Chapter 8: The Broken Crystal

"Katie…"

"Cell? Why can't you just leave me alone!" I screamed.

"I will, but I have to ask you something…"

"Why? Why me? Leave me alone! I love Mirai!"

"I know you do, but I want you to know I'm not gone. Would you be willing to destroy me again?"

"What? Cell-"

"Answer the question, would you be willing to destroy me again?"

"I don't know, Cell. I don't understand your question."

"You will, Katie. And remember, I will always care for you. I'm your best friend, no matter what you do."

"And I'm you're best fiend, Cell, but please, you need to leave me alone."

"Of course, your heart is with the runt. No matter what I could do, that will never change. I'm sorry I caused you so much grief. Go to your son."

"Codie!" I shot out of bed and ran toward the door.

"Katie? Wait-"

"Something's wrong with Codie, come on!" I was out the door and headed down the hall. I sensed Codie's Ki was strange, low, and that could not be good.

I got to Codie's room to see a small amount blood and Dextryte on his pillow. He was shaking with a fever and sweating. And he was awake.

"Mirai, go get some towels and ice." I said as soon as Mirai stepped into the room. He nodded and ran off.

I went to Codie's side and looked at him. His eyes were glassy and pale, his skin was pale, and even his hair seemed to droop.

"Mom, I couldn't call to you." he couldn't even speak out loud.

"Its okay, I sensed your Ki. What's wrong?"

"I don't feel so good… my stomach hurts, my chest hurts… my head hurts… it's hard to breathe."

Vegeta walked in, sensing Codie's pain as I had.

"Katrin-"

"Vegeta, I need you to go get an oxygen tank. Codie's having trouble breathing." Vegeta left without a word. I turned back to Codie.

"Mom, what's wrong with me?"

"It's complicated Codie. I don't understand it myself."

"Its okay, I can take whatever it is. I have to know, is it father's fault?"

"Yes, but it's also my fault. Gero explained to me that you're sick because of Cell. When you absorbed Evil Cell. It's like a computer virus. And I haven't been able to find any way to cure you, son. I'm sorry…" I needed to be strong for him, but I couldn't be. I began to cry. "I'm so sorry…"

I felt something on my hand, and I looked to see Codie squeezing my hand. Even now he was brave.

"You couldn't have known, mom. It isn't your fault. And I would have absorbed Cell all over again if I had known about this. I got to know my father, I got to see his memories. I helped save dad, Kanji, and Andy as well. Don't cry, mom, I'll be fine. No matter what happens."

Mirai and Vegeta came in at the same time and we began to clean up Codie. I placed the cold towel on his forehead and attached the air tank. In no time Codie was asleep again, so the three of us left.

"Katrin, does he know yet?"

"Yes, I just told him."

"What do we do? Isn't there a way to fix this?" Mirai asked.

"No, there isn't." I said, "It's more than a fusion, and it's more than a simple virus. I hate to admit it, but… Codie is… Codie is… going to…" I couldn't finish.

"You know what you have to do, don't you?" Vegeta asked.

"What?"

"He's too strong, and he's in a lot of pain."

"Father, you're not suggesting what I think you are, are you? We couldn't do that!"

"It'll be best for Codie. I hate to admit it, but he's stronger than even I am. It would take him months to die. I couldn't live to see him suffer like that." Vegeta said.

"I couldn't kill my son, Vegeta. And Mirai couldn't do it, either." I said.

"Someone has to do it. I've seen what's happened to him. It'll only get worse." Vegeta said.

"But he's my son, Vegeta. I couldn't hurt him."

"Then don't hurt him, just end his pain. Stop the hurting." He replied.

I understand what Cell said in the dream now…

"We can't kill him, Vegeta." Mirai said.

"Mirai, Vegeta's right." I pushed away all emotion, he was right, after all, "I don't like it, in fact I hate it, but if we do nothing his death will be very painful. You've seen how much pain he's experienced already. I don't want him to suffer. I'll do it."

"You can't be serious." Mirai said, shocked.

"Search your soul, boy. You'll see that it's the right thing to do. Sayjins called it Patour, the mercy killing. There are many ways to kill without causing pain." Vegeta said, shaken. He loves Codie, they're close, sparring and talking together all the time. His heart wasn't black anymore, not since Cell killed Mirai all those years ago.

"Katie, are you sure? I mean, someone else could do it." Mirai asked, finally convinced.

"No, I'll do it."

"How will you do it?" Vegeta asked.

"I know…" I turned to go to Codie's room, then stopped, "Go back to bed, and don't tell anyone. And don't worry, I'll accept all the guilt on this one." I continued back to Codie's room.

Codie was awake again when I walked in.

"I hurt too much too sleep…"

"I'm here to fix that, Codie." I got on the bed with him, his head went to my lap. He wanted to be close.

"What day is it, mom?"

"September… 20th."

"If I went to school today I'd be taking a test…"

"Don't worry about it." I said.

"Mom, am I going to die?"

"Everyone dies at some point." I said simply.

"Tell me a story about father?"

"Like what? You already know everything about him, don't you?" I asked. He wasn't making this any easier.

"Tell me about… that day you fought him before he reached his Perfect form."

"Cell was near, and I knew we could beat him if your grandpa didn't let him get to Android 18. Your dad, Krillen, and I tried to get 18 to safety as Vegeta and Cell fought. My chest was hurting, I was sweating and panting. I had the Heart Virus, but I didn't know it. Vegeta and Cell landed near us, and Cell and I began to fight over 18. We had an energy beam struggle, and I was weakening faster than normal. I pushed with all my Ultra Super Sayjin power, but it didn't work. I lost the struggle and was tossed into a cliff. Your dad began to fight Cell, and I tried to get 18 away. But Cell still got her, and then he took me to Gero's lab. That's when the blooms of friendship began to open."

"You're very poetic, mom. I love reading your stories."

"Yeah, well, sometimes writing my memories is the hard part. I have to bring back old scars, old fights, and it hurts."

"Will you write about Bebi, Super 17, and the Shadow Dragons? And the darkling universe?" he asked, "I'd like that."

"Then I will, for you. I'll dedicate those books to you." I said. In the dark tears began to stream down my face. Codie couldn't see them.

"Mom, will you sing me a song?" he asked, aloud this time.

"Sure, what do you want to hear?"

"Anything."

I thought, and I decided on the perfect song.

"Hush now, my little one,

There's nothing to fear,

For as long as you think of me,

I'll always be near."

I found Codie's heart beat, and placed my hand there,

"Hush now, my little one,

Don't cry this night,

For as long as you think of me,

I'll be in your sight."

I took my forefingers and readied myself,

"This night I sing to you this Sayjin lullaby.

Just look to the sky,

As long as you love me,"

Then I did it. I hit the pressure points around his heart, just as I had done to Vegeta in the illusion.

Codie gasped, and his breathing stopped soon after. His heart had stopped.

"I'll always be nearby."

I sat there in the dark, crying with my son. My baby, my last link to Cell. No parent should have to bury their child.