THE CELL GAMETRIX REVOLUTIONS

Gohan landed on the rock with the other Z Fighters, and saw that the machine #18 was awake. She had watched his battle with Cell and his many clones, and had a proposition to make.

"Gohan," she said to him. "I'm sure you know by now that Cell is infecting the Cell Game, posing a serious threat to both the machines and the humans. This is not a good situation for either of us. I've been told that you are the only one who can permanently defeat Cell."

Gohan was wary. "But the machines have been trying to destroy the Z Fighters. You don't want us telling more humans the truth, and you're making us pay. Why should I do this if it only works to your advantage?"

#18 sighed heavily. "The machines will leave your faction alone, and call a truce. If you destroy Cell."

Gohan looked out over the cliff. Cell and his clones were slowly destroying everything in sight. There was no other alternative. He turned back to the machine as the sky began to thunder.

"We have a deal."

A flash of lightning punctuated the darkness. As Gohan landed softly on the ground, the sky opened up and began to pour. The Cell Jrs stood in two rows on either side of Gohan. He began to walk down the path they had made for him; each one followed him with their eyes as he passed. At the end of the line stood the original Cell, glaring at him.

"Mr. Son," he said. "I overheard your little chat with the machine. Excellent hearing, you know." He indicated his head. "You realize that only one of us will come out alive this time."

Gohan smiled, crouched, and beckoned to Cell with one hand. Cell snarled and lunged. Gohan was amazed at how much faster he had become. They grappled furiously. They were deadlocked. Finally Gohan kicked Cell in the stomach, breaking them apart, and leaped into the air.

Cell smirked. "I forgot to mention," he said. "When you invaded my body, I may have picked up a few of your tricks." He flew upward as well, meeting Gohan in midair. The Cell Jrs watched from the ground. They exchanged blows, ending the skirmish with Cell kicking Gohan into a tall rock. He followed Gohan, stopping on the rock. He punched; Gohan blocked with his arm, then punched Cell in the gut. He backflipped over Cell, then kicked his back, sending him sailing back into the air. Gohan shot at Cell as the latter whipped around. They clashed, shattering the environment around them.

Cell raised his arm in rage and slammed Gohan to the ground, creating a huge crater. Gohan rasied his head and looked around him: the Cell Jrs were closing in, standing around the edge of the crater, some standing inside it. Gohan felt a dull pain in his arm; it was broken. Cell landed beside him.

"You fought valiantly, Mr. Son," he said, yanking Gohan to his feet. "But it all ends here." He cupped his hands at his sides. "Ka, Me, Ha, Me..." Gohan saw what his foe was doing. Frantically, he leaped backward and imitated Cell with his free hand. Two enormous balls of energy formed in their hands. They looked at each other, reaching a silent understanding that this was the final action. They thrust their arms forward. "HAAAAAAAAAA!"

The beams collided with unimaginable force. The energy pulse grew so extreme that many of the Cell Jrs were vaporized instantly. The two adversaries struggled with all their might. Gohan tried as hard as he could, but with one arm, his beam was being driven uncontrollably backward. Sweat poured down his face as he struggled vainly. He had lost.

He recalled Goku's words, echoing in his mind. Can you do this, Gohan? Can you become The One? Gohan's eyes narrowed, and his face showed new determination. He could do this. He had done this. He was The One. He was The One!

Letting out a scream of pure rage and agony, Gohan threw all his energy into a final burst. Cell, caught off guard, yelled as the beam flew back toward him. It began to overtake him; he called to his clones to help him, but the remaining Cell Jrs were standing behind him, dumbstruck. They too were destroyed by the tremendous beam as it made its way past Cell.

There was a blinding flash of light, and when it cleared up, Cell and his clones were obliterated. Gohan was lying on the ground, his arms spread straight out on either side of him. He had hit the ground with such force that a cross-shaped crater surrounded him. The Z Fighters and the machine #18 rushed over to him.

"Is he...dead?" asked Piccolo.

"He made the ultimate sacrifice," said #18. "Cell has been destroyed, and we machines will no longer harm you humans. The world is at peace. Gohan died for the sins of all of us."

Gohan's eyelids opened slowly. "I...I'm not..." he began, but his body was covered by Piccolo's cloak as #18 bore him into the sky.

Dende and the Eternal Dragon stood together on Kami's Lookout, watching the sunny sky. There was a rainbow lighting it up, to signify peace.

"AW, DENDE," said the Eternal Dragon, looking at the rainbow. "DID YOU MAKE THAT?"

"Yes!" squealed Dende enthusiastically. "For Gohan."

The two looked at out at the world, smiling. They thought about Gohan and his death, as a frantic scraping sound came from inside the nearby memorial and grave of The One. Yes, peace had returned to the world, but for how long? Only time would tell.

THE END