((Author's note:

Well, here's the end of the Cell storyline. Was pretty fun to write. A few changes for the SMG characters. Chapter 23 is mostly finished, and is a transition chapter. Hope everyone is enjoying this so far. Reviews and comments are always appreciated))

Chapter 22

Pikada slowly opened his eyes. 'Fuck.' He thought to himself. He blinked twice to clear the dust from his eyes. His face seemed to be buried and his mind was being sluggish. "What the hell happened?" He thought he said, though anyone hearing him would have heard "muvdahullappn".

He put his left palm on the ground and began to push himself up. When he tried to repeat this with his right hand he noticed that he came up a little short.

Literally.

His eyes focused on the tattered remains of his uniform, and the raw stump exposed a few inches above where his elbow should be. Luckily the wound had been cauterized, and only a trickle of blood dropped to the wasteland's surface.

He rolled and sat down hard on his ass. Around him the destruction left by the continuing battle with Cell went unnoticed, as he stared hard at his injury.

"Fuck." This time the word was as clear as crystal.

OoOoOoOoO

Cell looked on at the approaching Gohan, and quickly regained his composure. "So, boy, you did have some power tucked away. No matter though, I can still easily beat you." To show how easily Cell punched at Gohan.

The boy didn't seem to move, but he obviously evaded the attack.

Cell threw another volley of punches, none of which made any contact. Gohan looked into Cell's eyes.

"I will never forgive you, Cell." With that he landed a violent jab into Cell's abdomen. The monster doubled over in pain. Gohan pulled his fist back then throttled another strike forward. Cell's eyes bulged from his skull. Gohan then kicked Cell in the side of his neck and he went flying away.

The fighters watching went wide eyed at this feat. Except Vegeta, who clenched is first in obvious rage, and Angel, who had noticed that Pikada's corpse had just sat up.

"Uh, Be…" she began then recalled watching her former leader die, "Er, uh, Krillin, Goku…". She pointed at Pikada with her chin. Their eyes followed the path of the point.

"He's alive?" Krillin sounded disbelieving.

"I can barely sense his power though." Replied Goku.

Just then Cell broke the sound barrier making a lunge at Gohan. Gohan stood his ground as Cell began trying to pummel him. Gohan effortlessly blocked each hit, and with each hit Cell became more enraged. Goku watched his son easily fend off Cell's attacks.

Angel flashed back to her super saiyan form and charged Pikada. She landed in a skid and scooped him up under his arms. With a flash she returned to the spectating fighters.

"Krillin…" she said as she regrouped

"What? Oh, Yeah, Right!" He fumbled for a senzu bean and gave it to Pikada. Pikada stuck out his right stump and grimaced. "Fuck." He then snatched the bean with his left hand and quickly chewed it. He instantly felt reenergized, but stared sadly at his now mended stump. "Guess they don't grow limbs back…"

OoOoOoOoO

Gohan tipped his head to the back and the right, easily avoiding the punch that Cell launched towards his face. He rolled his neck to the left and another punch swung by. His right arm swung up, fist in the air, and blocked a kick intended for his head. Gohan's left arm snaked under his right and grasped Cell by the calf. He pulled his arm back like someone yanking a ripcord and Cell tumbled away.

The Android righted himself and braced to attack but a ferocious blow to his guts brought him up short. Gohan blasted jab after jab into Cell and He doubled over more and more.

Cell jumped back. "How?! How are you damaging me, how am I being bested by a mere saiyan child?!"

"Cut the games Cell, you wanted my full power, now you've got it! Stop screwing around and show me yours!" Gohan looked furious, lightning began dancing around him again.

Cell looked at him, the fear fading from his face replaced with a knowing smile.

"You're absolutely right, Gohan. I am holding back my power. Since you're in a hurry to die though…" Cell tightened his body as a new rush of power flowed through him.

Gohan stood watching.

Cell finished, and seemed to radiate with power. He looked down into Gohan's eyes. "So, boy. Are you scared yet."

Gohan moved with an unnerving speed and drove his fist up into Cell's stomach. He doubled over as viscous purple fluid exploded from his lips.

An instant later the boy drove his clenched fist down into Cell's exposed neck. Cell crumpled to the ground. His head twisted up to see Gohan's form. "Get away from me, you monster!" He screamed.

Blue flashes of lightning danced down the youth's arms as he raised them to his head. Energy swirled and gathered. "MASENKO…"

He pushed his hands forward. "…HAAAAAA!"

Golden energy washed over Cell.

Gohan waited. Slowly Cell climbed to his feet. He looked ragged and his breathing was labored.

"You… Sniveling… Little… Bastard!" Cell lunged at Gohan.

Gohan grasped Cell's hand, easily deflecting the punch he had thrown, then with his right fist he drove another uppercut into Cell, driving deep under the monster's exoskeleton into where the lungs and heart would be on a human.

Cell landed on his knees and wretched. A foul mixture of fluids spilled onto the ground at Gohan's feet. Cell lurched to one foot.

He got both of his feet under him just in time to be met with a roundhouse kick to his face. Cell tumbled across the barren ground. As he stood again Gohan hit him with a kick that seemed to nearly snap Cell in half. Cell shuddered and the boy stepped back. Cell once again wretched, this time he choked, and his gullet engorged. One more push and suddenly something large was expelled from his body.

There in the dust lay a fluid sodden Android 18. When he had finished vomiting Cell stared in horror at the Android, then he looked at his hands.

"N-n-no! I was perfect, how could this happen.?!"

Everyone watched in fascination as he reverted to his semi-perfect form.

"Finish him, Gohan!" Goku yelled.

"No, Dad. He asked for this. He wanted to see my power. Now he can. He wanted to hurt people! Now he can feel that pain for himself."

Gohan turned his head towards his father and his eyes narrowed. "He wanted to see ultimate power! Now. He. Will."

He moved with such speed that an after image was still there he picked Cell up by his chin. He bicycle kicked and Cell was a green blur heading to the heavens.

Gohan appeared above him and hammered him with a double ax-handle. Cell's exoskeleton cracked under the assault. A wordless scream emanated from his mouth as the ground approached. Gohan appeared on the ground before him. The Saiyan kicked into the air and slammed his fist heavily into Cell's face. With his other hand Gohan snagged Cell's throat. He pulled him in close.

"How do you like it, Cell? Being powerless. Not being in control. How does it feel you bastard?"

Gohan released Cell and he crashed to the ground.

"Kill him, Gohan!" Yelled, Goku again.

"He's just stared to learn his lessons, Dad. He earned this."

"Fuck this." Said Pikada under his breath. His hair flashed golden and he went to draw his sword. Of course neither the sword nor his sword arm were there. He sprinted forward anyway, only to be snatched back by the hair. He spun to see Vegeta holding him, his own hair golden. "No, Pikada." Vegeta nodded at his stump. "You're off balance and not used to fighting like that. If the brat doesn't finish it soon I will. Kakorat. Tell your boy to do it, or I'll kill Cell myself.

"Vegeta…" Goku sighed. "The Power has gone to his head."

They both looked at Cell suddenly. His energy had just vastly multiplied. The monster seemed to be growing, becoming engorged.

"Well!" Said Cell cheerfully, "This is it for you Gohan. You really thought you could defeat me."

Gohan braced himself against this unknown attack.

"Well, you were wrong! I'm going to blow myself up, and I'm going to take your miserable planet with me!" He grinned a misshaped grin.

Shock showed on the boy's face.

"Cell! Don't do this! I won't let you!"

"Let me? Boy, you can't stop me! Once activated my self destruct can't be stopped and if you attack me, it'll just set it off." He laughed even has he grew larger. "This is it. You lose."

Gohan collapsed to his knees and and elbows. "Damnit. This is my fault. This is all my damned fault." He slammed his clenched fist into the cracked ground. The earth ruptured and blood welled up around his fingernails.

Cell's laugh filled his ears.

OoOoOoOoO

"Did that green bastard just say he going to destroy the planet?" Pikada said through gritted teeth.

"Yep." Angel looked out at the ballooning monster as she answered.

"I wonder if I'll get my arm back in the other world."

They watched as Cell expanded, Gohan fell to his knees and pounded the ground in frustration. Over the throb of the expanding energy they heard a Cell say, "40 seconds left."

"What do we do, Goku?"

Goku watched the scene intently.

"20 seconds!" Cell bellowed.

Goku turned to face everyone.

"I can only think of one way to save the Earth now."

"You have a plan?" Asked Angel.

"You don't have to do this, Goku!" Trunks stepped forward, "I know what you're planning!"

Goku touched his first two fingers to his forehead. "Goodbye, friends."

He vanished.

OoOoOoOoO

"Well, Bea. It looked like you were going to get a second chance. But now it seems Cell is going to self destruct and take out the Earth." King Yemma said.

The Saiyan sighed. "For what it's worth then, I appreciate the deal." He stood and walked to the desk, intending to meet his fate on his feet. "Can you do me one favor? When my team gets here, tell them I'm proud of them."

King Yemma nodded.

OoOoOoOoO

The cargo hold of the ship exploded into mayhem. Master Roshi and Bulma both tried to settle ChiChi down. She was grappling with Baba the witch, trying to see the fight in her crystal ball. ChiChi saw her son kneeling on the ground, blood covering his fist, tears cutting furrows through the dust on his cheeks.

"No! Nononononono, my baby! He's going to die!" She tugged the ball away from the witch, breaking her connection with it. Before the image fade it look as though the monster had said "ten…"

OoOoOoOoO

"10 seconds, kid. It's all over now. Guess we'll call these games a draw." Cell laughed harshly.

There was a slight disturbance in the atmosphere, so subtle that nearly no one would notice.

Two souls who would though happened to be Cell and Gohan.

Both looked towards the disturbance.

There stood Goku, one hand to his forehead the other touching Cell's bloated body. He looked at Gohan.

"You fought well, son. I'm proud of you." He smiled sadly. "Take care of your mother, tell her that I had to do this."

Then he and Cell were gone.

Gohan rushed forward. "Daddy!"

OoOoOoOoO

Bea's head twisted slightly as the giant ogre at the desk turned his own head on the side.

"Hmmm"

Bea noticed that he was looking at something on his desk, and on impulse he launched himself onto it.

King Yemma looked at him, then nodded to an airy image floating near the edge. Bea walked to it.

He saw Gohan, Cell, and Goku. Goku was talking to his son while holding onto an enormously bloated Cell. Then Gohan was alone."

"Instant transmission!" Suddenly Bea turned to face two immense powers that had suddenly appeared. "What the hell?"

One of the powers ballooned, then both disappeared. Before Bea could ask, one of them returned, feeling slightly different.

He had a sudden hunch, and frantically searched for the other power.

His shoulders slumped as he found it. In the direction of Earth. "Cell…"

OoOoOoOoO

Gohan raged at himself. 'I could have beat him. I could have saved Dad.' His muscles tensed as his anger over took his body.

Suddenly though his attention was shifted to a massive surge of energy behind him. Dust ripped past him, and he turned to rolling clouds of debris backlit by dancing bolts of lightning.

His jaw dropped in spite of himself.

A blast of energy tore from the cloud and blew a hole through Trunks, the half-saiyan was thrown backwards and collapsed to the ground, twitching.

A familiar sinister laugh emanated from the rolling dust.

"Seems that my aim is still good."

Cell emerged from the cloud, golden aura throwing sparks and sputtering intensely. Half of Earth's warriors knelt by Trunks, the others stared in disbelief at the bio-mechanical Android. All but one.

Vegeta stood alone. He stared at the lifeless form of his son from the future.

"H-How? How did you survive Cell?" Gohan had turned back to him.

"Well as my body exploded, killing your father by the way, one of my nucleus cells survived. And even better it remembered my perfected form! Here I am in total perfection, I suppose the clone that was formed by that idiot Bea was reformed by a cell that wasn't perfectly coded yet. No matter, here I am, and thanks to my Saiyan genes I am far more powerful than I was." He smirked towards Trunks. "The ease in which I dispatched that garbage is testament to that."

"Shut the fuck up!" Vegeta screamed, he flew towards Cell, his power riding and his form changing as he did. "You've killed him, now you'll die!" Vegeta struck Cell in the chest, and he went flying.

"FINAL FLASH!" Vegeta sent the surge of energy into Cell. The resulting explosion was devastating.

Vegeta slumped, "It over. It's finally over."

Dust settled down as Vegeta tried to gain his breath. He didn't have long.

Cell rocketed from the debris cloud. He drew back and back handed Vegeta. The Saiyan went crashing to the ground.

"Over for you Vegeta. Now die!" Cell extended a finger and fired a beam.

"Vegeta! No!" Gohan instinctively blocked the attack.

The force of the explosion rocked the rocked the Earth's warriors, and sent Mr. Satan an his entourage flying.

When it cleared, Gohan lay upon Vegeta, his left arm twisted unnaturally. Vegeta hung to consciousness by sheer tenacity.

Cell scoffed in disgust.

Then the youth struggled to his feet.

"Good! You can still stand. You should be standing for this!" Cell stood left foot in front of the other. His spread his arms wide. "I've had fun, but now it's over. Over for you. Over for this planet. First I'll kill you, boy. Then I will vaporize this planet. After that I'll use instant transmission to destroy the entire Galaxy! Starting with the ship that escaped with your mommy. Bet you didn't know that I knew about, now did you? But anyway, before you die, I want you to understand one thing."

His hands moved into the first position for a Kamehameha wave.

"I will live, forever."

"KAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"

OoOoOoOoO

Goku placed his hand on King Kai's back. "Gohan? Can you hear me?"

A dimension away a badly injured golden hair boy looked to the sky. "Dad?"

Across a broken plain Cell continued. "MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE…"a brilliant blue energy began to fill his hands.

"Listen Son, you can beat him, you are the most powerful person I've ever seen."

"No Dad, my arm is broken, I don't even have half of my strength left, I've failed. I've gotten everyone killed!"

"Oh, he's so scared he's gone insane. He's talking to his daddy. No matter kid, you'll see him soon enough. HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA."

"Stop it, Gohan! Quit beating yourself up, you've saved all of us more than once. You've saved the whole planet! Now, charge up your best Kamehameha and end this now."

"I can't!" He sobbed

"Gohan, you can. I believe in you, everyone does. You have to give it your best try, Son."

"MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE." Cell's face showed pure delightment.

Gohan cupped his right hand at his side, blood dropped freely down his shattered left arm. "Okay, Dad. I'll do it." Energy began to swirl into his palm. "KAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEER…"

"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA."

Torrential energy poured from them both as they shouted this last bit of the kata for this attack. When the Kamehameha waves collided the sky was saturated with blinding light, the ground turned to rubble, the Earth itself shook so fiercely that it rang like a bell, heard by the Gods themselves.

OoOoOoOoO

"Damn…". Bea was basically at a loss for words. He sat on King Yemma's desk a watched the hazy view of the battle. "That kid is amazing."

"He comes by it naturally." Yemma replied. Then shushed the dead Saiyan.

OoOoOoOoO

ChiChi clutched her chest as she watched on the now steadied crystal ball. "Go Gohan! Kick his ass!"

Everyone on the SMG ship turned to stare at her.

Then they joined in the cheering

OoOoOoOoO

Gohan blinked away sweat and tears as he forced more power into his kamehameha wave. He felt the immense pressure and knew that Cell was winning this battle. Had he been full strength, if only he had both arms…

What was it his dad had once told him, "If wishes were a nimbus, everyone would fly…"

'Dad.' A single thought that broke through his mind.

"I'm here son, you've got to stop holding back". His father's voice called loudly in his mind.

"I can't do it! I'm giving it everything. I can't push anymore."

"No, Gohan, you're holding back, I can sense it."

"No! This is everything!" The boy closed his eyes. Defeat would end his suffering. The temptation to give in was nearly overpowering.

The bubble of colliding energy got nearer to him. His own attack was now being swallowed by Cell's. Gohan continued to push, battling both Cell and now his own self doubt.

"Mumbling a little prayer before you die? That's almost cute kid." Cell yelled over the turmoil.

"Gohan! Are you afraid of damaging the Earth? You need to let it go. If the Earth is damaged you can use the dragon balls to repair it. If you destroy it, Bulma will gather the Namekian balls and bring it back! If Cell destroys it… then the universe is doomed! Let. It. Go!"

Cell's attack loomed ever larger, Gohan's feet slid backwards. Cell laughed. "I can feel you slipping!"

Gohan suddenly felt his Dad, as though he was right there with him. He was right, he was still trying to protect the Earth from damage. "Thanks, Dad!"

"Let's do this!"

A surge ignited in Gohan, almost as though his father had given him his power. The power flowing from his hand intensified by double, then five times, ten, twenty…

"Now you die!" He screamed as the attack was pushed back. Cell managed to stop the push, only yards from his position

OoOoOoOoO

Piccolo suddenly took off. "I won't let you face this alone Gohan!"

He landed behind Cell, and placed his finger to his forehead. "SPECIAL BEAM CANNON!" The spiraling blast of energy slammed into Cell's back.

Yamcha shook his head. "Piccolo doesn't really think he can take Cell out does he?"

Tien shook his head, "No, but he is still going to try."

"I can't sit here and do nothing!" Pikada balled his single fist. "He needs our help!"

"Right!" Tien took a step forward.

Angel jumped skyward. Krillian and Yamcha both shrugged at each other and smiled slyly.

"Never intended to get out of life alive anyway." Said Yamcha.

"Yeah, let's do this." Both of them launched into the sky.

Pikada looked at Vegeta. Vegeta stared at the immense waves of energy between the battling fighters.

Pikada leapt up.

Arrayed in a fan pattern behind Cell, three humans cupped their hands together and the side of their bodies.

A look between Angel and Pikada, a smile and a nod. They both went super Saiyan. "This one is for Bea, and for Goku." Pikada said. He cupped his remaining hand to his right side.

"Vegeta won't like this." Angel said with a hint of laughter. Cupped her hands.

At once five voices called out.

"KAAAAMEEEEEHAAAAAMEEEEEE…"

OoOoOoOoO

Cell redoubled his efforts. Slowly the wave pushed away from him again. He smiled knowing that with that last burst of power Gohan had reached his limit. Now Cell just needed to out-wait him. His perfect body would never run out of energy. He was focused completely on destroying the runt.

Which is why he never heard the five voice harmony finish.

"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

Five blue beams blazed into Cell's back. He staggered from the impact.

"Why won't you stay down!" He yelled.

The kamehamehas faded away, Gohan's blast swelled back towards Cell then stalled out again. The remnants of Cell's wing swing open and a burst of ki blast erupted out.

The six fighters sprawled from the sudden attack.

Cell's Kamehameha swelled once more. "These are your last minutes, boy, better make them count!"

"Dig, deeper Gohan!" Goku's voice filled his mind, now showing the slim edge of panic.

From far above the battle came a cry.

"BIG BANG ATTACK!"

Cell looked up at the glowing form of Vegeta, his legs buckled slightly as the massive attack slammed into his still exposed back.

"Now, Gohan, give it all now!" Goku's voice filled Gohan's head.

The young Saiyan finally released the last bit he was holding back. His energy flared, his attack washed over Cell.

A broken voice called from the cacophony, "But, I am Perf…" the voice cut off, Gohan's kamehameha burned through the atmosphere and faded into space.

"Th-Thanks, Dad." Gohan's hair turned black and he pitched forward onto the ground.

OoOoOoOoO

Bea stood in front of King Yemma's desk. A smile crossed his face as Yemma looked down on him. "Ready?"

"Yes, I do ask a favor. Tell Cell I look forward to seeing him."

"I can do that. Goodbye, Bea."

Bea suddenly found himself, looking at pink skies and jagged rocks. In the distance he saw a very familiar form. "Son of a bitch." He balled his fist and used instant transmission to appear next to the armored clad figure.

Bea slammed his fist into the surprised face.

"Hello, Tarma. Long time, no see."