((Author's notes. Things are winding down for the Cell games. Some changes ahead for the SMG. Hope you enjoy this one. Chapter 22 is finished, and being reread for editing. 23 has a good start on it.

Looking forward to your comments and reviews, thanks for reading!

Beepx22))

Chapter 21

"You're already back?" King Yemma looked over his desk at his next 'customer'.

Bea shrugged and then absentmindedly tugged on his halo. "I thought I beat Cell…" he tugged again, "I'm guessing he's the one that took me out?"

"You could say that…"

Bea tilted his head to the side "Oh?"

King Yemma sighed, then shrugged. "Actually, you made two versions of him in the process." Yemma tapped his pencil on the giant book that rested on his desk. "Now, what to do with you…"

OoOoOoOoO

"Fucking Bastard!" Pikada took a swing at the Cell he was fighting. Angel grabbed his molted green tail and swung him into the blade. It sank deep into the monster's abdomen and a purple ichor spilled from the wound. Semi-perfect Cell opened his mouth in a scream of rage.

Angel clapped an open palm across it. "Star Wave!" Golden energy flashed from her hand into Cell's open maw. The energy burned through his eyes mere moments before his head disintegrated. She slammed the torso the the ground and spun around. She pumped both hands firing blasts into Cell. As she did this a couple dozen of the blasts stayed suspended around him. Finally his head reformed and he looked at her.

She smiled fiercely at him. "Singularity Burst!"

The remaining orbs of energy collapsed to single point, causing a momentary singularity. Cell was caught into the pull, his head being sucked into the hyper intense vacuum.

Pikada rushed in over Angel, his sword held over his head. Energy rippled up and down its blade, he slashed down. "Shining Razor!" Energy sliced down and through Cell. Pikada took three more swings, each diced Cell into more segments. He was carried out of the way through momentum.

Angel was waiting. At the tip of two extended fingers a sphere of energy pulses red, gold, and black. She motioned towards Cell and the sphere rushed forward. "Shattered World Attack!"

The attack slammed into the ground which exploded and cratered. The force of it knocked the non-fighting humans that were present clean off of their feet, Vegeta, Goku, and perfect Cell even paused their fight for a moment to take in the spectacle.

Pikada landed at the edge of the crater, the heat that poured from it was intense. He held one hand out toward the crater. "Rolling Thunder! A wave of energy washed over the still molten rock at the center of the crater.

Angel landed beside him. "Think we got him?"

Pikada shrugged, "If not we've certainly reduced his power." He looked to the battle that was raging between Perfect Cell, and Vegeta and Goku. Then back to the crater. At the bottom a stone began to vibrate.

OoOoOoOoO

"Vegeta we have to end this." Goku looked up at Perfect Cell.

"Just don't get in my way, Kakarot." Vegeta's hair flashed to gold and he soared into the sky.

Cell looked down his nose at the Prince. "Decided to get the dying over with a little sooner?"

"Keep that smirk right where it is, I'm going to enjoying wiping it off your face!" Vegeta closed the gap and launched a kick at Cell.

Cell threw his arms into an x-block and rode the initial hit out. Both of their auras flared as they intersected, there was an almost imperceptible pause, then Cell and Vegeta were in an intense fight.

Vegeta landed a solid double ax handle on the top of Cell's head and he rocketed towards the ground. Halfway there he unexpectedly met with Goku's knee. Cell bent backwards over the knee and before he could straighten Goku sent his own double ax handle into Cell's gut. Cell snapped a kick up towards the saiyan's head, but Goku vanished. He reappeared near Vegeta, who was already rushing the disoriented Cell. Vegeta wrapped his left hand around Cells neck, his right arm shot up into the creature's surprised expression. Vegeta hit him with a series of sharp right hooks. "Take this you bastard!" He threw Cell towards the sky, then cupped his hands together palm to back. "GALICK GUN!" The fuchsia beam slammed into Cell and enveloped him as it push him even further skyward.

He laughed. "Not bad, Vegeta. But not eno…", he stopped mid sentence as he heard sound behind him.

"…HAAAAAAAAAAAMEEEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAA!"

He craned his head around and looked straight into the brilliant azure beam that appeared.

They converged on his position and exploded with enough force to shatter some of the surrounding rock structures, including the one behind which Mr. Satan's hid.

Goku dove towards Cell as Vegeta burst upwards to meet him.

Cell flipped over to right himself. He was shaken from the attack, but not badly damaged. Just as the trio prepared to strike out the world seemed to explode around them. They all turned their heads to see an enormous ball of red, yellow, and black energy barreling into the Earth.

As it faded they saw Pikada fill the crater with his own attack.

Then Cell caught a flurry of movement and turned. Trunks flew at him. Mid flight he turned into a super saiyan and pulled his sword. Cell extended one finger and a thin red beam lanced out. Trunks faded to the left and then fired a couple of ki blasts at Cell. Then he drew back for a punch. Cell laughed.

"Go take a seat." He chopped Trunk's neck and the saiyan plummeted to the ground. Then his own head snapped back as Vegeta landed a haymaker. Cell unleashed a wave of energy as he swept his hand towards the Saiyan Prince.

Vegeta blocked as much as possible, then returned the favor, firing six ki blasts at point blank range. Cell grunted. Vegeta's eyes went wide and he lurched upwards.

"DESTRUCTO DISK!" Cell swung around to the source of the voice and saw two of razor edged disc of energies swing towards him. He managed to evade the first one, but the second scored deep into his chest.

Goku made a motion with his hand and the remaining disk looped in flight. Cell fired a death beam and sliced the disc in half.

He grabbed Goku and began to punch to him in the face. After a few seconds he threw him to the ground.

Gohan yelled. "Dad!" He glared at Cell, hatred evident in his eyes. Then pure waves of energy erupted off of him. "This stops now, Cell."

Cell slowly rotated towards him. "Is that right?"

OoOoOoOoO

"Hmmm." Yemma peered at Bea. "Hmmm, Obviously you've been extremely bad."

"I'd say that's accurate." Bea said wanly.

"Murder, theft, destruction, all in the name of profit."

"I take full responsibility for that. I've killed so many that I can't remember when or where, I've stolen entire planets, I've destroyed homes, sanctuaries, families, even worlds."

"And yet, you seem to have settled down on Earth…"

Bea only nodded. He had become content on that shiny blue marble, with its weak gravity and weaker inhabitants. It probably helped that there was a small saiyan community there now. And that his team, no, his friends had also settled In.

"Well then,". Yemma scribbled in his open book. "Bea, I will allow you to remain here where you can observe the battle with the Cells. If the Earth fighters win, I'll banish you to hell, but allow you to keep your body. You've not earned training with King Kai, but you'll find plenty of training in hell. Knowing Goku, they'll wish you back eventually."

"And if they lose?"

"Your body will be taken, your soul condemned to suffer for 1000 years, before being cleansed and reused."

Bea nodded again. "More than fair, King Yemma." Bea leaned against a wall and slid to sitting position to await his fate.

OoOoOoOoO

Brilliant white light filled the crater where Angel and Pikada stood looking. There was ripple in the air then the ground exploded. Semi-perfect Cell rose gracefully into the air. He crossed his arms and smirked. "You'll need to be better than that, my monkey friends." He let his arms dropped and flexed his fingers open and closed. "You did do me some damage though. That makes me angry." He clenched his fist and screamed. The energy pouring from him took on a golden hue and his features changed.

The Saiyans both gaped at the sight. Before their eyes Cell transformed into a near approximation of Perfect Cell. His skin was lighter, spots darker, his face was less chiseled, but the resemblance was there.

"Fuck this." Pikada threw himself forward, his sword charged with energy. "Time to die you green bastard!" Pikada swung.

The energy shot off and headed towards the monster. Cell looked up and extended his arm. A wave of energy blasted out. Pikada's attack disintegrated. Cell laughed.

Then Pikada appeared below Cell's arm. The sword slashed up and cleaved through the arm at the elbow. Cell looked surprised. "That wasn't nice."

A knee drove into Pikada's guts. He doubled over but managed to launch himself backwards.

He flipped his sword so that the blade ran down the length of his arm. Then he planted his feet and launched towards Cell.

Pikada drove his fist into Cell's face. Cell returned the favor. Suddenly the fight took off, looking like a bout between two prized boxers.

They ducked and weaved both scoring glancing hits and the occasional full powered strike. Cell threw a hook, which Pikada ducked under, then drove a dozen fast jabs into Cell's abdomen. Cell responded by driving his elbows down into the sides of Pikada's neck. The blow staggered him, but didn't stop his assault. Luckily his armor absorbed most of that impact. Pikada brought right arm straight up into an uppercut, which connected fully under Cell's chin. While the monster was dazed Pikada wrapped around him and locked his arms together.

"Angel! Now!" He screamed.

Cell tried to find the Saiyan but realized she was behind him. Then he noticed the shadows all dancing away from him.

"DOUBLE STAR WAVE!" A flash tore from her palms.

Cell tried to tear away from Pikada's grip, but the Saiyan held fast, he used his sword to anchor even tighter to Cell.

"This. Is. For. Bea!" He spat through gritted teeth. He saw real fear in the pseudo-perfected Cell's eyes. Then Pikada's entire world disappeared in blinding light and searing pain.

OoOoOoOoO

Gohan appeared instantly in front of Cell, much to the dismay of his friends. Goku had gotten back to his feet, and had managed to get Vegeta to lay off of his attack. "Gohan can do this, Vegeta, he needs this." He said.

"Well, Kakorat, who am I to keep you from seeing your only child killed?" The returned to Krillin and the rest.

Cell slyly smiled. "Well, you do seemed be stronger than I have given you credit for." He threw a fast jab.

Gohan easily blocked it. A glimmer of smile traced his face. 'Dad's right, I can do this.' He thought. Cell rocketed a kick towards Gohan's face. The boy blocked it with an upraised arm, and at the same time slammed a fist into Cell's stomach. The next flurry of movements were lost in a haze of speed. But when the two separated neither seemed worse for the wear.

"Impressive, boy. You might actually be stronger than your father. Let's put that to the test!" Cell's right hand and snagged Gohan by his gi. Then his left started firing jack rabbit punches wildly into the youth's face.

Bloody streamed freely down Gohan's face. Cell smiled. "Well, this was more entertaining than I figured it would be. But time's up boy." He tossed Gohan into the air and fired a ki blast that sent him flying through a mountain.

He turned to where Goku stood with his arms crossed, his face plastered with an enormous smile.

"Well, Goku, now that your son is dead would you like to continue our fight." Cell grinned maliciously.

"First, Cell, you'll have to kill Gohan. I don't think he's even started to work on you."

Just then the mountain that had seemed to be Gohan's rocky grave exploded into rubble, at center stood a golden pillar of light.

OoOoOoOoO

Angel felt her attack make impact with Pikada and Cell. She poured energy into the attack with her entire might. Cell's energy began to change. Sadly so did Pikada's. Tears stung her eyes as she realized that killing Cell meant killing Pikada. Her grief turned to rage, which in turn was channeled into her Double Star Wave attack. She had to be resolute in this. A few sacrifices for the good of an entire world. Bea and Pikada would both understand, hell, they'd be proud.

She screamed in rage.

On the other side of her attack Pikada nor Cell could hear it.

Pikada was lost in himself, he felt an immense pride in his teammate. The intensity of her attack surprised him. It rivaled the power that Bea had been capable, in fact it wasn't too far removed from even Vegeta or Goku.

Pikada smiled as he felt the very molecules of his right hand, the closest to the attack, begin to break apart. He looked up into Cell's face, and saw a knowing fear.

He gritted his teeth. "It's over Cell. We can continue this fight in hell."

Cell slowly drifted apart, at the same moment both of their transformations reverted.

The copy of Cell born in the mystic realms of instant transmission disappeared for the last time.

The attack faded.

A smoldering body fell lifelessly to the hard ground.

Angel sobbed into her gloved hands.

Then a mountain not far from her exploded outward with an intense golden pillar rising from it.

She turned to look on it in awe.

OoOoOoOoO

Gohan opened his eyes.

Dust motes filled his vision, backlit by sunlight streaming through the opening at the end of this tunnel.

He decided to give Cell one last chance to stop this.

Gohan gathered his power and forced it outwards. In what looked to him like slow motion the mountain crumbled from the inside. His super saiyan energy coalesced into a tight ring around him, and a pillar of light and essence cascaded to the heavens.

The mountain exploded away, Slowly Gohan strolled towards Perfect Cell.

He was hyper-aware of the current situation. The other Cell was gone, His opponent looked him over appraisingly. His friends couldn't believe their own eyes, they thought he him dead. He closed the gap and stood toe-to-toe with the monster Cell

He squared of and looked him directly in the eyes.

"This doesn't have to happen, Cell."

Cell seemed genuinely surprised. "What's that? You being by killed by me? Hmph. You're far braver that I expected, most, boys, wouldn't willingly die for their daddies, but here you are."

"We don't need to do this. Stop now and I'll let you live."

"You'll 'let' me live? That's laughable, how will you let me do anything when you're dead."

"I know now why my father wanted me to fight you. Ever since I was a baby I've been capable of amazing power…"

Gohan told his stories of self preservation, from Raditz to Frieza.

Cell listened with keen interest.

"…and so, you need to stop this now."

"So," said Cell, "you expect me to stop my games because of your story."

"Yes, I do." Gohan looked directly into Cell's eyes.

Cell then chuckled, "Well, I believe you."

Gohan narrowed his eyes in a mixture of surprised and suspicion.

"Unfortunately for you, it only makes me want to see this strange power." Cell then punched Gohan straight in the nose.

The boy went sailing backwards, but this time caught himself in midair.

He rocketed back towards Cell, slamming into him at speed. Gohan threw a blinding flurry of punches at Cell, which were easily blocked. Cell backhanded Gohan followed immediately by a wave a ki blasts. Gohan dipped and dived around them then returned a volley of his own.

Cell seemed to fade. He appeared behind Gohan and swept his legs. Momentarily off balance, Gohan's guard dropped. Cell snatched him from the air and slammed his back to the ground. He dropped a knee onto Gohan's chest and stooped over him.

Cell began to thrown swings into Gohan's face. He spoke. "Show. Me. Your. Power." Each word was punctuated with a bone jarring punch.

Suddenly the weight was lifted from Gohan's chest.

Cell squirmed around in the vice-like grip of two armored arms. Android 16 had grabbed him while he was distracted. With no visible effort 16 launched high into the sky.

"I can not allow this to continue, Cell." He spoke calmly, but loudly. "I will activate my own self destruct device and eradicate both of us.

"No! I am perfection, I can't be destroyed by one of Giro's failed creations."

"We are all failed creations now, Cell." He gripped harder and closed his eyes. The internal relay that'd activate his bomb tripped.

Nothing happened.

From below a voice rose. "16! Your bomb was removed at Capsule Corp!" Krillin yelled, sounding very panicked.

16 was stunned.

Cell laughed. Then he rolled 16 over his shoulders and the android's hold was broken.

"This has been fun, brother, but now… FINAL FLASH!"

The energy cascaded through 16's body. The Android exploded and pieces of him littered the ground around the stunned spectators and fighters. His head landed at Mr. Satan's feet.

Gohan's gaze swept around, Bea, Pikada, 16, his eyes fell on his father and Vegeta, both bruised and bloody, both looking at him with expectation, both with…pride? 'Please don't be proud, I can't do it, he's too strong.' He thought to himself.

There was a commotion from the Satan camp.

16's decapitated head blinked its eyes at Mr. Satan, who scrambled away in fear.

"Please throw me to the boy." The head spoke.

Satan stared in disbelief. "Wha-what?".

"Throw my head towards the boy, please."

Satan stooped. "Just, Throw?" He stuttered.

"Yes please, as close as possible."

"Well, Okay." Satan wound and threw the head, glad to be rid of that bit of creepiness. It landed a little over two yards from Gohan.

Gohan looked at the Android's eyes, and beheld an infinite sadness in them. Behind the head, Cell landed softly.

16 spoke. "Gohan, let it go. It is not a sin to fight for the right cause. There are ones who words alone will not reach. Cell is such a being." Gohan looked at 16, feeling a mixture of anger and guilt, fear and loathing at his own inadequacies.

16 continued, "I know how you are Gohan. You are gentle, you do not like to hurt. I know because I too have learned these feelings, but it is because you cherish life, that you must protect it."

"How very touching." Cell said as he closed the distance between the head and himself. His shadow fell across 16's face. "Now, shut up." Cell's foot slammed down, and 16's head erupted in a fountain of hydraulic fluid and parts. His primary processor's light blink a few times and then faded to darkness.

Gohan stood in place. His eyes didn't waver from the now inert circuit board. Cell continued toward him. Memories flooded his mind, people he failed to help, training he had slacked off on. Pain and suffering he couldn't stop.

Somewhere in his soul, something snapped, fracturing like a single strand of spun glass.

Gohan threw his head back and screamed while his energy surpassed even his father's expectations. Waves of pure power battered the entire area, rocks became dust, the country side rippled, the ground beneath Gohan's cratered under the immense pressure.

His aura became more jagged, blue lightning danced around him. His hair seemed to grow as his yell continued.

Cell smirked. "Let it all go, Gohan, show me all of your strength."

The boy's energy soared. Cell's expression changed from cocky to worried in a blink. Gohan looked at Cell with raw hatred.

Gohan took a step towards the monster.