SailorStar9: This Chapter 13 of the Cell Games Saga. Read and review.

Disclaimers: Only the plot is mine.

Chapter Summary: Android 16 watched as Gohan was slowly being defeated. Cell suddenly put the "squeeze" on Gohan. Gohan struggled but could not get out. He was going to be destroyed. He didn't want to kill anyone, even Cell, so he wouldn't power up. Cell let go of Gohan. At that moment, Android 16 came up behind Cell and gave him a taste of his own medicine. Now it was Cell that was being squeezed. Android 16 said he was going to detonate the explosive that was inside him. It was strong enough to destroy Cell, and everything around him. He tried to detonate the bomb, but nothing happened. Krillin said that Bulma and Dr. Briefs had taken it out, upon Ami's request. When he was done, Cell destroyed 16. Gohan was angry, but his power was still not showing itself. Then, before he began to fight, Cell counted the Z Warriors and made that many mini duplicates of himself, that were just as strong. Gohan and Cell began to fight.

Chapter 13: Android Explosion

Gohan, get angry. Goku encouraged. Get angry. By doing so, you'll be able to draw out your true power.

"Son Gohan, you will show me your so-called hidden power." Cell declared and fired a 'Death Beam', forcing Gohan to dodge the attack, causing it to hit a rock.

"That's the technique that Frieza used." Krillin recognized the attack as Gohan dodged another assault.

"Gohan, don't let him get you." Yamcha urged as Gohan dodged another 'Death Beam' barrage.

Gohan flew back to put some distance between them, when Cell took off after him, catching up easily, catching the boy in a tight hold. Laughing, he tightened his grip on the young fighter. "Well, what's the matter?" he taunted. "This hurts, right? Get angry! You don't want to die like this, do you?

"Dammit!" Piccolo cursed. "Gohan!"

"Well, what's wrong?" Cell sneered at the writhing boy. "Why do you hesitate? Your bones are going to break. You couldn't dislike fighting so much that you would rather endure this."

"Dammit, I can't take this anymore!" Piccolo barked. "Goku, I don't care what you say, I'm going to help Gohan."

"Wait, Piccolo." Goku snapped. "Frankly, he ain't the sort of opponent you can handle. Just a little longer… wait just a little bit longer."

"Wait, you say?" Piccolo demanded. "What do you mean? Are you saying that I should wait while he gets killed like this?"

"Wait for Gohan to get angry." Goku supplied. "He will most likely release his true power through his anger, and show us some terrifying strength all at once. There's only one way to defeat Cell. We have to rely on Gohan and his power."

What? Vegeta gaped. That kid has that kind of power?

"Get angry." Cell instructed. "This isn't enough? It musts hurt, right? Your anger has to be welling up."

"Goku, you're mistaken." Piccolo scolded. "Gohan doesn't like fighting the way you do. Does Gohan know your strategy? Did you make sure to discuss it with him? Do you know what Gohan is thinking right now? It's not about anger. 'Why won't Father help me, when I'm suffering like this?' 'Is having a fair, manly fight more important than my life?' and so on. Don't forget. Even supposing his powers have made him number one, he is still a child. I don't care if he does let me have it. I'm going in."

"Krillin, let me have a Senzu." Goku instructed after realizing what Piccolo said was true.

"Okay." Krillin nodded.

"You're a stubborn one." Cell dropped the panting boy. "It would appear that your own pain alone will not bring your anger to a boil. Okay then, how about we take it up with your friends?"

"Stop!" Gohan hollered as Cell took off towards the group. The Android dodged Piccolo's punch and landed in front of Krillin, swiping the bag of Senzu Beans from the fighter. "There are Senzu in here, right?" he dangled the porch. "They must be cumbersome, so I'll take them."

"Oh no!" Goku gasped.

"Damn!" Piccolo cursed, again.

"It's not even worth my trouble to take on the likes of them." Cell returned to the battlefield.

"What are you planning to do?" Gohan demanded.

"Whatever I want to!" Cell declared. "If that's what it takes to make you angry enough to exhibit your so-called true power. You have a peculiar way of enduring pain, so now your friends are going to get hurt."

"Don't do it, please!" Gohan pleaded. "I can't control it under my own power, that's why…"

"That's why I'm going to hurt your friends in order to draw your power out." Cell chuckled.

"Watch out, he's about to do something." Piccolo warned.

"Damn!" Goku hissed. "I should have taken a Senzu before."

"Damn you!" Gohan charged, only to have Cell kick him back.

"If you're going to get angry, get full-on angry!" Cell ordered and turned to see Android 16 grab him from behind. "No. 16!"

"No. 16!" Goku gasped.

"He's a robot, so he doesn't have any presence to detect." Piccolo surmised.

"No. 16 intends to defeat Cell." Krillin realized.

"No matter how strong he is, he can't do it alone." Trunks argued.

"Let's get in there too." Piccolo barked.

"Wait." Android 16 voiced. "Stay back. I'm going to blow myself up together with Cell."

"You're going to what?" Goku echoed, pretty much voicing everyone's thoughts.

"I've got a powerful self-destruct device equipped within my body." Android 16 supplied. "It is my final hidden power. Forgive me for forcing the rest of you to be caught up with this and become casualties. Cell, no matter how powerful you might be, at this close range, you'll be blown to bits. This is where it ends, Cell. Both you and I are going to be blown to smithereens. This is where the schemes of Dr. Gero who created up Androids, and planned to conquer the world, all fall apart."

"No. 16!" Yamcha gasped.

"Here goes!" Android 16 declared and pulled the detonator.

"What's the matter?" Yamcha blinked when the explosion never happened.

"Why?" Android 16 wondered in shock. "Why don't I explode?"

"No. 16!" Krillin voiced. "You can't self-destruct. I heard it from Bulma. The doc removed the bomb that was concealed within your body. It was the Princess who requested it. No. 16! You can't self-destruct!"

"Too bad about that, huh, No. 16?" Cell laughed. "Although, I doubt I would have died from your bomb anyhow." Forcing himself free, he destroyed the Android with a Ki blast through the body. "No. 16, it would appear that you were one of Dr. Gero's failed models after all. Well then, is there no one who will come after me next?" he barked at the Z Senshi group.

"Dirty rotten scumbag!" Vegeta hissed.

"Son Gohan, apparently you still haven't come around, huh?" Cell snorted. "But you watch, I will make you angry, no matter what. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven." He counted the Z Senshi. "Seven altogether, huh? Alright." And expanded his tail tip.

"What is he planning to do this time?" Vegeta wondered as Cell spat out seven blue-skinned Cell Juniors.

"What are they?" Piccolo gaped at the chuckling mini Cell versions.

"Now then, my Cell Juniors." Cell told his replicas. "Your opponents are those seven who are standing on that rock over there. Do them harm. If you like, you can kill them. I don't mind. Go!"

At their creator's command, the seven Cell Juniors charged at their opponents.

"Watch yourselves!" Goku warned. "Those guys are terrifying strong!"

"Those runts?" Vegeta snorted and powered up as Trunks followed suit.

"It's useless." Cell chuckled. "There's absolutely no way you will beat them. They may be small, but they are still my children."

Omake

Peer Pressure

"Face it, Sakura," said Naruto, crossing his arms and glowering down at her. "Look at the most powerful ninja in our lives: orphans, the lot of them."

And thinking about it, Sakura got the sinking feeling that it was true: all the other members of Team 7 (Naruto, Sasuke, Kakashi), all the genin of Team Gai (Neji, Ten-Ten, Rock Lee), all three of the Sannin (Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Tsunade), Gaara & his siblings (Temari and Kankuro), Itachi, Anko, Yondaime, Shizune, Sai, Yamato, not to mention Iruka and Konohamaru …

"You want to stop dragging us down?" jeered her beloved Sasuke-kun, Sharingan glinting as he handed her a kunai. "You know what has to be done."

Sakura had once said that Naruto was lucky, not having parents to constantly nag at him.

It looked like she was about to find out for herself.

SailorStar9: Itachi, Nagato, Konan, the other jinchuuriki... When you stop to think about it, Naruto! has more orphans than a Disney movie. In some AU, the Akatsuki may simply be the basis for the 'Village of Ninja Strong Enough to Have Families and Live 'til Retirement.' Stay tuned for Chapter 14: Cell Juniors Attack.