Gero eyed Eighty-three as the dust from his impact settled around him. As far as he could tell, he hadn't been damaged by the strike physically, but emotionally, he was on the edge of beginning a tirade of scornful insults aimed toward his disobedient creation. Still, he remained silent. If only because his body hadn't yet recovered from its surprising attack.
"Nothing to say?" Eighty-three asked, turning to watch Gero claw at the dirt, trying to pick himself off the ground. "I would have figured an attack from me, one of your own androids would have sent you screaming and ranting by now! Or maybe you're still too stunned to say anything yet."
Gero grumbled as he pushed himself up and dusted the earth from his trousers. He held his tongue as the android's obvious goading sunk in. As infuriating as it was, Eighty-three had completely hit the mark; if not for the shock of that attack, he would have already started hurling insults, and he recognized that.
Gero then slowly brought his hands behind his back as he addressed the android. "Oh I have much to say to you, but the foremost being a warning: There is exactly forty grams of synthetic explosive planted subdermally at various points around your body. Ordinarily, an explosion like that would be a mere gust of wind to you, but these are planted at various synthetic glands essential to maintain your basic bodily functions. I could go into the specifics, however, I think it would be pointless." He said coldly. "I know you are aware of what I am telling you so, I will ask you only once more: Shut down Eighty-three, immediately, or face destruction."
The android looked grimly at Gero, his face just barely containing his rage. Somehow, he gave off the impression that he was suffering a great betrayal, despite his attack against Gero only moments earlier.
"So, you'd rather blow me up than let me do the one thing you taught me to do? After all the hours of simulations and training you put me through, you're telling me that it was all for nothing?!"
"I am telling you to shut down now! Or you will force my hand!" Gero yelled authoritatively.
"Then it's good you were too stupid to look at what you showed me from his fight with Raditz!" Eighty-three said. "Maybe then you would have known that he, and everybody else, removed their bombs. Maybe then you could have stopped me from removing mine!"
Gero brought his arms out and folded them, his newfound patience running thin as the android became more defiant. "What a stupid bluff. You think I haven't instituted measures to prevent you, or any android for that matter, from removing your explosives?"
"You may have programmed that into me, but not the machines you used to build me! Th-"
Gero swung his arm down, cutting through the air with force. "All right, that's enough! Do not think that because I have spent more time on you than all of the other of the androids, I will not destroy you right here, right now! Considering the events of today I have been more than patient with you so you will shut down now or I will issue your self-destruct command!"
"Do it. " Eighty-three urged. "Nothing will happen."
Gohan sensed a spike in the android's energy as Gero prepared to issue the command. He knew this was just the tip of the iceberg when it came to his robotic counterpart's power, but what he was sensing was already at Cell's initial power level, and rising. Clearly, he was preparing some sort of move, so Gohan set his satchel against the tree behind him and diligently watched Eighty-three. He decided against doing anything more because, as far as he could tell, Gero still had things under control. The last thing either of them needed was for him to make a rash decision or a quick movement and risk interrupting him.
The old scientist lowered his eyes to the ground. It was regrettable that after all the time he spent perfecting what was absolutely his crowning achievement, he'd have to destroy him in such a pointless fashion. "System number Eighty-three, override: System Commander. Execute: Self Destruct Protocol."
There was an intense silence that followed his issuance of the command.
He anxiously waited for the explosives to ignite and for his work to be destroyed, but as the seconds passed, it became clear that the android's bluff was no bluff at all.
Without warning, Eighty-three charged him and ferociously swung his leg out to kick Gero, who was paralyzed by his utter disbelief. It was only when the android's boot was just inches away from Gero's head, that Gohan moved in front of him and blocked his shin, pushing Eighty-three a few dozen feet away.
Snapping out of it, Gero looked towards Gohan, who was rubbing the arm he used to block the attack. He quickly glanced back at Eighty-three to keep the focus off of Gohan's potential wound. He was waiting for them. Like any battle-hungry Saiyan would.
He kept his tone low and kept his eyes on the android. "A-are you damaged?" he asked.
"No, I'm fine, but I shouldn't have been able to do that. He lowered his power level at the last second and let me block it."
"Yes he did, didn't he?" Gero said, clearing his throat. "It's not surprising really...he's got the same Saiyan blood as you do, which is why he's waiting for us. He wants us to be ready, so I suggest you go Super Saiyan immediately. You will bear the brunt of the damage for the first portion of this engagement."
Gohan turned to Gero, above the old man's brow there were a few droplets of nervous sweat. "You mean you have a plan? You think we can beat him?"
"Right now, no. But, given enough time...possibly."
"What do you mean?" Gohan asked, turning to Gero.
"There are a few downsides to being partially biological, one being his limited energy supply. Like a classical war of attrition, if we can get him to exert enough energy, and if I can absorb enough of it, I will gradually become stronger than he is."
"How long do you think that will take?"
"There is a chance it may take no time at all." Gero planted his feet, readying his fists in a boxer-like style. "Like you he is intelligent, but he is far less stable. I built him that way so that if he became angry in the field, he could use that anger to push himself to the next level. Obviously, that anger is exploitable and the sooner we get him angry, the sooner I can absorb his energy."
Gohan nodded to himself. The plan was a long shot but it was a better chance at winning than anything he could come up with, as long as they could keep him away from the tournament.
Pointing his left shoulder to the android, Gohan lowered into his fighting stance. "We need to get him away from Papaya Island, we can't let anyone get hurt once he loses control."
"That is irrelevant." Gero replied. "The dragon balls can bring back anyone killed by our engagement. And I suggest you keep your mind on the here and now where it matters. The sooner you can get him to expel some energy, the better our odds will be."
"It's important!" Gohan protested. "We can't let anyone get hurt because people die at the tournament today. During piccolo's match with my dad, he'll blow up the stadium and even though most people will escape once they realize who he is, some will stay to watch the fight. They'll be caught in the blast and with us being too busy to save them, they'll need to be revived with the dragon balls."
Gero sighed, but before he could comment, Eighty-three interjected. "He's wrong about you, Gero! Everything he's told you is supposed to confuse you! He's trying to make you forget what they did!" he said, pacing along the edge of the treeline. "And if I have to kill him to prove that, I will!"
Gero matched his gaze as he tightened his stance. He noticed Gohan hadn't gone Super Saiyan yet, it was unnerving, to say the least.
"I'm tired of waiting." The android said. Let's go!"
With incredible speed, Eighty-three tore through the air, the shockwave of his movement ripping up the ground behind him. Quickly, Gohan put himself in front of Gero once again.
The android collided with him, and Gohan blocked its powerful arm as it was swung towards his neck, allowing Gero to dash back and lift himself into the air. As the two struggled, Gohan looked into the android's eyes and saw his own. They were filled with anger, and if he didn't know any better, a desire to prove himself.
"You're weak!" He said as he pushed Gohan back, leaving deep trails in the earth as his feet dug into the ground.
"And you're scared." Gohan replied, gritting his teeth as he fought to stand his ground.
"Scared?" The android laughed. "Scared of what? Of you?" His condescending smile faded. "You're nothing compared to me!"
Gohan, still eye to eye with Eighty-three replied, "You're scared because you know you're just a machine to him."
Suddenly, Gero dropped from the air and landed behind the android, taking advantage of the fact that his hands were preoccupied with keeping Gohan at bay. Grabbing onto his neck, the old scientist began absorbing as much energy as fast as he could.
While obviously using very little effort, Eighty-three threw his head back against Gero's nose and freed an arm to swing at him, but as he raised it, Gohan began pulling out massive amounts of energy. Snatching back the android's wrist, Gohan knew he had successfully put the attention solely on himself as Eighty-three scowled at him.
Powering up, Gohan roared as his hair began to glow and his eyes turned turquoise. With an incredible yellow aura surrounding him, he entered the level beyond Super Saiyan and tightened his grip on Eighty-three's wrist immensely.
"That's all you'll ever be to him!" He said, forcing the android's arms down before headbutting him, releasing his arms, and unleashing punch after punch towards his jaw and chest. Like iron colliding with steel, his fists whaled against Eighty-three's incredibly strong mid-section and sturdy face.
Feeling a painful sting as each of Gohan's punches connected, Eighty-three grew more and more enraged as the punches and his words sunk in. The odds then shifted in his favor when Gero released his neck. He assumed the old man was trying to get a hold of his hands, but he wasn't about to wait to find out. Freeing himself from Gohan's attacks, Eighty-three uppercut him into the air and kicked Gero back against the ground.
Pursuing Gohan, Eighty-three then leaped into the air and grabbed him by his gi. Instantly, Gohan gripped the android's wrists in an attempt to wrangle them off.
"I am not just a machine!" Eighty-three screamed, launching Gohan into the ground.
An explosion of rock and earth erupted from Gohan's collision and, in his fury, Eighty-three flew above the island and held his hands behind him, focusing a catastrophic amount of energy into his palms.
Gero's eyes widened as he lifted his head and realized the incredible opportunity this represented. All he needed to do now was intervene at the correct time.
"KAME!"
He laid on the floor, staying as still as possible to deter any possibility of Eighty-three seeing him and realizing, this kamehameha may just be more fuel for the fire in the fight against him.
"HAME!"
Just a moment longer. Gero thought, as the intense glow from the android's attack overpowered the sunlight and colored the surrounding environment in a fair blue.
"HA!"
Using the single second it took for Eighty-three to throw his hands forward, Gero leaped up from his back and darted to Gohan's ditch. He knew the boy was in there, but he didn't have time to see what condition he was in before having to absorb the blast's energy.
He closed his eyes, and with outstretched arms, he opened his hands to block the wave. As it crashed against his palms he felt an immense heat, a unique sensation he hadn't experienced in decades. It burned and singed his hands but he stood, unwavering, against the kamehameha's might. Then, suddenly, he felt an incredible surge of power as the energy poured into his body, pushing him far beyond his natural limits.
He stood there, absorbing every single iota of energy Eighty-three cared to throw at him, and when the wave had finally ended, Gero knelt down and rested his hands upon the ground. His muscles had expanded beyond what his labcoat could stand, tearing it at the seams and releasing steam as the stitches ripped apart. Behind him he heard the soil from the ditch rustle and move as Gohan crawled his way out of it.
With only a slight pause to stand and take a deep breath, Gohan re-entered the strange level above Super Saiyan and looked toward the android hovering far above them. He approached Gero slowly and nudged the old man's shoulder which was hot to the touch. Filled with vigor, Gero quickly stood and clenched his fists. The energy radiating off of him was incredible, and easily surpassed even the best that Gohan could muster.
"This is a good start." he said, removing what remained of his lab coat, exposing a white sleeveless undershirt. "Well played Gohan. You have certainly upset him."
Confused, Gohan asked, "You mean that wasn't enough? I hated talking to him like that as much as I did. Even if he is our enemy."
"Well, you may have to continue. That blast was a great deal of energy, even for him, but he still harbors much more, given the fact that he hasn't even gone Super Saiyan yet." Gero replied, massaging his shoulders. "But don't feel discouraged, you won't have to fight alone any longer."
Gohan was surprised by Gero's confidence, and as odd as it felt, his eagerness to fight vaguely reminded him of his father.
Without a word more between them, the old man looked toward Eighty-three and began floating up to him, followed closely by Gohan.
Far above the ground, the two stood face to face with the android once again. Gero took note that, now, Eighty-three was no longer looking at Gohan. He was looking at him.
"I'm better than him!" the android unexpectedly cried, his cheeks red with the heat of anger and tears welling up in his eyes. "You're letting him change you! T-trick you into doing what he wants! Listen to me!"
In a strange moment of empathy for an enemy he thought he had already written off, Gero did not respond with a witty insult or a sarcastic jab at the android's insecurities. He just watched as the tears streamed down Eighty-three's cheeks and he tried to wipe them off.
"They're our enemy! They killed your son!" the boy said, now bringing his other hand up to clear away his eyes.
"Enough!" Gero said commandingly, pulling the android's attention off of his own tears and onto the old man. "I've spent years hating Gohan, and decades hating his father. I've spent thousands of hours in a laboratory, toiling away, making machine after machine in the hopes that one day, one day, one of them will be powerful enough to kill them."
Gero brought a hand to his face and held his nose contemplatively. "I've spent every second of every day since the destruction of the Red Ribbon Army refusing to allow myself to grieve for my son and refusing to allow myself to accept the truth."
Eighty-three stared, fully invested, yet suspicious, of every word the doctor spoke.
"It was never their fault that Gebo died." he paused, bringing a hand to his chest and tapping on it with his pointer finger.
"It was mine. "
"I knew what kind of man he was. I knew that he was only signing up to make me proud and I still allowed him to join anyway. And because of that, you, and every android that came before you, have had to suffer through my endless obsession with revenge!"
Wiping his hand just beneath his eyes, Gero quickly dried any moisture that dared to collect near the corners. "It is my fault you are like this Eighty-three. And I accept that. But now it is time for you to choose what kind of man you will be. Will you let my obsession with killing Gohan and his father define you, and let it turn you into a monster, as it did me, or will you let me help you find your new path, as I try to find mine."
At that moment, Gero felt something he had never felt for an android before: An overwhelming sense of responsibility for the life he had created. Maybe he felt that way because Eighty-three represented the culmination of so much of his time and effort. Maybe he felt that way because, somewhere deep down, he really did care about him. Either way, a pang of hefty guilt weighed on his heart as he regretted issuing the self-destruct command. He realized how much trust must have been irreparably severed in that moment, and how scared he must feel being completely alone.
Gero held his hand out and spoke warmly, in his elderly, crackly voice, hoping to break through to him. "I won't choose for you. There are no more orders to follow. No more commands to obey. No more threats to endure. You are free. Your destiny is your own."
He continued holding his hand out, watching as the android looked hesitantly at him. Gero could see so much indecision in him, it was almost palpable, but he didn't know what to say next. It was subtle, but it was clear his silence was having an impact on Eighty-three. His feelings became obvious as he drifted back and slowly lifted his hands.
Suddenly finding the words, Gero blurted out, "No, no, don't do that...don't throw away this opportunity!"
Throwing his hands forward, the android released a large yellow ki blast and sped forward, following it closely. When it reached Gero and he attempted to absorb it, Eighty-three then swung to the side and planted a massive punch directly against his cheekbone. At nearly the same moment, he also kicked Gohan's guarded midsection, casting them both a few dozen feet away.
"You're lying! I'm nothing to you! Just another machine!" he shouted before pushing towards them again.
Within seconds, the three were locked in an intense battle. Gero opened the fight by attempting to get a hold of Eighty-three's wrist while Gohan aimed a multitude of attacks near the same arm's clavicle and humerus. Both were denied as he whipped his elbow around and slammed it into Gohan's face before pulling in Gero and kneeing him in the ribs.
Dazed, it took Gohan a few seconds to figure out what had just hit him. He looked at Gero and at the android, struggling to get a solid view of the two as his vision had doubled them. He rubbed his eyes and, as the four of them collapsed back into two, he realized Gero was taking a beating as more powerful knee attacks hit his ribs. Swiftly, he swooped in behind Eighty-three and wrapped an arm around his neck, allowing Gero to back away from them and recover.
The android rammed the back of his head against Gohan's temple and the bridge of his nose, just as he'd done to Gero earlier. Though it hurt like hell, Gohan knew that he had him locked within his grasp and that he had to hold on for as long as possible, or at least until Gero re-entered the fight.
Another ram hit him hard, but he kept his grip tightly around Eighty-three's neck. Then another, which tore the skin of his forehead, sending a small droplet of blood sliding down. He could feel his grip loosening as the android began to pull his arm away. This was the moment he knew he had lost. All he could do now was get out before he took any more damage.
Just before the android could bring his head back again, Gohan pushed off and shot three powerful blasts towards him. All three connected, and in the smoke that the collision created, he regrouped with Gero, who was hunched over, holding the left side of his chest.
"He's tough..." Gohan said, his head spinning.
"We...need to get him out of here." Gero stated, his voice weakened by pain. "We...we need a more favorable environment."
Gohan cleared the blood from his brow and looked toward the dissipating cloud of smoke. "How do we get him to follow us?"
Gero removed the hand from his chest revealing a small dark bruise that was beginning to form. "We're his sole priority Gohan, he'll follow us." He then quickly turned north. "This way, follow me!"
Quickly, the two shot through the sky, leaving a loud, thunderous crack in their wake, and two ki trails, one white and one gold. It took only a few seconds for the island they were previously fighting to fall out of view, but not the android.
Gohan, looking over his shoulder, saw Eighty-three trailing them, and closing the gap inch by inch. Shouting over the wind, Gohan said, "You were right Gero, but what now?!"
"Distract him!" the old man replied. "We'll be at the mainland soon!"
Turning on his back, Gohan then prepared a few ki blasts, firing them as soon as he had condensed them into orbs. The first few, he shot directly at the android, but he quickly realized they were too easy to dodge, as Eighty-three merely glided to the left and right to avoid them.
Then he began firing some with a bit of a curve, hoping that they would land somewhere in the android's side where he couldn't defend himself as well, and surprisingly, a few landed, exploding as they collided with him. Gohan knew that they didn't have the power to hurt him, but they were good enough to slow him down a little and keep him focused on not getting hit, rather than catching up to them.
Feeling a tap from the back of Gero's hand, Gohan then turned back over to see the mainland just up ahead of them. His face went pale as he spotted a small fishing town just near the shoreline.
"Gero, we can't get near that town! People could be hurt!"
"I know! I know! We're heading into the mountains behind them!" The old man pointed at the range of brown and green mountains resting just behind the village. "He should follow us until then!"
Rapidly approaching the rickety wooden dock on the outskirts of the town, Gohan turned back over and continued launching more blasts at him. He felt some semblance of reassurance when the android completely ignored the town and focused in on the blasts. Although they were well placed, he managed to fly just around them, shortening the gap between the three to only a few feet.
As they flew into the mountain range, Gohan watched the android get closer and closer to Gero, even reaching his hand out as he readied to grab his leg.
Quickly, Gohan looked around the environment. Nothing living seemed to inhabit the land beneath them, only trees and a set of old rusted railroad tracks. Feeling confident the area was clear, he abruptly changed directions and brought both of his hands down on top of Eighty-three's head.
The attack didn't even stun him, and before Gohan could begin to make a move, the android grappled him and slammed his fist into his stomach, instantly forcing him out of Super Saiyan. Completely blind-sighted by the power behind that hit, Gohan was breathless as Eighty-three then sent him flying towards the ground with an elbow to his lower spine.
Unable to stop himself from crashing into the forest below, Gohan wrapped his arms around his head, preparing for a very hard landing. Once he fell through the roof of leaves, he splintered multiple trees before smacking into the ground, shattering it, and flinging more rock and dirt into the air.
And when the last bits of gravel and dark clay-like earth had finally come back down to rest on top of him, he relaxed his arms and rested them at his sides. His ears were ringing from the impact, his head was completely jumbled, and his stomach was riddled with pain, but still, he knew he had to get up. There was still energy to fight with.
Rolling onto his side and pushing off the ground, Gohan was able to get to his feet. Far above him, he could sense and see the incredible amounts of energy being expended by both Gero and Eighty-three as they fought at neck-breaking speeds. He could tell the old man was keeping up with the android, but only just barely.
It seemed impossible that, despite the massive amount of energy he absorbed from the kamehameha, Gero was still substantially weaker than Eighty-three. He thought on that for a moment, recognizing and knowing, for a fact, that they would lose unless he came up with something absolutely brilliant to tip the scale in their favor.
Kneeling down, he reluctantly opened his mind up to thoughts of his father. It was painful even just thinking of his name. Goku... Daddy...
But Goku was undoubtedly the greatest fighter he'd ever known, and he was sure that there was something he could still learn from him.
"What would you do?" he whispered.
What would he do? If he had exhausted every other option, what was his last resort? Suddenly it hit him, it was the spirit bomb: The ultimate move that harnessed the power of all surrounding life to create a massive ball of energy.
He knew he couldn't use that technique, as he was never taught it, but he could certainly do the next best thing: Offer up as much energy to Gero as possible, and what better way to do that than in the form of a kamehameha of his own.
Harnessing all available energy, Gohan entered Super Saiyan for the third time and soared into the sky. While on his way up to the two, he breathed in deeply, calming himself and focusing his raw ki into his hands, into something usable. And by the time he had reached their height, the firey, golden aura surrounding him was so concentrated, it was almost solid.
Instantly, Eighty-three took notice of Gohan and worked to push Gero as far away as he could, even putting extra energy into his punches to do so. Quickly hitting the old scientist's chest, guarded by his crossed arms, the android managed to knock him back a few hundred feet, freeing himself up to focus on Gohan.
"KA!" Gohan roared as he brought his hands back, forcing the bright yellow energy surrounding him into his palms.
"ME!" He could see the android pulling his hands back for his own kamehameha. His excitement grew as he felt Eighty-three draw more and more energy out for his retaliatory attack. He knew he wouldn't come out on top in this contest, but maybe, just maybe this was enough to elevate Gero beyond either of them.
"HA!" There was no going back now. He had already put more energy into this attack than he had left in his reserves. To cancel it now would not only remove him from the fight but ruin any chance they had at victory.
"ME!"
Gero looked on as the two prepared to fire their monumental attacks and, in that calm before the storm, he nodded as he saw the pieces fall into place. Gohan was playing white, the android was playing black, and the situation could not have been clearer; black was in check, and all he needed to do was mate.
"Brilliant, boy. Brilliant." He whispered, watching Gohan as he readied himself to fly in between the waves.
Sweat dripping from his temples, Gohan put the last of his energy into the orb of blue light held within his hands. He could feel his fingers begin to shake as it became harder and harder to control the sheer amount of power he held at that moment, but he forced them back into stillness with discipline alone. He needed to wait for Eighty-three.
The android, despite knowing his opponent had reached his limit, kept putting more and more power into his wave. He didn't just want to beat Gohan, he wanted to obliterate him, and everything he stood for. Because he wasn't just an enemy anymore, he was the very thing that destroyed his trust with Gero. If not for him, he wouldn't be just a machine.
And using that hate, Eighty-three thrust his hands forward, unleashing a blinding, titanic purple wave of energy, pushing even the highest clouds with a shockwave of air.
"HA!" Gohan cried in immediate response, releasing the concentrated sphere of blue energy in an incredibly massive wave that, even compared to the androids, was impressive.
As the two waves flew towards each other in an immaculate display of purple and blue light, slightly arcing in a continuous circular motion, Gero flew in between the blasts and held out one hand to both. The immediate contact with the two surging energy attacks sent a scorching pain deep into his hands, burning away some of the skin made brittle by the energy he had absorbed from the earlier kamehameha, and weakening even some calluses near the base of his fingers. Still, even as he bellowed out in pain, he remained between the two walls of light absorbing them as they pushed against his palms, focused and committed to overcoming them.
With his hands still cupped out in front of him, Gohan fought to keep aloft as he watched Gero finish absorbing the two blasts. With the residual minuscule bits of energy he had left, he sensed his power level one final time, and it was incredible. Doctor Gero had surpassed even him when he first entered Super Saiyan Two, and he hadn't even begun to utilize or focus it yet.
With a smile spread across his face, he took one final look at the doctor, who was motionless, resting with his hands on his knees, before slowly floating down into the forest below. That was everything he had to give, now it was all up to him.