[10] Watchtower

[Bra]

Waking up was a challenge in it?s own right. Suspended in the realm between slumber and consciousness, Bra lacked the motivation to push herself over the edge and actually get up. She opened wide, a silent yawn conveying her exhaustion from all that had happened thus far. Her nightmare had faded away, but it, too, took it?s toll on the little girl. But despite all the fighting, running, and traveling she had done, what sleep she had gotten, terrible or no, had Bra feeling somewhat refreshed.

?I suppose I have some explaining to do.? came a soft, harmonious voice from out of nowhere. The intrusion of speech startled the half-asleep princess, who snapped just off the floor, before resting her head back on the tiles.

?I?ll say.? the voice was unmistakably Raditzu?s. Bra opened her eyes, tilting her head to see the long haired saiyan who had already made it to his feet. He spoke with the angel, who the watchman called Gabriel. The moniker unearthed memories of her time spent with the general of the same name once again, but she shook them off, trying to focus on the here and now through the thick haze of sleep which befuddled her thoughts. The halfling forced her way to her feet and groggily shuffled toward her father, who had taken a seat in a painfully spartan wooden chair.

?The Watchman, you could say, is a god.? the seraph replied, pausing to chuckle at the looks of confusion and skepticism that shone from the others around him. The cyan haired youth made no reaction; she was still trying to wake up, and could hardly process the information as it was given, let alone react to it, ?He?s not a Kai; he holds no real power or authority. He, however, is a being beyond human, saiyan, android, or anybody here. He is all-powerful. He is the only one of his race, and will always be.?

?No way...? Bra murmured to nobody but herself. She realized that she must have been one of the last ones to wake up, and could only spot Zarbon?s body on the floor, while the others had either taken to their feet, or to chairs scattered in the tower. Vegeta took his child, seating her on his lap, and allowed her to rest her weary head against his chest as the prince entered the conversation.

?I don?t see what this has to do with the matter at hand.? he stated, though Bra hardly heard it. She was distracted by a curious notion; although her father had never shown this kind of affection for her before, it seemed... somehow familiar.

?The Watchman was the one that sent you into your dream states. All of you faced your biggest fears.? the angel paused to let his words sink in, ?As you can see, some faced them better than others.? he glanced from Cell, who had taken on yet another outlandish appearance, to Zarbon, who remained unmoving. A cold chill ran down Bra?s spine. Zarbon was dead. But... how? Gabriel continued, derailing this new tangent, ?I was the one that scared Kao away.?

?What was the plan he was talking about?? it was the Hell Fighter look-alike. Either he was a twin, or perhaps an impostor of some kind.

?Friend or Foe is ruined. The project is done. Brim is gone.? Gabriel said, with a far colder tone than his almost melodious voice seemed to be capable of. The young Bra gasped in surprise. Brim was dead? Without so much as a victory fanfare? The man who plagued her very dreams was dead, without so much as a second thought? ?However, more pressing matters than Kao are at hand. Satan?s minions roam the asteroid. They fear to come here, knowing they will lose.?

?So why don?t we just find them, and end it?? the cyan haired princess inquired. The question was meant to have only been asked to her father, but she realized from the attentive gazes that everyone must have been within earshot.

?I don?t want to put the angels at any unnecessary risk. You must find them.? he stopped for a moment, ?You can split up if you wish, or all go in a group. Regardless, Kao is the least of our worries, I assure you. Find the demons.?

Gabriel turned and walked out without another word. He passed by the two elemental sisters and Doctor Flagg on his way, neglecting to acknowledge any of them. He was noticeably preoccupied, and so nobody chose to address him for the rude display.

?I will explain my story when you return.? the undead scientist spoke, ?I think there are more pressing matters at hand now.?

Bra was fantastically dumbstruck. She had absolutely no way to respond to the wealth of information handed over to them in the minute Gabriel had spent explaining things to them. The most frightening aspect was that the half-blood almost wished that Brim hadn?t yet died. She had been coping with the tournament almost purely thanks to the idea of extracting her revenge upon the man, and feared how she might continue in the new, much more dire campaign without that kind of insatiable drive. But then, huddled in her father?s arms, she felt invulnerable. No, they would fight. They had to, it was in their blood. Genetics dictated as such, and she couldn?t escape it if she wanted to. Bra would fight for her father, and hoped that he would do the same for her.

?I?m heading to the hospital. It?s the place I?m most familiar with, and there?s something I missed on my last visit that I want to investigate further.? the person who spoke was unfamiliar, but the coloration of his skin and the bizarre mesh of ki signatures that spilled from him were unmistakable trademarks of the genetically-engineered Cell. His body wasn?t the only thing that had changed; his voice had grown deeper, more masculine, having lost the odd, unhuman tone still present in his last state. This altered Cell appeared much more human-like. He retained the wild oddities that made him unique, but lacked the monstrous qualities he formerly possessed, ?Of course, anyone is welcome to join me...?

?Cell?? Bra hazarded. She knew it was him, but something told her that she needed to hear it from him. The android turned to her with a wide smirk of satisfaction.

?Yes.? he replied, not with a question, but a statement.

?...Can I come?? the question was honest. Innocent. Not at all like the attitude the princess tried to convey. It was becoming more and more difficult to hide her thoughts and feelings. Why did she want to anyway?

?It makes no difference to me.? an expected reply. Bra smiled softly, wrapping her arms tightly around her father for a moment.

?Daddy,? the word simply slipped out. The child cursed herself for not catching it in time, ?You can come too, you know?? she stopped suddenly, ?But, I mean... If you have other things you need to do... that?s cool too...?

The cyan haired hybrid stood up, leaving Vegeta alone on the chair as she padded over to the transfigured creature who had moved to the doors, awaiting any others who would take him up on his offer.

?Nonsense.? the executive replied, driving a knife through Cell?s temple and out the other side. A sickening spasm racked the black speckled warrior?s body just before the chains suspending him were released, allowing the dead creature to hit the ground with a dull smack. Blood oozed from his head while his lifeless eyes stared straight ahead, right at Bra. The haunting eyes seemed to beg for help, and yet Bra was able to do little more than bang on the windows in desperation.

The snippet recalled from her dream caused the princess to snap her head back in surprise, as though she were dodging a punch. But the Cell wasn?t dead! No, he stood here, somehow changed by the events of his own dream, obviously alive.

?How does it feel, Bra? To be so completely helpless, hm? A bit empty, I suppose. That?s okay, these next two fools should hit closer to home, I?d imagine.? Brim smiled widely, removing another plastic bag while Raditzu pulled off the last one. Two more spotlights shone on, illuminating both Kami and Trunks.

The princess shivered, shaking the recollection from her mind. Scrambling for a focus to escape her memories, she looked over the genetic amalgamation before her, and how staggeringly different he appeared from his original, insect-like form. The girl began to wonder if he had any forms before that vicious insect-like creature he once was.

?Hey, Cell?? Bra started, ?My dad might be coming with us. Don?t worry, he?ll catch up if he wants to... but he might be busy, so... I dunno...? the half-blood trailed off before changing the subject, ?So... uh... what?s the deal with the transformations? Do they make you stronger? What made them happen??

?Enough with the questions!? Cell retorted.

?Well?? she pressed. Bra was nothing if not persistent, much to the dismay of her taller companion. The creature sighed, weighing the merits of answering her questions against simply ignoring the girl, who waited for a response.