Save the Day

I don't own DBZ. Yeah, I'm sure.

Warning: Same as the last; blood, character death.

Oh, and this one is for Mechanical Butterfly…I hope its something.

Chapter Four

Neither of them moved. For Piccolo it was out of fear. For Cell however it was out of rapt fascination. Goku had finally showed up, just as they had sensed. He barely spared them a glance as he walked past them, seemingly in some sort of trance. Piccolo knew what had gotten the other male's attention. Goku had made a beeline for…what was left of the body of the Prince.

From his post attached to the tree, the Namekian could not see far enough to know what was happening though he had tried. His ears however picked up everything. There was hardly audible sobbing. With every minute that passed it got louder and louder. It was becoming unbearable. He couldn't ignore the crushing feeling of dread. This was just the calm before the storm. It would only get worse and he was afraid that not even he would survive impending onslaught.

Cell hadn't said a word as of yet. He just floated there and watched. His arms crossed neatly over his chest. The Namekian fighter was startled when Cell turned to him abruptly with a large grin on his face.

"How much longer do you think it will take, Namek?" He said.

Piccolo just stared at the man. This creature…it was ten times worse than the Cell that he had known. And that Cell had been responsible for the deaths of countless people. There was just something even more sinister about this one. But he seemed to take such immense pleasure in stalking his victims. He seemed to just that more interested and creative in the ways that he murdered them. Piccolo mentally shrank back at the thought, but maybe it was the Saiyan blood in him. Or maybe it was the fact that this version actually seemed to have a soul, tainted though it may be. In his android form, Cell had been a heartless killing machine. But this one…there was something laying there behind those strange pale eyes. Something that if Piccolo looked upon for a second to long, chilled him to his very core.

"Hmm…I do think that I will let you watch." Cell said, a childishly pleased gleam in his eyes. "You're not going anywhere are you?"

"You're sick!" Piccolo spat.

This had finally gotten that attention of Goku, who had been slumped over the body of his mate. He was now walking towards them, a blank expression on his noticeably colorless face. He approached the two of them. It was eerily silent. Piccolo was almost afraid to breathe.

"How are you doing, Piccolo?" Goku looked up at him and said. His eyebrows were knit together in concern.

The Namekian was unnerved at the calm that had laced the voice.

"I'll live." He replied. It was true. Most of the pain was becoming just an annoying numbing sensation. He figured it was the work of gravity. His lower half was dangling unsupported by the tree, he couldn't he feel is toes anymore.

Cell seemed even more amused at the seemingly odd nature of the exchange. He lowered himself to the ground and stood directly in front of the object of his attention.

"So, Goku," Cell said his grin only growing at the sound of his own voice. "I see that you've found your boyfriend?"

The raven haired man turned to the sound of the callous voice.

"I think you'll be pleased to know that I have even better plans for you." The green haired man continued.

In the blink of an eye, not to mention a fantastic flash of light, Goku was flowing with the power of Super Saiyan 3 and landing a ridiculously powerful punch to the abdomen of Cell. The hybrid Saiyan crumbled to the ground on his hands and knees. His blood and saliva speckling the ground in a fit of ragged coughs.

Goku ignored the gasps and chocking sounds. He stood stock still next to the retching form of the grounded man. Piccolo noted the far off stare of the ascended Saiyan.

"Well, that's just a taste of what I have planned for you." Goku snarled.

The guttural nature of the statement rattled even Piccolo. He had never heard Goku this way. Not even when they had been enemies once upon a time. Well, to his own credit, he had never been foolish enough to murder the man's mate.

On his knees, blood trickling down his face, Cell looked up through the thick green leaves of his hair and cracked a grin.

"Now, now Goku…"

"KAKAROT!" The seething warrior nearly screamed. "Goku is dead! You've killed him. Or haven't you noticed. Isn't that what you were sent here for, Android?"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk…Kakarot," That roll of the 'r' Cell had taken great care in producing, it made the other man's heart thump sharply. Vegeta had said his name that same way. "You and your friends aren't very perceptive are you? I'm no longer some weak android."

"Really?" Kakarot growled softly.

Suddenly he grabbed a handful of Cell's thick hair and yanked it back hard enough to make even Piccolo wince. The force caused the former bio-android's body the arch backward, he winced slightly in protest. He was forced to look directly into the angry Saiyan's eyes. He was reminded momentarily of his nemesis, Gohan. But the boy had nothing on his father in this instant however. Kakarot's eyes held more hate and just damned feral ferocity than the boy could have ever hoped to muster. The long flowing, golden hair and brutish brow only added to the picture of full on Saiyan fury.

Cell refused to flinch at the sight however, his mouth stretching into a blood stained grin. Cell closed his eyes and chuckled, angering the fully charged Saiyan to no end.

"Are you going to make me suffer, Kakarot?" Cell said, peppering his own blood on his attacker's face. "Your prince promised the same thing."

Piccolo watched on the scene in a fogged daze caused most likely by the rapid lose of vital body fluids no doubt. Yet he was still conscious enough to be highly confused. Cell had said that he was disappointed in Goku's power level. So why was it that Cell was currently being ripped limb from limb. Adding to the fact that Goku was now insisting that his name was Kakarot, the Namekian was growing even more concerned about the out come of this fight.

Meanwhile, somewhere buried under the rumble of his subconscious, the personality dubbed Mirai Cell was experiencing the most intense pain that he had ever known. This was the key as to why his counter part had yet to submit. He had channeled his physical pain onto his weaker self. This had become his version of punishment for what he thought was Mirai's pathetic behavior.

Kakarot's ears perked up at the sound of a gurgled chuckle emanating from the direction of Cell.

The hybrid Saiyan's amused expression faded almost instantaneously once he felt strong fingers running through the soft fur of his tail. He fought to suppress the purr that had tried to emerge. But that was totally forgotten once those same fingers clapped down and crushed said tail. He did not scream to his credit. Not even when Kakarot proceeded to rip the mangled appendage off, though his throat did erupt in a strangled gasp.

"You make a poor Saiyan, Cell." The one called Kakarot said as he flung the piece of flesh away.

"Very nice." The former android replied between heavy pants. "You're well on your way."

And that had been the point when Android Seventeen showed up. Piccolo hadn't even notice the approaching Ki signature. It was a strange one, the artificial nature of it should have set off alarms instantly. The former Demon King wondered if Goku or Cell had sensed Seventeen and had just ignored it.

The blue eyed android looked on at the scene in a mix of shock and disgust. He opened his mouth to say something but after looking into the face of the Saiyan formerly known as Goku he quickly snapped it shut. He made his way over to Piccolo, never taking his eyes off of Goku and Cell.

"You've come for the Namek, brother?" Cell said with a slight smile.

Seventeen grimaced at the statement. He was not that bastard's brother.

"Good, take him from here." The blue skinned Saiyan said as he struggled to get to his feet. "I'll come for you both when I am finished here."

This of course led the android to wonder if the other man was actually serious. From where he was standing, it looked as if Goku had this whole thing just about wrapped up. Cell was barely standing on his own. He sighed, turned to Piccolo and took in the sight before him. He gave the green skinned male an apologetic look before reaching for him.

There was a painful grunt and then Piccolo felt his feet once again on solid ground. He leaned heavily on the dark haired cyborg's shoulder, the tree branch still protruding form his middle.

"Oh you won't be leaving this place, Cell." Kakarot said, confidence and barely contained fury oozing from every word.

"On the contrary…Kakarot." The 'r' was rolled again and once again the desired effect was gained. "I've got my mind set. I plan to make that brat of yours…what's his name…Kabu?"

Kakarot growled.

"Ahh, yes…I plan to make the little one an orphan."

Just as the last word left his mouth, the air round Cell began to shimmer. The nitrogen and oxygen atoms excited until electricity began to pop and crackle. His ivy tinted mane had begun to stand on end be never changed a shade. His lavender hued orbs never left the stone cold sable ones of his prey. His smirk had even grown into a manic grin.

"Sad that the boy will never know his parents." He said, low rumbling emerging from his throat.

And then a force the likes of had never been seen was unleashed upon the Earth…

He was instantly amazed that he was still breathing, fantastically surprised that he could still open his eyes. Not the he could really make out what he was seeing, but still it was a small victory. Piccolo's body had been through a lot in the past half an hour or so, including being run through with a tree branch, but amazingly he was still vaguely aware of his surroundings.

He registered a body draped over his own. He forced his eyes to look downward, towards his chest. There he could make out a patch of black. He figured that it was the android, Seventeen. Seventeen's limp body weighed heavily on his chest, almost restricting his labored breaths. He would have said something in protest but he found that he did not have the strength.

Almost as soon as he realized this, his nose was assaulted with a putrid smell. He knew it immediately as the odor of burnt flesh. He was not sure but he guessed it to be his own and maybe even Seventeen's as well. The android was not moving. This was a bad sign. Though as if by some miracle, Piccolo found himself lifting the only part of his body he still could feel. His hand fell heavily onto the back of his companion and he noticed the wood textured object protruding from it.

"Fuck!" He moaned weakly. "Seven…Seventeen?"

He received no answer from the male cyborg. The Namekian groaned in frustration.

He couldn't see much else with his blurred vision. But he could still feel Ki signatures. Seventeen's odd signature was very weak but still existent. He threaded his fingers through the android's silky black hair reassuringly.

In the distance he sensed two massive power levels. One of them was much larger than the other.

"Son…" Piccolo managed to whisper before he was claimed by dark oblivion.

The light had faded. The wave of electrical currant had blunted into a dull pulse. Upon unshielding his eyes, Kakarot continued to stand his ground. His orange and blue Gi was tore asunder by the vicious energy but still he remained. He did not falter in the face of Cell's new power, though it was much larger than he ever could have imagined. But he still believed…power wasn't everything.

Cell's eyes were locked on him, a gruesome grin twisting his delicate features. Kakarot's eyes lowered instinctively as something flickering just below his line of sight. He watched as a newly grown tail wrapped its self around the taller one's waist. The blonde shimmering warrior's senses were on high alert, prompting his ears to perk up at the sound of liquid pelting against the ground softly. His eyes fell further; he became fascinated by the dark puddles of crimson that had pooled underneath both of Cell's tightly clenched fists. His sharp nails digging holes in his hands obviously. He continued to watch as the fists loosened until rivulets of blood steamed down spread fingers.

"That is only the beginning." Kakarot thought.

"Oh, and by the way, Kakarot." Cell's voice cut through the Saiyan's dazed blood lust, drawing his attention to his face once again. "I don't agree. I believe I make a hell of a Saiyan."

"Well then…" Kakarot nearly roared. His monstrous brow lowered on his face which caused his ominous blue eyes to narrow dangerously. "Show me!"

A/N: Hmm…

MB: I hope that the bit of violence that Goku did get to inflict on Cell was a little help you deal with the death of the Prince.

Card: Well…about the power level remark. It would seem that as of now the power level that Goku has achieved (Super Saiyan 3, I am ignoring the existence of GT as well as SS4) is still low compared to the power level of this Cell. That's why Cell said that it was low…meaning in comparison to his own. And Gohan will get his as well, patience.

I didn't really feel the need to go into gruesome detail about the fight between Goku and Cell. Goku gets dieded…that all that really matters. Besides, the next chapter will have enough blood and death…and destruction…and…