…
The crowd gasped at the sudden sight of a green, lizard-like monster—a creature with a sharp, beaked face covered in black spots. Its grotesque features bordered on the surreal, as if nature itself had twisted.
This bizarre monster was none other than the ultimate Android from the future, who had traveled back in a time machine: Cell. His goal? Absorb Android 17 and Android 18 to achieve a perfect form. He'd been lurking nearby, waiting for the perfect opportunity.
Kahn's brutal attack on Android 17 and Android 18 had all but handed them to Cell on a silver platter. If it weren't for Kahn severely injuring them, Cell would have had to work much harder to absorb them.
Before anyone could react, Cell darted up to Android 18, the fang-like maw of his tail splitting open to latch onto her head.
In that instant, Android 18's already pale complexion turned ghostly white. Even the mere thought of being devoured by such a horrific creature made her scalp prickle. She'd rather die than let herself be absorbed by this hideous beast.
Badly wounded, Android 18 tried to dodge, but she couldn't move.
"Help me!"
She cried out instinctively, not even sure if anyone would or could save her. But she didn't want to become Cell's meal.
Cell let out a cold laugh. "No one can save you now," he sneered. "Become my nourishment."
The tail's point drew closer—until a sudden stomp pinned it to the ground.
A tall, imposing figure stepped into Android 18's line of sight: Kahn.
"You've got some nerve," Kahn said, voice calm yet lethal. "Hiding in the shadows, waiting for a chance to pounce? Did you really think I wouldn't notice?"
Hearing that, Cell's snake-like eyes glared murderously at Kahn. He'd been only a hair's breadth from absorbing Android 18; now Kahn had ruined everything. Absorbing Android 18 would have let him evolve to his next form, yet Kahn had smashed that plan with a single step.
"What are you looking at?" Kahn snapped. "Scram."
Whoosh!
He flicked his finger, sending first-order Cell soaring backward. Cell's tail, crushed under Kahn's foot, tore off and flopped on the ground, still twitching grotesquely.
"Disgusting," Kahn muttered, spitting in disgust. He then tossed a small ki blast, blasting the piece of severed tail into oblivion.
On the ground, Android 18 watched, dazed. She couldn't believe this was the same man who'd nearly beaten her to death. Why would Kahn suddenly save her from Cell?
As if reading her thoughts, Kahn cast her a sidelong glance. "What's wrong? Do I look like some kind of God to you?"
Android 18 found herself speechless, her mind spinning. In that moment, he did seem like a god—certainly the only one capable of rescuing her from Cell's jaws.
"Anyway," Kahn said, voice softening just a fraction, "don't look at me like that. It's embarrassing. Even if you nearly killed my nephew, I'm not heartless enough to let an ugly freak like that monster have his way."
Despite herself, Android 18 let out a short laugh, something she'd never have expected just moments earlier. This man who'd glared at her with lethal intent now seemed… oddly charming? The whole thing left her even more confused about who he truly was.
"Hmph, don't expect me to thank you," she huffed, maintaining what pride she could. Deep down, she couldn't decipher Kahn's motives. If he wanted to help her, why beat her so badly first?
"Suit yourself," Kahn said with a faint shrug. "I'm no saint; I just don't like letting scum like Cell slip away with an easy prize."
Whether he saved her out of principle or because he disliked Cell's existence didn't matter. The fact remained: Kahn had rescued Android 18 when no one else could.
Meanwhile, first-order Cell lurched back to his feet, his tail already regenerating. Though the new section looked a bit raw, he could still fight if it came to that. A burning hatred flashed in his eyes.
"You worm," he snarled. "How did you even detect me? I never made a sound or revealed my energy!"
Kahn snorted. "Please. You reek. Even if you hid a hundred miles away, I'd still smell your stench."
That remark caused Cell's eyes to bulge with anger. Dr. Gero had poured a lifetime of research into him—he was supposed to be the ultimate lifeform. Having Kahn tell him that he 'reeked' was a blatant insult, piling on top of the already-ruined plan to absorb Android 18.
"Die!"
With a hiss, Cell fired two crimson beams from his eyes, aimed squarely at Kahn's chest.
Kahn didn't even bother to dodge. The energy struck him dead-on with a resonating clang, dissolving harmlessly.
"Is that it? You'd have an easier time tickling me," Kahn said, brushing away a few specks of dust from his gi. Cell felt a wave of humiliation at having his attack brushed off like nothing.
"Don't underestimate me! I am the ultimate Android, Cell!" he roared, thrusting two fingers to his forehead. A swirl of dark yellow energy began to form.
"Wait… that stance…"
Krillin's eyes widened. "That's Piccolo's Special Beam Cannon!"
"How the hell did he learn my move?!" Piccolo demanded, stunned.
Kahn, of course, knew the answer: Dr. Gero's minuscule spy robots had gathered the DNA of Earth's strongest fighters—Saiyans, Namekians, humans. All that data allowed Cell to use moves like the Special Beam Cannon, Kamehameha, and more.
"Take this!" Cell shouted. "Special Beam Cannon!"
The deadly spiral of energy hurtled through the sky toward Kahn. Sure that Kahn would dodge, Cell preemptively sneered. But Kahn simply stood firm, letting the technique collide.
BOOM!
Dust and debris flew in all directions, but when the smoke cleared, Kahn remained, not a hair out of place.
"No… impossible," Cell muttered, horror creeping into his voice. He backed away, trembling. "This attack is supposed to pierce anything!"
Kahn's expression barely shifted as he folded his arms. Before he could speak, Vegeta stepped forward, smirking. "You must be an idiot. An attack like that can't even harm me. So how do you expect it to harm Kahn? You're a complete fool.
Utter dread spread across Cell's features. "This timeline," he rasped, "it's… it's nothing like mine. In my future, no one like him existed…"
In the future timeline he came from, he was considered invincible in his world but Android 17 and Android 18 died so he couldn't absorb them and become the perfect life form. He needed to absorb them both so he can become complete.
Everything he'd planned—absorbing Android 17 and Android 18 to become perfect—suddenly felt like an impossible dream. The reality of Kahn's power was a nightmare he hadn't foreseen, and it was only growing clearer that he was in way over his head.
"Any last words?"
Kahn's dark eyes glinted with sudden, murderous intent. Not once had he displayed such chilling hostility—not even when he was beating down Android 17 and Android 18 moments ago. But toward Cell, Kahn's desire to kill was all too real.
He despised Cell for being a monstrous threat. While Android 17 and Android 18 were following Dr. Gero's orders, Kahn could guess they'd stop chasing Goku after today. Cell, on the other hand, was a far worse predator.
Hearing Kahn's words, first-order Cell felt a surge of fear and fled without hesitation. His instincts screamed that if he stayed, he'd die for sure. He still needed to absorb Android 17 and Android 18 to reach his perfect form—dying here wasn't an option.
"So that's your final statement," Kahn said coldly. "Okay fine. Off you go."
Kahn raised one hand, calmly taking aim at the rapidly retreating Cell, who zoomed toward the sky at top speed. "Since you're a visitor from a future timeline, I'll give you a proper welcome."
Hum!
A mass of swirling, purple-black energy formed in Kahn's palm, radiating waves of destructive power. It rotated so fast it became a circular disk.
"What terrifying power!"
In an instant, Vegeta and the other Z Fighters were awestruck. Even the faint energy signature emanating from that purple-black sphere felt drenched in a deadly aura.
Vegeta couldn't begin to imagine how devastating it would be if this attack landed.
After two seconds of condensing the energy, Kahn calmly uttered the name of his technique:
"Space… Annihilation… Cannon."
Boom!
A dark red lightning arc crackled across the purple-black Ki Blast as it erupted from his palm. Wherever it passed, space itself seemed to tear, inch by inch.
In the blink of an eye—right before everyone's stunned gaze—the Space Annihilation Cannon engulfed the fleeing first-order Cell. The blast then continued past Earth's atmosphere, vanishing into the depths of space. There was no flashy explosion; only a black spatial fissure remained, expanding from Kahn's hand all the way into the sky, as if the heavens themselves had been cleaved apart.
The sight alone made everyone's skin crawl. One thing was sure: anyone caught in that attack would fare no better than Cell just did. The first-order Cell's energy signature disappeared completely.
At length, the fissure slowly mended itself, like a wound in the sky stitching shut.
Kahn lowered his hand, a contemplative glint in his eye.
"Not bad," he said, as if the monstrous display of power were nothing special.
He had invented this technique during five years of intense training on Beerus's planet. It was inspired by the principle of pure destruction, a power so absolute that even space would shatter under its force. That was why he named it the Space Annihilation Cannon.
"By the way," he added casually, "I only used about a billionth of its full power. If I really let loose, it'd blow the entire Seventh Universe apart in a heartbeat."
The Z Fighters all got a healthy dose of goosebumps.
You call that 'not bad'?! Their expressions seemed to say. Exactly what sort of destructive force would make you satisfied?!
Vegeta, in particular, finally accepted the gulf between himself and Kahn. He might never catch up to that level of power. Resigned, he thought, Well, if I can't surpass Kahn, at least I'll try to beat his brother, Kakarot. Coming in second on Earth wouldn't be so bad… unless Goku's stronger than me, too. The Prince of Saiyans just couldn't stomach that thought.
With Cell gone, Kahn briefly glanced at Android 18 before turning to leave with Gohan and the others. There was no need for extra words. He'd done what he came to do.
After Kahn, Vegeta, and the rest departed, Android 18 managed to stand on shaky legs. She stared after Kahn's retreating figure.
"Who asked you to save me, you self-righteous jerk!" she shouted, voice echoing across the empty battlefield.
But as she lowered her gaze, her tone softened, and a hidden warmth sparkled in her eyes. She couldn't erase the memory of Kahn swooping in like a divine savior at the last second.
One minute, he was trying to kill her; the next, he was saving her from Cell. It was all too baffling, but no matter his motives, he'd left a lasting impression.
"…Anyway," Android 18 muttered, biting her lip, "I still won't thank you."
She quickly refocused on helping the unconscious Android 17.
"Android 16, let's go."
Their priority was finding medical help for 17—her only family in this world. If he died, so might her will to live.
Meanwhile, Piccolo, Krillin, Yamcha, Tien Shinhan, and Chiaotzu went their separate ways to recuperate. Kahn, ensuring Gohan and Goku made it safely home, flew with them to Mount Paozu.
Once there, he gave Goku the heart medicine. Goku's pained expression eased slightly.
Relieved, Kahn told Chi-Chi, "Take good care of him. I'll search for a permanent cure for his heart disease later."
Chi-Chi nodded anxiously, and Kahn left without further delay. Five years had passed since he'd last seen Vados, his wife. After all this time, he felt he'd failed in his duty as a husband. Now that everything on Earth was momentarily stable, he planned to suspend his training to focus on family—and perhaps even start a real family, if fate allowed.
…
Seated on the living room sofa, Vados quietly clasped and unclasped her hands, occasionally glancing at the simple gold band on her left ring finger—her wedding ring. Each time she looked at it, she pictured Kahn's face.
"Honey, it's been five years," she murmured. "I've missed you every single day. I wonder if you've changed."
A faint smile curved her lips, imagining his return. Yet her heart fluttered anxiously. They were newlyweds, yet they'd been forced apart for half a decade. Even an Angel like Vados could feel nervous about reuniting with her husband.
Marriage had softened her. She barely resembled the aloof, otherworldly Angel who once traveled the cosmos with Champa. Now, she was simply a wife, waiting at home for the man she loved.
Knock-knock.
The gentle tapping at the door made her heart pound like crazy. She knew it had to be Kahn.
For a moment, she tried to steady herself. Then she shot up, hurrying to the door.
Creak…
Just as Vados reached for the knob, the door swung inward from the outside. In that instant, the last barrier between her and Kahn fell away.
Their eyes met, and tears welled in Vados's own. Five years… She drank in the sight of him, noting he was more mature, more manly than before.
Kahn's gaze also roamed over Vados, taking in every familiar detail of her beauty. His lips curled into a warm smile. "I'm back, honey," he said softly, voice thick with emotion. "I'm sorry I kept you waiting so long. Let me make it up to you."
Before Vados could respond, Kahn gently pulled her into his arms. And just like that, the five-year gap vanished in an instant.
…
(Should I make a snu snu of their reunion? What did you think of the previous one?)