Chapter Four - Fall of a Hero
Piccolo, Trunks, and Goten were still having trouble fighting against Android 15. Piccolo crashed his left fist into the Android's stomach knocking it into the air. Leaping up he smashed a roundhouse kick into it's face sending it sailing toward Trunks who slammed his left fist into it's head knocking it toward Goten. As he went to kick the machine into the ground it turned in the air and slammed its feet into his stomach knocking him out.
Piccolo growled. "Damn, guess that rules out a fusion..."
Piccolo and Trunks were just about to charge in again when a blue light suddenly bathed the city streets. "Kamehameha!" They looked up and saw a large Kamehameha wave surging down from a Super Sai-jin Goku. The Android launched into the air and away from the wave. Goku quickly redirected it to follow him. The Android turned to face the wave and fired a blast of his own. The two hit and the Androids wave began to slowly overtake the Kamehameha. In a flash Goku transformed again. As he did, and his wave began to overtake the Android's, it ended it's attack and flew down into the ground disappearing from sight below the city streets. "Would have been here sooner but for some reason my Instant Transmission wouldn't work." Then Goku powered down and landed before walking over to Goten. "Good, he's still alive. How are you two?"
"I'm good." Piccolo said.
"My arm hurts like hell." Trunks said. His right arm hung from his shoulder like dead weight. "I think he broke it." Just then a sudden surge of power hit their senses like a ton of bricks. Something seemed to be powering up near Goku's place.
Goku stared off in that direction a moment before picking up the unconscious teen at his feet. "Trunks, grab my arm. I'll get us to the look out and have you two healed. Piccolo, see what you can do to help Gohan and Buu."
The Namek nodded as Goku vanished with Trunks and Goten.
******
Krillin watched as the large gray man suddenly vanished from in front of him and then reappeared in the rubble of the Son home. He bent down and sifted through the rubble then stood holding what was unmistakably the four star Dragonball. Then he lifted into the air and sped off into the distance. Just as Krillin lost sight of him Gohan landed.
Gohan just stood and stared at the ruins of the house unable to speak for a moment. Then slowly the shock wore off and he looked around. He saw Krillin kneeling beside 18 and a few feet from them he saw Videl. He ran over to her quickly and knelt down beside her to check for a pulse. "No... Kami no..." Krillin looked up from where he knelt as Gohan looked back at him. "Who did this?"
The short man shook his head. "I don't know... he was big and gray and didn't say a thing. But he knew you were coming. Once you started on the way here he just... took the Dragonball and left."
"Dad's Dragonball?" Gohan asked in surprise. "We have to get it back..." He looked up at the ruins again. "Who... Who all was in the house?"
"Everyone. Only me, 18, 17, and Videl stayed out here to fight."
Gohan looked around as he stood. "Krillin, you said 17 was out here fighting right?"
"Yeah."
"Where is he?"
Krillin looked around too. "I don't know... he was lying over there by the trees."
Gohan looked over and saw the trench his body had gouged out after being hit but there was no sign of 17. Then he felt it. About five miles yards into the forest a massive power flared to life. Just as the power hit his senses a blue glow seeped through the trees steadily growing brighter as the power built. In a flash Gohan was in the air and heading toward the power as he blinked back more tears. /Don't worry Pan, Videl, I'll get the Dragonball back and gather the rest./
******
Vegeta and Hope had tried fighting 13 without transforming but that had gotten them nowhere. Even as a Super Sai-jin Vegeta was having a hard time even following its movements. Hope was having more luck as she caught the machine with a hard left hook before driving her right knee into it's gut. The Android barely even registered the blows and backhanded her away. As Vegeta charged in again the Android spun and slammed it's heel into his jaw knocking fifty yards through sky before he slammed into another building and out the other side.
"That's it you mechanical freak!" he shouted. "I've had just about enough of you!"
The Android laughed. "And what are you going to do Vegeta? The girl is much stronger than you are and she's not even my equal."
Vegeta clenched his fists and began to power up. In an instant his aura flared brilliantly and blue lightning traced around it. Hope felt the power jump Vegeta had just made from his transformation, he was now stronger than she was and she hoped there would be no need for her to transform and show the Android all of her power. As it was she saw the look of shock on his face as he processed the increase in her grandfather's power. That was an edge she wanted to keep until absolutely necessary to let it out. The less the Android knew the cockier it would be and the easier it would be to beat.
Vegeta sped past her in a flash of gold and slammed his fist into the Android's face before kicking it in the stomach and then throwing it down into the street below. As Vegeta unleashed a volley of energy blasts Hope was actually grateful that Cell had wiped out the locals, they didn't have to hold back any. Back in her own time her and her father were well known for who and what they were, a side effect of Trunks being filmed destroying the Androids. She found it strange that here Gohan and the others were known only because of Videl and her father. That was another good reason to be happy the city was empty, no one to find out the truth.
As Vegeta relaxed his attack Hope felt a wash of power from near Goku's place. "Vegeta! Do you feel that?"
He looked back at her for a second before sensing it as well. His concentration on the fight had been blocking his senses. "Shit, that has to be Cell! Both of the Androids are at Kakkarotto's! Come on, if 13's still alive we can finish it off later, Cell's more important."
"Right." With that the two sped off toward Goku's again.
******
As Gohan started toward the power he'd felt he saw Buu approaching. "Buu, where's my dad?" he called to the pink creature.
"Went fight with Goten and Trunks."
Gohan nodded. "Come with me, I may need your help."
As Buu turned toward him and started to follow he looked back at the ruined house. "What happened to house?" Buu asked.
Gohan didn't say anything until they were almost on top of the other power. "Someone blew it up... killed everyone except Krillin, 18, and possibly 17."
Buu looked over at him with a sad look. "Bee? Pan?"
Gohan nodded as they landed. He could tell Buu was upset, Bee and Pan were two of his best friends. Still, at the moment his main focus was on the glowing blue shape in the middle of the clearing. "Buu, I know it hurts but you have to focus, this is probably Cell." Despite the comment seemingly being directed at Buu Gohan knew it was more for himself than the other.
A second later he was proven right as the glow faded to reveal a transformed Cell. As per 17's description he was pink. Otherwise he still looked the same as the original Cell's second stage. Cell smiled. "Ah, Gohan. Nice to see you again."
"Cell." Gohan replied vehemently.
The Biodroid looked over at the large pink blob beside Gohan. "Ah, and Majin Buu..." he said grinning. "Yes, I know all about you, thanks to your Cells."
"Enough talk!" Gohan yelled charging in at Cell and tossing out all rational thought. Gohan lashed out with his right fist blindly and Cell dodged easily. Gohan's anger had always increased his power before and it was doing so now but the pain of losing his mother, his wife, and his daughter was dulling his senses. His attacks were powerful enough to shatter entire planets but wild enough to miss entire galaxies.
"You're pathetic!" Cell laughed. This only made Gohan's power grow more and his attacks more wild. Suddenly Cell's fist slammed into Gohan's stomach. Despite Gohan's anger induced power boost and the fact he was stronger than Cell because of it the punch still hurt severely since he was focused entirely on attacking and didn't care about guarding. As Gohan recoiled from the blow Cell had delivered the Biodroid smashed his other fist into his face knocking him back past Buu and into a tree.
The large Buu watched as Gohan slammed into the tree knocking it over before slumping to the ground. He also felt Gohan's KI drop suddenly, not from injury but from forfeiture. Buu could feel it. Gohan didn't care anymore, he didn't care about anything. He'd lost three of things he cared about most in this world. He felt like he'd failed them, failed everyone... again. It was like against Nappa all those years ago, or on Namek against Recoome, or Frieza. Even when he had the power to save people he failed, like seventeen years ago against Cell when his father had died doing what he should have done sooner. Sure Goku was back again but it still hurt.
Buu turned and looked over at Cell who was still laughing. As steam poured out of the holes in his head and arms and his aura built around him his eyes turned deep red. "You hurt Buu's friends... you killed Buu's friends!" he roared. Cell suddenly stopped laughing as Buu's power began to build. "Buu not like you!" he screamed as he thrust his short arms forward bathing the area in an eerie pink glow as the energy surged forward and tore into Cell and then through the trees behind him.
It was this scene that Hope and Vegeta arrived at. As the two landed Buu's attack came to a close as he relaxed some. The entire area was devastated, trees had been incinerated by the blast, and a trench had been carved into the now scorched landscape. As they stared on they couldn't see anything left of Cell but something felt off.
"He's still alive, I can feel it." Vegeta said looking around.
"After a blast like that?" Hope asked.
Her question was answered as the ground several yards down the trench tore open and a rather mangled Cell floated into the air. His legs and arms were missing and his face had been distorted beyond recognition. As the limbs grew back his face pulsed and shifted until it was back to normal. "Why you!" he started but then stopped as he saw Vegeta and Hope. "Vegeta, it's nice to see you again too. Oh, and who's the girl?" he asked with a grin.
Vegeta just growled but held back on attacking him. He could feel how strong Cell was and knew he was no match for the Biodroid. "Gohan!" he yelled looking back at the still slumped over and crying Sai-jin.
Buu shook his head. "Gohan sad. Said big man kill everyone at house."
Vegeta looked over at Buu. "What!"
"He's right." Gohan said still sobbing. "Krillin told me what happened. Some big gray guy attacked them and blew up the house. Everyone but him, 17, 18, and Videl was inside. But then he killed Videl too."
Vegeta growled again. "Damn Androids!" He turned and looked at Cell. "This is your fault!"
"Me? I had nothing to do with that attack. I don't even know who that guy was but it was good timing I must say. He knocked out poor 17 in that scuffle, made it so much easier for me to absorb him."
With a roar Vegeta charged in at Cell pulling back both fists and charging them with KI. The Biodroid didn't even bother to move as Vegeta's fists slammed into his chest releasing their blasts at point blank range. They made small indentations in his armor which quickly sealed up. Cell smiled. "Please Vegeta, you're nothing compared to me." With a swift backhand Vegeta was sent off through a few of the remaining trees before his KI vanished.
Hope knew Cell was stronger than her, not as strong as the Majin Buu she'd been fighting, but still stronger than her. Still she leapt at him transforming to level two along the way. Cell felt the sudden boost in her power and watched her come. "Girl, I don't know who you are or where you came from but if you want to die I'll gladly oblige." With that he swung a massive fist at her. She started to dodge but the fist grazed her shoulder and knocked her spinning.
They all heard the audible crack as her shoulder shattered. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" she cried grabbing her shoulder as she hit the ground.
"Aw, did I hurt you?" he asked smirking. "You shouldn't have moved, then you'd be dead and it wouldn't hurt so much."
Suddenly Gohan was back on his feet again. His face was still pointed at the ground but his fists were clenched at his side. His muscles spasmed as his aura flared up brilliantly. "I... I wont let you..." he managed through chocked sobs. The aura that danced about him shifted to a deep blue as Gohan's entire body began to shiver. His mind wasn't focused on the current situation. It was repeating over and over again all the fights he'd been in. Seeing Chaotzu, Yamcha, Tien, and Piccolo die against Nappa and the Saibamen. Their near defeat on Namek, Krillin's death against Frieza. And then again and again he saw his dad vanish with Cell, sacrificing himself to save them all. A move which had been futile as Cell reappeared moments later and killed Trunks. "I... I can't let you... I won't let you..." His aura seemed to stutter. It faded away and then came back in a bright flash again and again. Each time it was laced with more and more gold.
Goku appeared off to the right of the others with Goten and Trunks on either side of him. They watched as Gohan's power continued to fluctuate. "Pan...." In a bright flash his aura stabilized as solid gold, yet his hair was still black. "Videl..." Suddenly his head snapped up and he glared across at Cell. "Mom..." Gohan's eyes where pure white as he glared down at Cell. "CELL!" The muscles on his arms bulged massively as he surged in toward the pink Biodroid.
Cell didn't have a chance to react as Gohan's fist slammed into his face twisting it and distorting it. Before he could even start to put his face back to normal Gohan was pummeling him like mad. Each punch and each kick left dents in Cell's body. Suddenly Gohan spun around and slammed his heel into the Biodroid's neck stretching it away from his body. Then he brought his knee up into Cell's stomach flinging him into the air. Landing Gohan cupped his hands at his sides. "Kaaaaaaaaa... Meeeeeeeeee... Haaaaaaaaaaaa... Meeeeeeeeee... Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" He thrust his hands up into the air and let the energy pour out at Cell. They could all tell every ounce of his power was in the attack. As it charged at Cell they could sense Gohan's power as it began to drop.
The wave slammed into Cell and tore on past him and off into space. As Gohan stood there putting everything he had into that attack his gold aura shimmered and dropped down to the deep blue of a moment ago before turning white again and his power returned to normal. Still it continued to drop.
Goku's eyes went wide. "Gohan, no! Don't do it!"
Gohan didn't seem to hear his father as the energy wave still surged onward. For nearly a minute Gohan poured his heart and soul into his attack. Then suddenly it stopped dead as Gohan's KI vanished and he fell over face first into the dirt. There was no sign of Cell left in the sky. Goku and Goten both ran over to Gohan. "Oh no, Gohan." Goku cried bending over. Placing his hand on Gohan's neck he checked for a pulse. Goku stopped dead, frozen. He swallowed as he looked down at his son. "No... Gohan. Not you too..."
"He's... he's gone?" Goten asked in shock. Goku nodded. "He gave everything in that attack. Everything he had."
Buu walked up to Gohan and knelt down to try and heal him but it didn't work. "He was sad." Buu said at last looking Gohan over. "Lost Pan..."
Goku felt sick as he stood back up. "Chi-Chi..." he said softly. /I lost them all in less than an hour... Chi-Chi, my first son, my granddaughter. All I have left is Goten.../ He felt the sting of tears in is his. "We have to get the Dragonball back. Too many people have died today..."
Hope managed to pull herself to her feet and as she did Buu saw her injury. He walked over to her and healed her then looked around for where Vegeta had been knocked too. When he saw the broken trees he flew off in that direction to heal him as well.
A moment later Vegeta walked back into the clearing with Buu in tow and saw Gohan on the ground and the looks on everyone's faces. "We still have three Androids to track down." he said softly.
As Goku bent down to pick up Gohan there was a flash of blue in the sky and a rush of power ripped over the area rustling trees and ripping many of the dead ones out of the ground. Everyone turned to look at the sky where the light came from. It pulsed in waves from a single piece of writhing pink stuff. They all felt the sudden build in power from the twisting and pulsing thing as it began to grow bigger. Suddenly a leg shot out of it followed by another and then a pair of arms. It took only a moment for the body to re-grow almost completely. All that was missing was his head but that too grew back within seconds.
"There's no way!" Hope cried looking up at Cell.
"That settles it." Vegeta said glaring at the pink Biodroid. "He's definitely got Buu's regenerative powers."
Goku stood back up and glared at Cell who was looking himself over and laughing. "Amazing! That kid put out much more power than I'd imagined possible... but look at me, I'm still alive!"
"Not for long." Goku said with more edge to his voice than anyone there was used to. Cell started to laugh again as Goku transformed. He still laughed as he ascended to the second level. Then he stopped and stared at Goku as he felt the power that was building around him. In a blinding flash he'd transformed to level three. Cell glared down at him. He'd expected Goku to have gotten stronger since fighting Buu but... he was stronger than him! Even if just barely. Still, it was a fight he'd rather not have at the moment. Suddenly Cell's power dipped down to the barely detectable level and he placed two fingers to his forehead. "No you don't Cell!" Goku cried launching into the air but before Goku could reach him Cell had vanished.
Piccolo, Trunks, and Goten were still having trouble fighting against Android 15. Piccolo crashed his left fist into the Android's stomach knocking it into the air. Leaping up he smashed a roundhouse kick into it's face sending it sailing toward Trunks who slammed his left fist into it's head knocking it toward Goten. As he went to kick the machine into the ground it turned in the air and slammed its feet into his stomach knocking him out.
Piccolo growled. "Damn, guess that rules out a fusion..."
Piccolo and Trunks were just about to charge in again when a blue light suddenly bathed the city streets. "Kamehameha!" They looked up and saw a large Kamehameha wave surging down from a Super Sai-jin Goku. The Android launched into the air and away from the wave. Goku quickly redirected it to follow him. The Android turned to face the wave and fired a blast of his own. The two hit and the Androids wave began to slowly overtake the Kamehameha. In a flash Goku transformed again. As he did, and his wave began to overtake the Android's, it ended it's attack and flew down into the ground disappearing from sight below the city streets. "Would have been here sooner but for some reason my Instant Transmission wouldn't work." Then Goku powered down and landed before walking over to Goten. "Good, he's still alive. How are you two?"
"I'm good." Piccolo said.
"My arm hurts like hell." Trunks said. His right arm hung from his shoulder like dead weight. "I think he broke it." Just then a sudden surge of power hit their senses like a ton of bricks. Something seemed to be powering up near Goku's place.
Goku stared off in that direction a moment before picking up the unconscious teen at his feet. "Trunks, grab my arm. I'll get us to the look out and have you two healed. Piccolo, see what you can do to help Gohan and Buu."
The Namek nodded as Goku vanished with Trunks and Goten.
******
Krillin watched as the large gray man suddenly vanished from in front of him and then reappeared in the rubble of the Son home. He bent down and sifted through the rubble then stood holding what was unmistakably the four star Dragonball. Then he lifted into the air and sped off into the distance. Just as Krillin lost sight of him Gohan landed.
Gohan just stood and stared at the ruins of the house unable to speak for a moment. Then slowly the shock wore off and he looked around. He saw Krillin kneeling beside 18 and a few feet from them he saw Videl. He ran over to her quickly and knelt down beside her to check for a pulse. "No... Kami no..." Krillin looked up from where he knelt as Gohan looked back at him. "Who did this?"
The short man shook his head. "I don't know... he was big and gray and didn't say a thing. But he knew you were coming. Once you started on the way here he just... took the Dragonball and left."
"Dad's Dragonball?" Gohan asked in surprise. "We have to get it back..." He looked up at the ruins again. "Who... Who all was in the house?"
"Everyone. Only me, 18, 17, and Videl stayed out here to fight."
Gohan looked around as he stood. "Krillin, you said 17 was out here fighting right?"
"Yeah."
"Where is he?"
Krillin looked around too. "I don't know... he was lying over there by the trees."
Gohan looked over and saw the trench his body had gouged out after being hit but there was no sign of 17. Then he felt it. About five miles yards into the forest a massive power flared to life. Just as the power hit his senses a blue glow seeped through the trees steadily growing brighter as the power built. In a flash Gohan was in the air and heading toward the power as he blinked back more tears. /Don't worry Pan, Videl, I'll get the Dragonball back and gather the rest./
******
Vegeta and Hope had tried fighting 13 without transforming but that had gotten them nowhere. Even as a Super Sai-jin Vegeta was having a hard time even following its movements. Hope was having more luck as she caught the machine with a hard left hook before driving her right knee into it's gut. The Android barely even registered the blows and backhanded her away. As Vegeta charged in again the Android spun and slammed it's heel into his jaw knocking fifty yards through sky before he slammed into another building and out the other side.
"That's it you mechanical freak!" he shouted. "I've had just about enough of you!"
The Android laughed. "And what are you going to do Vegeta? The girl is much stronger than you are and she's not even my equal."
Vegeta clenched his fists and began to power up. In an instant his aura flared brilliantly and blue lightning traced around it. Hope felt the power jump Vegeta had just made from his transformation, he was now stronger than she was and she hoped there would be no need for her to transform and show the Android all of her power. As it was she saw the look of shock on his face as he processed the increase in her grandfather's power. That was an edge she wanted to keep until absolutely necessary to let it out. The less the Android knew the cockier it would be and the easier it would be to beat.
Vegeta sped past her in a flash of gold and slammed his fist into the Android's face before kicking it in the stomach and then throwing it down into the street below. As Vegeta unleashed a volley of energy blasts Hope was actually grateful that Cell had wiped out the locals, they didn't have to hold back any. Back in her own time her and her father were well known for who and what they were, a side effect of Trunks being filmed destroying the Androids. She found it strange that here Gohan and the others were known only because of Videl and her father. That was another good reason to be happy the city was empty, no one to find out the truth.
As Vegeta relaxed his attack Hope felt a wash of power from near Goku's place. "Vegeta! Do you feel that?"
He looked back at her for a second before sensing it as well. His concentration on the fight had been blocking his senses. "Shit, that has to be Cell! Both of the Androids are at Kakkarotto's! Come on, if 13's still alive we can finish it off later, Cell's more important."
"Right." With that the two sped off toward Goku's again.
******
As Gohan started toward the power he'd felt he saw Buu approaching. "Buu, where's my dad?" he called to the pink creature.
"Went fight with Goten and Trunks."
Gohan nodded. "Come with me, I may need your help."
As Buu turned toward him and started to follow he looked back at the ruined house. "What happened to house?" Buu asked.
Gohan didn't say anything until they were almost on top of the other power. "Someone blew it up... killed everyone except Krillin, 18, and possibly 17."
Buu looked over at him with a sad look. "Bee? Pan?"
Gohan nodded as they landed. He could tell Buu was upset, Bee and Pan were two of his best friends. Still, at the moment his main focus was on the glowing blue shape in the middle of the clearing. "Buu, I know it hurts but you have to focus, this is probably Cell." Despite the comment seemingly being directed at Buu Gohan knew it was more for himself than the other.
A second later he was proven right as the glow faded to reveal a transformed Cell. As per 17's description he was pink. Otherwise he still looked the same as the original Cell's second stage. Cell smiled. "Ah, Gohan. Nice to see you again."
"Cell." Gohan replied vehemently.
The Biodroid looked over at the large pink blob beside Gohan. "Ah, and Majin Buu..." he said grinning. "Yes, I know all about you, thanks to your Cells."
"Enough talk!" Gohan yelled charging in at Cell and tossing out all rational thought. Gohan lashed out with his right fist blindly and Cell dodged easily. Gohan's anger had always increased his power before and it was doing so now but the pain of losing his mother, his wife, and his daughter was dulling his senses. His attacks were powerful enough to shatter entire planets but wild enough to miss entire galaxies.
"You're pathetic!" Cell laughed. This only made Gohan's power grow more and his attacks more wild. Suddenly Cell's fist slammed into Gohan's stomach. Despite Gohan's anger induced power boost and the fact he was stronger than Cell because of it the punch still hurt severely since he was focused entirely on attacking and didn't care about guarding. As Gohan recoiled from the blow Cell had delivered the Biodroid smashed his other fist into his face knocking him back past Buu and into a tree.
The large Buu watched as Gohan slammed into the tree knocking it over before slumping to the ground. He also felt Gohan's KI drop suddenly, not from injury but from forfeiture. Buu could feel it. Gohan didn't care anymore, he didn't care about anything. He'd lost three of things he cared about most in this world. He felt like he'd failed them, failed everyone... again. It was like against Nappa all those years ago, or on Namek against Recoome, or Frieza. Even when he had the power to save people he failed, like seventeen years ago against Cell when his father had died doing what he should have done sooner. Sure Goku was back again but it still hurt.
Buu turned and looked over at Cell who was still laughing. As steam poured out of the holes in his head and arms and his aura built around him his eyes turned deep red. "You hurt Buu's friends... you killed Buu's friends!" he roared. Cell suddenly stopped laughing as Buu's power began to build. "Buu not like you!" he screamed as he thrust his short arms forward bathing the area in an eerie pink glow as the energy surged forward and tore into Cell and then through the trees behind him.
It was this scene that Hope and Vegeta arrived at. As the two landed Buu's attack came to a close as he relaxed some. The entire area was devastated, trees had been incinerated by the blast, and a trench had been carved into the now scorched landscape. As they stared on they couldn't see anything left of Cell but something felt off.
"He's still alive, I can feel it." Vegeta said looking around.
"After a blast like that?" Hope asked.
Her question was answered as the ground several yards down the trench tore open and a rather mangled Cell floated into the air. His legs and arms were missing and his face had been distorted beyond recognition. As the limbs grew back his face pulsed and shifted until it was back to normal. "Why you!" he started but then stopped as he saw Vegeta and Hope. "Vegeta, it's nice to see you again too. Oh, and who's the girl?" he asked with a grin.
Vegeta just growled but held back on attacking him. He could feel how strong Cell was and knew he was no match for the Biodroid. "Gohan!" he yelled looking back at the still slumped over and crying Sai-jin.
Buu shook his head. "Gohan sad. Said big man kill everyone at house."
Vegeta looked over at Buu. "What!"
"He's right." Gohan said still sobbing. "Krillin told me what happened. Some big gray guy attacked them and blew up the house. Everyone but him, 17, 18, and Videl was inside. But then he killed Videl too."
Vegeta growled again. "Damn Androids!" He turned and looked at Cell. "This is your fault!"
"Me? I had nothing to do with that attack. I don't even know who that guy was but it was good timing I must say. He knocked out poor 17 in that scuffle, made it so much easier for me to absorb him."
With a roar Vegeta charged in at Cell pulling back both fists and charging them with KI. The Biodroid didn't even bother to move as Vegeta's fists slammed into his chest releasing their blasts at point blank range. They made small indentations in his armor which quickly sealed up. Cell smiled. "Please Vegeta, you're nothing compared to me." With a swift backhand Vegeta was sent off through a few of the remaining trees before his KI vanished.
Hope knew Cell was stronger than her, not as strong as the Majin Buu she'd been fighting, but still stronger than her. Still she leapt at him transforming to level two along the way. Cell felt the sudden boost in her power and watched her come. "Girl, I don't know who you are or where you came from but if you want to die I'll gladly oblige." With that he swung a massive fist at her. She started to dodge but the fist grazed her shoulder and knocked her spinning.
They all heard the audible crack as her shoulder shattered. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" she cried grabbing her shoulder as she hit the ground.
"Aw, did I hurt you?" he asked smirking. "You shouldn't have moved, then you'd be dead and it wouldn't hurt so much."
Suddenly Gohan was back on his feet again. His face was still pointed at the ground but his fists were clenched at his side. His muscles spasmed as his aura flared up brilliantly. "I... I wont let you..." he managed through chocked sobs. The aura that danced about him shifted to a deep blue as Gohan's entire body began to shiver. His mind wasn't focused on the current situation. It was repeating over and over again all the fights he'd been in. Seeing Chaotzu, Yamcha, Tien, and Piccolo die against Nappa and the Saibamen. Their near defeat on Namek, Krillin's death against Frieza. And then again and again he saw his dad vanish with Cell, sacrificing himself to save them all. A move which had been futile as Cell reappeared moments later and killed Trunks. "I... I can't let you... I won't let you..." His aura seemed to stutter. It faded away and then came back in a bright flash again and again. Each time it was laced with more and more gold.
Goku appeared off to the right of the others with Goten and Trunks on either side of him. They watched as Gohan's power continued to fluctuate. "Pan...." In a bright flash his aura stabilized as solid gold, yet his hair was still black. "Videl..." Suddenly his head snapped up and he glared across at Cell. "Mom..." Gohan's eyes where pure white as he glared down at Cell. "CELL!" The muscles on his arms bulged massively as he surged in toward the pink Biodroid.
Cell didn't have a chance to react as Gohan's fist slammed into his face twisting it and distorting it. Before he could even start to put his face back to normal Gohan was pummeling him like mad. Each punch and each kick left dents in Cell's body. Suddenly Gohan spun around and slammed his heel into the Biodroid's neck stretching it away from his body. Then he brought his knee up into Cell's stomach flinging him into the air. Landing Gohan cupped his hands at his sides. "Kaaaaaaaaa... Meeeeeeeeee... Haaaaaaaaaaaa... Meeeeeeeeee... Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" He thrust his hands up into the air and let the energy pour out at Cell. They could all tell every ounce of his power was in the attack. As it charged at Cell they could sense Gohan's power as it began to drop.
The wave slammed into Cell and tore on past him and off into space. As Gohan stood there putting everything he had into that attack his gold aura shimmered and dropped down to the deep blue of a moment ago before turning white again and his power returned to normal. Still it continued to drop.
Goku's eyes went wide. "Gohan, no! Don't do it!"
Gohan didn't seem to hear his father as the energy wave still surged onward. For nearly a minute Gohan poured his heart and soul into his attack. Then suddenly it stopped dead as Gohan's KI vanished and he fell over face first into the dirt. There was no sign of Cell left in the sky. Goku and Goten both ran over to Gohan. "Oh no, Gohan." Goku cried bending over. Placing his hand on Gohan's neck he checked for a pulse. Goku stopped dead, frozen. He swallowed as he looked down at his son. "No... Gohan. Not you too..."
"He's... he's gone?" Goten asked in shock. Goku nodded. "He gave everything in that attack. Everything he had."
Buu walked up to Gohan and knelt down to try and heal him but it didn't work. "He was sad." Buu said at last looking Gohan over. "Lost Pan..."
Goku felt sick as he stood back up. "Chi-Chi..." he said softly. /I lost them all in less than an hour... Chi-Chi, my first son, my granddaughter. All I have left is Goten.../ He felt the sting of tears in is his. "We have to get the Dragonball back. Too many people have died today..."
Hope managed to pull herself to her feet and as she did Buu saw her injury. He walked over to her and healed her then looked around for where Vegeta had been knocked too. When he saw the broken trees he flew off in that direction to heal him as well.
A moment later Vegeta walked back into the clearing with Buu in tow and saw Gohan on the ground and the looks on everyone's faces. "We still have three Androids to track down." he said softly.
As Goku bent down to pick up Gohan there was a flash of blue in the sky and a rush of power ripped over the area rustling trees and ripping many of the dead ones out of the ground. Everyone turned to look at the sky where the light came from. It pulsed in waves from a single piece of writhing pink stuff. They all felt the sudden build in power from the twisting and pulsing thing as it began to grow bigger. Suddenly a leg shot out of it followed by another and then a pair of arms. It took only a moment for the body to re-grow almost completely. All that was missing was his head but that too grew back within seconds.
"There's no way!" Hope cried looking up at Cell.
"That settles it." Vegeta said glaring at the pink Biodroid. "He's definitely got Buu's regenerative powers."
Goku stood back up and glared at Cell who was looking himself over and laughing. "Amazing! That kid put out much more power than I'd imagined possible... but look at me, I'm still alive!"
"Not for long." Goku said with more edge to his voice than anyone there was used to. Cell started to laugh again as Goku transformed. He still laughed as he ascended to the second level. Then he stopped and stared at Goku as he felt the power that was building around him. In a blinding flash he'd transformed to level three. Cell glared down at him. He'd expected Goku to have gotten stronger since fighting Buu but... he was stronger than him! Even if just barely. Still, it was a fight he'd rather not have at the moment. Suddenly Cell's power dipped down to the barely detectable level and he placed two fingers to his forehead. "No you don't Cell!" Goku cried launching into the air but before Goku could reach him Cell had vanished.
