in the distance, with the former being near Goku at the time. In his Imperfect Form, he is clever, calculating, and single-minded about achieving his Perfect Form. In his Semi-Perfect Form, he is a little more arrogant. In his Perfect and Super Perfect forms, he is extremely arrogant; he becomes very smug and he believes that every other living creature is inferior to him, and is shown to be very polite until he loses his temper. Upon meeting Piccolo for the first time in Gingertown, Cell tells Piccolo that the computer programmed some genetic traits to be more dominant than others. He bears a strong resemblance to Frieza in all of his forms, such as his tailand the talon-like feet of his first form, and his face while in his perfect form. His feet in his Perfect form are a type of Bio Suit shoes worn by Frieza's race. His head-piece in his Perfect Form is a Namekian trait,[3] so it is likely a recessive trait obtained from Piccolo's cells. He can also revert a few stages at will if necessary, as evidenced when Cell reverts from his Imperfect form to his Larval form in order to use Trunks' Time Machine.
Cell is designed to have the ability to absorb any biological mass by stabbing his victims with his tail. This process, called "bio-extraction," drains all the organic mass out of the target from the inside out. This attack increases Cell's power, the exact amount depending on the victim's power level. Cell is also designed to absorb Dr. Gero's other Androids (Android 17 and Android 18) whole, integrating them into his systems. Each time he absorbs an Android, he evolves into a more powerful being, however he cannot absorb completely mechanical Androids such as Android 16.
Upon assimilating both Android 17 and Android 18, he gains the ability to asexually reproduce, creating blue, child versions of himself, called "Cell Juniors".
He is also able to change his voice to one of his other forms at will, as Perfect Cell uses his Imperfect form's voice during his announcement of the Cell Games in "The Doomsday Broadcast" when explaining that he is the "creature from Nicky Town". He is also able to manipulate his voice into someone he's absorbed. This is demonstrated when Semi-Perfect Cell changeed his voice to 17's to try to convince 18 to merge with the Bio-Android.[4]
== Biography ==
=== Dragon Ball Z ===
==== Cell Saga ====
Main articles: Imperfect Cell Saga, Perfect Cell Saga, and Cell Games Saga
The version of Cell that plays a large role in Dragon Ball Z hails from an alternate future timeline where he has already evolved to his Imperfect form. Unfortunately for him, neither Future Android 17 nor Future Android 18 are present, having already been taken out by his version of Future Trunks. In order to complete his evolution, Cell kills Future Trunks and steals his Time Machine, going back in time to the date set by Future Trunks in the "standard" timeline when both Androids are still functional, sometime around four years prior to the Androids' arrival. In order to fit into the machine, Cell has to revert to an egg.
"I'm going to absorb you next!"
— Imperfect Cell to Piccolo in "I Am Your Brother! The Monster with Goku's Energy!"
The version of Cell that plays a large role in Dragon Ball Z hails from an alternate future timeline where he has already evolved to his Imperfect form. Unfortunately for him, neither Future Android 17 nor Future Android 18 are present, having already been taken out by his version of Future Trunks. In order to complete his evolution, Cell kills Future Trunks and steals his Time Machine, going back in time to the date set by Future Trunks in the "standard" timeline when both Androids are still functional, sometime around four years prior to the Androids' arrival. In order to fit into the machine, Cell has to revert to an egg.
Once in the past, he hides underground for four years until he can grow back to his adult, humanoid self. After emerging in his Imperfect form, Cell still fears that he does not have the power he needs to forcibly absorb the Androids. To increase his strength, his first actions are to exterminate several towns, absorbing the humaninhabitants within. After completing his feeding on the humans in Ginger Town, Cell is confronted by Piccolo. While Piccolo wonders who Cell is, Cell reveals that he himself knows of Piccolo's identity as the Demon King Piccolo (although Cell does not know at this point that Piccolo fused with Kami), and cryptically responded that he and Piccolo were "brothers" when he demanded to know how he knew him. After a brief struggle where he is beaten around several times, he manages to absorb enough of Piccolo's power to make himself stronger, draining the biomass from one of Piccolo's arms. Cell (now mistakenly confident in victory) explains who he is to Piccolo. After hearing the story of his creation and his plan, Piccolo reveals that he tricked Cell to give him the time he needed to regenerate his arm and allow him to continue fighting. It is also during this time that he learns that Piccolo and Kami fused, and, realizing what that meant for the Dragon Balls, was glad because it meant he won't have to worry about the Dragon Balls reviving those he consumed. Future Trunks and Krillin then arrive at the scene. Future Trunks' presence in the past surprises Cell, as is the fact that Goku has not died of his heart disease and is still alive. Outnumbered, Cell quickly uses Solar Flare to temporarily blind his opponents and escape, masking his energy to prevent them from finding him.
Realizing that he is still far below his enemies' power levels, Cell decides to use a hit-and-run strategy at this point, hiding from the Z Fighters while going from town to town (including Nicky Town, Basil Airport, and Chazke Village) absorbing humans and gaining the power he needs to be able to take on the Androids. Piccolo and Tien work on tracking him while Future Trunks and Krillin kill the current (main) timeline's Cell while still in his infancy. At Basil Airport during his feeding, Cell eventually encounters Krillin and nearly absorbs him, although he is forced to let him live when remarking Piccolo and Tien zeroing in on his location. Eventually, after absorbing several tens of thousands of humans, Cell detects a large ki; knowing that this has to be Piccolo, he deduces that the only thing that could make him fight so hard would be the Androids. Gleeful at the opportunity to finally absorb 17 and transform to a stronger state, Cell wastes no time and quickly heads toward the area. As expected, he finds Piccolo and Android 17 engaged in battle.
Cell interrupts the fight and attacks Android 17. At this point, his power has far surpassed Piccolo and Android 17's, and without any precautions, he approaches 17. As the monster prepares to absorb the Android, Piccolo attacks him, freeing Android 17 from his grasp. When Android 17 learns what Cell has planned, he dismisses the threat, thinking that he is much more powerful than Cell could ever be, and attacks. After knocking away Android 17, Cell fights and easily beats Piccolo, even managing to shrug off the Namekian's Light Grenade. After blasting a hole through Piccolo's side and tossing him into the sea, Cell is able to attack 17 again.
Cell defeats Android 17 easily and is about to absorb him when Android 16 becomes involved. Android 16 states that according to his calculations, he is just equivalent to Cell in both strength and speed, and portends that he will be the one to kill Cell. After a struggle where it is revealed that Cell is unable to absorb Android 16's energy, 16 throws Cell underground and blasts him using his Hell's Flash.
Android 16 advises 17 and 18 to leave, but 17 is convinced that even if 16 didn't kill Cell, it still proved that the three of them were unbeatable, fully sure that together, the whole world will soon be their playground (in Kai, 17 wants revenge on Cell for the beat-up Cell gave him earlier and decides he will finish Cell). Cell uses this opportunity to burst out of the ground directly behind Android 17 and, whilst sadistically laughing, he quickly absorbs 17 and evolves into his Semi-Perfect form.
After Cell's absorption of Android 17, Android 16, knowing that he is now well outmatched, attempts to flee with Android 18, but Cell easily intercepts them, thanks to the added speed of Android 17. In a display of his new power, he takes a direct hit from Android 16 without injury and then easily blasts the Android, nearly destroying his head effortlessly. Cell turns to Android 18, but she threatens to self-destruct before joining him if he approaches, which will leave him unable to attain his complete form. In an attempt to pacify her, he pretends to be Android 17 by mimicking his voice (a trait probably gained from his absorption) and tells her how wonderful it is to be part of Cell and fulfilling "the great" Dr. Gero's vision. Android 16, still functional but badly damaged, warns her of the ploy, something she already knows since both she and Android 17 despised Dr. Gero, they would never compliment him.
When his plan fails, Cell prepares to attempt to absorb 18 by force regardless, knowing that he is fast enough to prevent her from destroying herself and more than capable of overpowering her. He is prevented by Tien however, who uses his Neo Tri-Beam attack several times to stall Cell, destroying much of the landscape and nearly killing himself. Though Cell does not take any significant damage from the assault, it manages to hold him at bay long enough for Android 16 and Android 18 to make their escape. Though Tien is exhausted to the point of death (and soon falls unconscious), Cell insults Tien for stalling his plans and decides to finish him as retribution. Before he can fire though, Goku intervenes and teleports to their location using Instant Transmission, meeting Cell for the first time. Goku informs Cell that while he is not strong enough yet, he will fight him in one day and win. Cell, who eagerly wants to fight Goku, states that they will not fight tomorrow, but now, and flies towards him when Goku grabs Piccolo. Before Cell can make contact, Goku uses Instant Transmission again, carrying an unconscious Tien and a barely alive Piccolo back to safety at Kami's Lookout before Cell's punch lands. Cell is in awe of Goku's ability to teleport, but dismisses it, saying that his priority now is to find 18.
Without anyone to oppose him, Cell continues his search for Android 18. After losing her in a group of islands, he threatens to destroy all the islands nearby unless 18 shows herself. When 18 does not answer under 16's orders, Cell proceeds to destroy the islands, one-by-one, in an attempt to flush the Android out. Having just completed his first year in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, Vegeta approaches and challenges him. Cell is soon shocked to discover that Vegeta is significantly more powerful than his new body, as the fight is entirely one-sided. Even after powering up to full power, he is unable to injure the Saiyan, who now calls himself "Super Vegeta."
During their fight, Cell becomes incredibly frustrated as he cannot land a hit on the Saiyan Prince, and states if it was not for Vegeta's interference, he knows he would have achieved his perfect form by now and have crushed everyone in his path. With Vegeta keen on knowing more about how strong Cell's final form may be, Cell appeals to Vegeta's ego, stating that if he were in his Perfect body, he would be a much better challenge. Vegeta, wanting a stronger opponent, agrees to Cell's proposition. When Future Trunks refuses to allow it, Cell calls on Vegeta to remove him as an obstacle while he goes after the recently discovered Android 18. Cell charges the Android with Future Trunks (also in his 2nd Grade Super Saiyan form) in hot pursuit, until Vegeta kicks Future Trunks out of the way. Future Trunks retaliates by quickly blasting Vegeta, barely damaging him, but surprising him with the guts to attack his own father nonetheless, and going after Cell again, but Cell is ready and uses the Solar Flare to temporarily blind everyone long enough for him to absorb Android 18. Cell then puts up an impenetrable barrier while he evolves yet again, this time to Perfect Cell.
The version of Cell that plays a large role in Dragon Ball Z hails from an alternate future timeline where he has already evolved to his Imperfect form. Unfortunately for him, neither Future Android 17 nor Future Android 18 are present, having already been taken out by his version of Future Trunks. In order to complete his evolution, Cell kills Future Trunks and steals his Time Machine, going back in time to the date set by Future Trunks in the "standard" timeline when both Androids are still functional, sometime around four years prior to the Androids' arrival. In order to fit into the machine, Cell has to revert to an egg.
"I'm going to absorb you next!"
— Imperfect Cell to Piccolo in "I Am Your Brother! The Monster with Goku's Energy!"