Chapter 26: Infection

I woke up bright and early the next day and noticed that my head was lying upon Trunks' chest. We had fallen asleep together.

Katie, what are you doing? I thought.

I remembered what happened last night. Trunks and I had Bonded and, well, kept going after that.

Well, that's just the way Sayjins are. We are one now.

But why did I do it?

I got up quietly and took a long, cold, shower. Then I changed into my Gi and replaced Arina onto my left hip. By then, Vegeta and Trunks were up.

We ate breakfast and walked out of the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. Goku and Gohan were there waiting.

"Wow, you guys have grown really strong." Goku exclaimed.

"Yes, you better watch it, Kakorot. I may just have to kill you when Cell is dead."

"Sure, Vegeta." Goku said sincerely. My arm was hurting again, so I was absently rubbing it.

"What's wrong with your arm, Katie?" Goku asked.

"I'm not sure. I think I may have pinched a nerve while training. But don't worry, it won't keep me from kicking Cell's butt." I said with a smirk. Goku nodded in agreement as I headed out a little closer to the edge of the Lookout. Goku and Gohan entered and I searched for Cell's Ki signal. I found it, near the islands.

He's searching for 18.

"Come on, he's this way." I led the flight and all three of us went SSJ as we flew.

The closer I got to Cell's Ki signature, the move butterflies I had in my stomach.

I wasn't this nervous when I fought the other villains, so why now?

I couldn't place my finger on why I was nervous, but I wasn't going to hesitate or back down against Cell. If I could fight Vegeta, my hero, I could fight a villain without problem.

The ocean in all its glory signaled the halfway point. As we got closer I could also sense Krillen, Tien, and Yamcha as well as Cell.

"Katie, you've been quiet this morning." Trunks flew up beside me.

"Yeah, well, so have you."

"Look, about last night. What happened?"

"We Bonded. It's a Sayjin thing, it's what your mom and dad did."

"So, we're together, then?" he asked hesitantly.

"Yeah, we're together forever."

I sped up then, not wanting to talk anymore about the previous night. Vegeta was deaf and blind to us, and I was relieved at that. He'd throw a fit if he knew.

Finally I saw an explosion. It was Cell blowing up islands, trying to find 18. I sensed Krillen and, though Vegeta didn't listen, Trunks and I landed near them. Vegeta distracted Cell.

"Katie, are you okay? You don't look so good. You're breathing really hard." Trunks asked as we walked toward 18 and Krillen.

"I'm just nervous, that's all. I'll be okay in a second, Trunks."

"Katie, Trunks, where have you been?"

"It's a long story, Krillen. Do you have the remote?" Trunks asked.

"I smashed it. I- I couldn't do it." Krillen hung his head. I turned to 18; she had tears on her face. It was because 17 was gone.

"18? Are you okay?" I asked while Trunks talked with Krillen.

"He absorbed my brother!" 18 said quietly. She was very upset.

"I know. Gero told you about me, right?"

"Yes, it was in our programming about you and the other fighters."

"Then you know that if you want to live, you'll follow me now. Don't ask any questions, just follow me." I walked over to Trunks and Krillen.

"So what's the plan?" Krillen asked.

"We're getting 18 outta here. Follow me, and keep your Ki as low as possible. If we're lucky, Vegeta will keep Cell distracted long enough for us to get her outta here."

"Right." So I looked up at Cell and Vegeta. They were so close I could clearly see all the spots on Cell's body. I walked over and made sure my path wouldn't lead us into Cell's vision. Then I motioned the others to follow.

The island was small, of course, but we had to go slow so our Ki wouldn't jump. It took a few minutes to get around the hill silently, and the terrain made it hard to breathe proper. The others were more use to this type of terrain, so they weren't breathing as hard as me. My left arm started to throb again, but I had to get to the other side of the island so I could find a clear path for us to take. We got to the other side and I looked around.

"Krillen, fly up and tell me the layout. And keep your Ki low."

Krillen flew up slowly and looked around for a moment. Then he landed and gave the layout.

"There are only three islands in our way to open water. If we go that way-" he pointed straight out, "-then we'll reach Roshi's island. We can hide her there for a while until we get a plan together."

"Okay, Krillen. Lead the way."

"I don't think so." I turned around to see Cell landing. Vegeta was behind him, coming to see him absorb 18. "I'm here for the android. If you leave now, I'll spare you a painful death."

Krillen immediately moved in front of 18, and I did the same for the rest of the group. Trunks was right beside me.

"I won't let you absorb her."

"You think you can stop me?" Cell challenged. We powered up, but I waited to do Ultra SSJ.

"I'll kill you before you even raise your hand to aim a blast at me, Cell."

"Big words, but can you back them up?" and almost on command I moved behind Cell fast enough that I left an after image. I drew Arina and slashed at him, cutting off his tail. I knew it would grow back, but it distracted him for the moment.

"Ki Sword Slash!" I slashed at him again and cut off his right arm again.

"Now its my turn." He regenerated his arm and tail and turned to face me. I jumped back a little and sheathed Arina. "Ka-Me-Ha-Me-Ha!"

"Gatlik Gun!" we shot our attacks at once and the blasts connected. Now it was just a test to see who could keep up their blast longer. The hue of our connected blasts was so bright I couldn't see anything.

I held the blast a long time, thinking Cell would go down first. I was tiring, so I figured he wouldn't last much longer.

"Katie, keep it up!" I heard one of the others yell.

I slid down to one knee, keeping my place, but tiring still.

How much more can he take?

"Katie, get out of there!"

What?

My blast was losing power, but before I could do anything the combined blasts hit me and knocked me back into a rock wall. I was deep in a crater that my body had made on contact with the rock wall. For a moment I couldn't move, and I lost hold of SSJ.

"Katie, run!" Cell was coming toward me, and he looked a fresh as ever.

Why isn't he tired?

My SG went off, but it didn't hurt this time. Either that or I was hurting so bad it didn't matter. I was stuck. I couldn't get up at all.

What's wrong with me?

Then Trunks came into the fray and knocked Cell away. He went to turn to me, but I wouldn't let him.

"Protect 18! I'll be fine, but if Cell gets her, we're all finished!"

Well that sparked something in everyone's heads, especially Cell's.

Why'd I say that? Now Cell will be more determined to get 18!

I crawled out of the crater and made my way back to the battlefield. My chest and arm were throbbing, and I was having trouble breathing. I figured something must have been broken, so I ate a Zinzu bean. It didn't seem to help.

I walked over to Krillen and 18 and watched as Trunks fought.

"Krillen, take these. I'm going to get 18 out of here while Cell is busy." I handed him the Zinzu beans and grabbed 18's arm.

"Come on!" I hissed to 18 as we got going.

"Kid, you don't look so good. Maybe Krillen should-"

"No, I can get you there. Follow me." As soon as my feet left the ground, Cell purposely blasted my right leg. I was really weak by now, and I fell to the ground, barely able to see. 18 knelt beside me and helped me to a sitting position.

"Kid, you better rest. It looks like your boyfriend has it under control." I looked and saw Trunks fighting Cell, and he was doing a good job of it.

"It'll get worse if we can't get you out of here soon. You and 17 tried to find Goku at an island house earlier today, right?"

"Yeah, he wasn't there."

"Can you find that house from here?"

"I think so."

"Then go. Take this with you. I named it Arina, tell them that." I handed her my sword.

"Your katana?"

"Go!" 18 gripped the sword tight and went to take off. She wasn't in the air for five minutes before Trunks was knocked aside near me. Cell took off after 18.

"Vegeta, stop him!"

"Why should I?"

"You'll regret it later, go!" I was breathing really hard now, and my chest was starting to really hurt.

Why didn't the Zinzu bean work?

Vegeta didn't listen, and a moment later I felt Cell's power increase. Krillen almost fell when the ground started to shake. The wind blew hard and it looked as though a storm was coming.

"He got her." Krillen said sadly. Cell landed a moment later in his 'Perfect' form. He tossed my sword aside, and I was glad that he brought it back. I used my Ki to bring it to myself and I reattached Arina to my Gi.

"So this is the great Cell? I'll crush you." Vegeta said as he powered up to Ultra SSJ.

"Vegeta, how about I let you help me warm up?" Cell was silent as Vegeta attacked, and Cell made fair game of Vegeta, knocking him away almost instantly. Vegeta fell out of Ultra SSJ and back to normal.

"That didn't warm me up at all…"

"Dad!" Trunks powered up and went to attack Cell, but Cell played with him, too.

"I'll let you in on a secret, runt. Your new transformation has a flaw." Cell boasted.

"I'm slowed down by all this bulk, right?" Trunks replied.

"If you know, then why do you still want to fight me?"

"Because I have people counting on me." Trunks charged and blasted at Cell and missed by a mile as Cell reappeared behind him and knocked him away with ease. The blast came at me and I used my remaining strength to dodge-roll out of the way. But that maneuver left me drained of energy. My heart was beating so irregular and hard that I was in pain, grasping my chest. Trunks faded out of Ultra SSJ and attempted to get up.

"Stay down, runt." Trunks got into a sitting position and couldn't move anymore. Cell walked my way and took a good look at me. He had a confused look and wrapped his tail around me and lifted me into the air, holding me tight. He brought me close to his face and then moved me to the side so he could look at Trunks. I couldn't move to save my life, which is exactly what I needed to do.

"I'll hold a tournament in ten days. Tell your friends that if they want to ever see this girl again, they'll come to fight me. The tournament will be held outside of West City."

"Katie! Let her go!" Trunks charged at Cell, but Cell blasted him and that was the last thing I saw as I fell into unconsciousness.