Chapter 12

Last Stand

Gohan skidded across the ground until his body slamed into one of the many piles of rubble that lay across the lookout. The weary guardian struggled to climb back to his feet, his body ached from the damage it had endured. Gohan watched as Broly ominiously walked towards him.

Two large green ki blasts formed in Brolys hands and were hurled at the battered guardian. The blasts made a direct hit and covered Gohan in black smoke. As the smoke cleared Gohan remained, down on one knee and his bloody arms infront of his face. Broly howled and charged towards the guardian and kicked his head like a soccor ball.

The impact of the kick was so great that Gohans vision had left him for a moment as he rolled across the ground. " All right Gohan...You need to do something. This guy is going to beat you to death unless you stop him now…" the sun was beginning to set as the guardian prepared to make his final stand. Gohan once again managed the strength to climb to his feet. The Demi-saiyans unstable power had taken its toll on him as well as all the damage he had suffered. He pulled his hands to his side and began uttering the famous words of the turtle hermit. " Kaaaa!" Broly continued his walk towards the resilient warrior, knowing that Gohans end was in reach.

Broly's smug smile reappeared as he closed in on a weary Gohan. " MEeeee...HHAAaaaa!...MEEEEE!" Broly raised his bulky arm above his head and began charging a large green orb, his sadistic smile slowly began to creep back onto his face." HHHHHAAAAA!" Gohans attack exploded from his palms and barreled towards Broly with everything he had.

The saiyan of legend began to laugh as he watched his tormentors last resort make its way toward him " Pathetic!" Broly launched his now house sized orb straight for the kamehameha wave and continued to laugh as they clashed into one another.

Gohan could feel his muscles beginning to shake as he used all the power he had left to push against Broly's attack. " this isn't good..I guess we'll find out who will be the one to fall..."

Ever since 18's realization that Gohan was on his own she had shut herself off from everything. She didn't talk, she didn't eat, she showed absolutely no signs of emotion which confused Trunks even more. Even though Trunks didn't completely understand her he did know what it felt like to lose loved ones and he chose to give her her space.

Since their failed attempt at using the dragonballs Trunks had resumed his high intensity training in an effort to prepare himself for Broly " You may defeat my brother but you will not defeat me. Your end is coming Broly." Trunks released a furious scream and his power began to burst throughout his body. He could feel his muscles burning with the coldness of ice before collapsing back down to the ground and slowly slipping into unconsciousness.

18 intensely watched the clock that reflected real time and sighed. She could just feel that things were not going well and she was helpless to change it. The slight sound of boots tapping on the tiled floor caught her attention and she turned to see Trunks slowly stumbled toward the beauty and collapsed to the floor.

18 pulled the man up by his arm and placed him onto the bed. Her eyes traveled back across to the dragonballs causing rage and sadness to fill her mind.

Piccolo let out a slight gasp and pulled his hand from King Kai's shoulder " No!...Gohan.." The namekians face had said enough and sadness began sweep over the Z fighters faces. Krillin could feel tears begin to form in the corners of his eyes until he looked over at Goku.

Gokus expression was serious and his face like stone. Krillin new that as tough as Goku was he wouldn't be able to hide his emotion for his son " Goku what's happening?" Krillin said quietly. Goku looked down at his best friend, his expression remaining the same " Gohan is making his last stand with Broly and I don't think he has the energy left to beat him.."

Krillin could feel the overwhelming feeling of grief beginning to creep in as he thought about his adventures with gokus son. " but what about the dragonballs? I thought they were going to use them to help stop Broly?"

King Kai's voice began to explain the situation to everyone. " Gohans idea was brilliant but he failed to take into account that the hyperbolic time chamber, when in use is in a different dimension..because of this shenron was unable to be summoned...it looks like it is all up to Trunks and android 18 now..." The small blue Kai let out a long sigh and continued observing the battle.

18 walked over to sack full of dragonballs and picked them up. As the woman turned to check on Trunks as he slept a strange sight caught her eye. A very average wooden door had appeared where she had entered so long ago. The shocked woman stared at it for several moments before realizing what was going on. She turned to Trunks and shouted at him " TRUNKS! Get up, the door is back! We have to help Gohan!"

The Demi-saiyan jolted out of bed as 18 shouted at him. He was about to fly off the handle at her until he realized what she had said. The two warriors charged toward the door and flung it open. They couldn't believe what greeted them from the other side. The once beautiful landscape of the lookout had been turned to nothing more than a charred, rubble covered corpse of its former self. It had been a miracle that the portion of the palace that held the entrance of the chamber had manage to survive at all.

Gohans wave and Broly's orb continued to fight one another, Broly laughed, while Gohan battled against his own body's limits. Gohan could feel his muscles beginning to rip and tear as he pushed even more of his energy into his attack. The Kamehameha wave doubled in size and began forcing Broly's orb backwards.

The psychotic saiyans smile faded as he felt the pressure of Gohan's energy increase. With a low growl the devil launched another even larger orb into his attack which drove the Demi-saiyans effort back several feet. Gohans feet sank into the crumbled white tiles as he resisted the strength of Broly's attack. " Gohan!" 18 shouted as she and Trunks made their way around all the rubble.

Gohan looked at Trunks and then at the worried beauty that had called his name, a look of sadness filled his eyes as he stared at them " I'm sorry guys I did the best that I could." Before either of the guardians companions could speak, he was engulfed in a bright combination of blue and green, the explosion that followed made 18 and Trunks's hearts sink. As the smoke cleared a whole section of the lookout had been destroyed.

18 was frozen, not wanting to believe what she had just witnessed until Trunks's voice called her back to reality. The Demi-saiyans anger was overflowing as he realized he had witnessed his brother die before his very eyes. " this...this is not OVER!" Electricity surrounded the enraged warrior and tears streamed across his cheeks. He turned to 18 with rage in his eyes " get down there and see if you can find him..I will take care of this myself."

18 did as Trunks commanded and shot off from the lookout. Trunks turned his attention back towards Broly, the sight of the sadistic saiyan just boiled Trunks's blood " You will pay for what you have done to this planet and my BROTHER!" With one final scream Trunks allowed his saiyan instinct to take over. His body began to swell but quickly shrank back to a much leaner and stronger version of his super saiyan form. The coolness that accompanied this new power was both painful and incredible.

A Vegeta like smirk spread across his face as he realized that he had finally achieved the same power as Gohan. Broly launched himself toward Trunks and missed a wild haymaker. Trunks slammed a powerful knee to Brolys face that sent him rolling across the ground. Trunks was in awe of his power but not consumed by it " This power is incredible but it's not the same as the young Gohans from the past. This must be why Gohan was afraid to use this form...it's not fully ascended which drains your ki much faster. " Trunks returned his gaze back to Broly " I guess I'll just have to make this quick"