And now, the season finale of Eternal Hope's the Imperfect Saga!
As he stared across the late evening sky, the dimming sunlight casting a shadowy gleam to reflect off his ivory skin, Cell couldn't help but wonder just what the hell happened. One moment he was face to face with the son of Vegeta's energy sword, mere seconds away from being sliced and diced, then the next he was seeing through three pairs of jaded eyes, behind a wall of rock. From what he could tell, he was exactly on the other side of the wall that the Saiyans, Androids and former monk were; so far, it seemed like they were ignorant of his presence, considering that the Saiyan Prince hasn't waltzed right back here and obliterated him where he stood.
He gulped at the thought of his life ending, when he was just inches away from perfection.
Pushing those thoughts aside, Cell swerved to his left and saw...well himself, staring back at him with a look of disbelief to match his own. He was met with the same results upon looking to his right. How can this be...?
Then his memories returned. He felt a moment of dizziness and then it was gone, being replaced with images of his supposed 'death'.
Battered and pretty much beaten, the Bio-Android gasped as his line of sight became improperly aligned, his left jaded orb now higher than his right. Seconds before Trunks began to drop his energy sword diagonally, to split him even further, his thoughts unconsciously wondered at an alarming rate, his brain trying to visualize every possible scenario of how to escape his current predicament; he was thinking so fast, that everything in the world seemed to slow down to a snail's pace. So far, every one of those scenarios he could think of, he ended up dead, that is all except one; that one way of survival was through the use of the three eyed warrior's multi-form technique. When he caught on to his thoughts, he made sure to block out any outside interference, which included Trunks and his descending sword.
Then everything went black, his body disappearing as a single piece of flesh dropped into the ocean.
When Cell came to, he blinked, shocked that he was still alive...and well at the bottom of the salty ocean. He figured that his actually "body" was recovering while his consciousness was transferred to this duplicate body. As he looked to his left and right, he realized that the body he was in now, the middle one, was where most of his consciousness was, while the other two had enough for him to control them, give them commands.
Before he could think more in-depth of his current situation and just how this mystery came to be, he overheard, with his Namekian hearing ability, the Androids speaking of leaving-
'No! That cannot happen! I won't let it happen! I must think of a plan and act on it quickly!'
With his almost perfect mind, he had no problem coming up with one.
Cell's Perfect Scheme and Goku's Tears
"Father, I think he's really gone. You saw I sliced him into pieces and blasted him-"
"Which was, and sis would agree with me on this, totally awesome!" The blond Android gave his input, making the lavender haired Saiyan glare at him, clearly irritated by his interruption.
Eighteen looked away, not wanting to encourage her brother's thoughtless antics to a man that absolute hated the both of them. She instead choose to 'discretely' rub the former monk's shiny head, making him blush profusely.
"You can leave, but I know what I saw. He's still alive. He's just hiding like the coward him is, buying time until he could regenerate." The Prince replied stubbornly, his arms crossed.
"But Vegeta, he can't regenerate from being blasted to pieces and pretty much incinerated into nothing!" Krillin protested.
"Oh sure he would be gone if you had completed finished the job."
Trunks was taken aback by his father's reply. "But I did! There was no way-"
"Boy, you should pay more attention! A piece of his disgusting flesh fell into the ocean shortly after you blasted him. And if you actually listened to the Woman's explanation, you'd believe me when I say that he is not dead."
Krillin's eyes widened, as did the half Saiyan's. "I remember! Bulma had said that when Cell explained how he came to this timeline, he said that the Trunks from his timeline had destroyed him as you did just now, and that's how he realized that as long as a single cell of his remained in the living, he could regenerate!"
Trunks cursed at forgetting such an important detail of the Bio-Android. "Damn it! Where the hell is he then?!"
Seventeen gulped nervously while his sister trembled with fear at the possibility that Cell could be planning a surprise attack. "Then...then maybe we such leave before he shows up...huh sis?"
Eighteen shook her head negatively. "No way, he'd catch us in no time if he's planning a sneak attack! I'd rather be on the safe side..." As much as she hated to admit it, staying here, with both Vegeta and Trunks was much safer than being out in the open, which no protection. Well the Prince's "protection" was questionable, but at least Krillin and maybe Trunks were dependable right?
"Well it's seems that Prince Vegeta paid attention to my story."
The Androids nearly fell off their feet when the ivory Bio-Android came out of nowhere, confidence now radiating from him. Instead of his usual smirk, he had a stern look of determination, the cool and collected demeanor unnerving Krillin and Trunks to no end.
Vegeta eyed Cell, sharp turquoise orbs narrowing with suspicion. "Oh, look who has decided to crawl out of hiding." He uncrossed his arms, fully facing the Android. "The question is why? Surely you don't think anything has changed since the beating my son gave you?"
Cell let himself smile. "Oh it has. If I'm not mistaken, your boy is completely drained from all the energy he exerted attempting to kill me. So even in my current weaken state I could deal with him. The way I see it, I'm just moments away from perfection at last!"
Vegeta smirked. "Oh that may be so, however who said you'd get another shot at him? Remember, I clearly had said that if you happened to get pass my son, you'd get your Androids. Sorry to say, but that was a onetime deal. Now you have to go through me once more."
Surprisingly enough, Cell didn't seem perturbed with having to deal with the Prince again, who he stood no chance against. In fact to prove just how fearless he has become, he threw all caution to the wind and hurled himself at Vegeta, the full Saiyan effortlessly catching his fist before delivering his own, straight into his stomach. Cell coughed, purple blood and spittle sprinkling through his lips. Pushing the throbbing pain aside, the Bio-Android fell back and attacked again, the Saiyan swaying and dodging with boredom, occasionally catching his punches and kicks, giving him his own set of jabs, each of his superior attacks leaving Cell breathless.
Vegeta wasn't stupid. He knew the ivory Android was up to something. He was outclassed in every way and the Prince couldn't shake the awful feeling that he was being led into a trap.
"Man, looks like Cell has lost it! He doesn't stand a chance against Vegeta!" Krillin exclaimed with excitement, the Androids watching the fight silently. As far as they were concerned, until Cell is dead and gone, they would not feel safe.
Like the Androids and his father, Trunks didn't share the same enthusiasm. "No Krillin…something is wrong."
The former monk's expression dropped. "What do you mean?"
"It's Cell…something is off…not right with his power level…"
"Yeah, he's weaker, which makes sense considering all the damage you did to him earlier on. Also, I'm sure it takes a lot of energy to regenerate." Krillin responded, thinking that Trunk was overreacting.
Trunks's fists clutched tightly as the feeling of dread intensified. "No…that's not it. His power is exactly a quarter full. Like dead on! It's almost as if he's using that… technique that Tien uses…what's it called again?"
"The multi-form technique?" Krillin said, causing Trunks to nod. "But if that's true…then why does it feel like that's all the energy he has left? Where are all the other copies?"
With that mystery up in the air, Trunks, Krillin and especially the Androids began to eye everything that moved with increasing paranoia. When a sudden scream of agony broke through the air, causing the group to momentary forget their worries, they turned to the source, to see the vaporizing form of Cell, the Saiyan Prince's hand outstretch with energy residue sizzling from his palm.
The group looked at Vegeta with disbelief. "What the hell was that? Cell! If you don't show your true self this instant I will destroy this whole island-"
And he did once again, his ever confident small smile still plastered on his face. Within seconds, he was engaging the full Saiyan into battle, hammering away with everything he has.
Having enough of it all, Trunks voiced his concerns. "Father! I think Cell is using the multi-form technique!"
Vegeta growled when he noticed yet another ivory Android come from hiding, however instead of heading towards him like the previous two, the copy shot up high into the sky, eclipsing the sun, his jaded eyes gleaming victoriously. The Prince's moment of distracting was his downfall as the Cell he had been facing snuck up behind him, grabbed him in a headlock before using his ivory fingers to forcefully pry his eyes open. Though it only took Vegeta a second to shake him off, a second was all the Bio-Android needed.
"PERFECTION IS MINE! SUPER SOLAR FLARE!"
The laughing voice of Cell echoed though everyone's ears as their eyesight's burned painfully, the solar flare being the strongest they had ever felt before.
"Krillin, Keep the Androids close! Cell must be planning to-UGHhhhAHHHHHhh!"
"Trunks!" Krillin hollered when he heard his friend's voice drift further and further away, his palms rubbing his eyes in a desperate attempt to regain his vision, but to no avail. Every time he tried to open them, the searing sensation strengthened.
Eighteen was no better, one hand smashed against her eyelids, stroking them frantically while her other hand took hold of Krillin's shoulder. Her heart pounded rapidly when she removed her hand from her eyes to get ahold of her brother but couldn't.
"Seventeen! Where are you?!" The brunette cried out.
The blond Android in question, unbeknownst to his sister, wasn't far from her. He had been able to shut his eyes seconds before Cell fired the blinding attack, however the solar flare had been so potent that the brightness still seeped into his eyes. Because of his quick thinking, he was able to make a fast recovery, only to witness a blurred ivory form emerge from thin air, the creature's palms pressing against the half Saiyan's chest, letting loose a yellow energy blast that had sent him soaring to Kami knows where. He was so frozen in fear, that he didn't hear his sister call out his name with urgency.
Krillin gasped in pain when he felt his stomach pressed inwardly, the wind knocked out of him, his head exploding in pain when a mighty fist slammed against the side of it, sending him rolling uncontrollably several feet away, leaving Eighteen's trembling form vulnerable.
Upon seeing Cell's victorious grinning face, his tail extended and positioned over his unaware sister's head, the tip expanding to swallow her whole, Seventeen was finally able to move.
Eighteen felt like she had the wind knocked out of her as she was thrust aside, sending her tumbling several feet away. The last thing the brunette heard seconds before her head bounced off the ground was her brother's muffled scream.
"Ah Solar flare never fails."
DBZDBZDBZDBZxxxxxxxxxDBZDBZDBZDBZ
The capsule in Bra's hand slipped from her fingers, her mother catching it before it could hit the floor, the half Saiyan's aqua orbs widening with shock when she sensed Cell's power eclipse her father's. It was akin to a domino effect as Piccolo and then Yamcha felt the Bio-Android's new awesome power too, steadily rising higher and higher while the small group of Warriors' hope sunk deeper and deeper into a pitch dark abyss, the escape route once again becoming unknown.
"His power! It's incredible! And just by absorbing another Android!" Piccolo exclaimed.
"What the hell..." Yamcha sputtered. "But... Vegeta was-"
"What's wrong guys?! Did-are Trunks and Vegeta okay!?" Bulma asked worriedly.
"Brother is for the most part fine, just unconscious...but father..." the Saiyan Princess stomped the floor, the word 'father' dripping from her voice with disgust. "I bet he let him!"
Bulma sighed with dismay, silently angry with herself for siding with her daughter on the matter. "Vegeta..."
"Let's hope that somehow they could hold off until Goku and Gohan return..." Piccolo said, his eyes landing on the heavy double doors of the Time Chamber.
Just then Bra hissed and cursed as she felt an excruciating surge of electricity travel down her aqua tail, making it fleetingly stand erect; it then went limp.
She whipped her head towards the Time Chamber entrance. It came…from inside?
"Did you guys feel that?"
Yamcha rolled his eyes. "Of course we did! It's hard to miss Cell's-"
Bra shook her head. "No…it was something else…"
"Are you alright?" Her mother asked, placing her hand on her shoulder.
"Yeah…"
She didn't know how, but she had a feeling that whatever she just felt had come from Goku.
But what does it mean?
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Goku's jaw hung open, gasping breathlessly, his body freezing when a golden blurred fist was suddenly buried into his gut, a glob of blood exploding from his lips, splattering on top of the half Saiyan's golden spiked locks, which was more define, sharper and higher than before. It was insane! One punch and he felt like he was on his way to the Otherworld! His dazed eyes watched as the crimson substance turned into mist, watched as his son's lips curved into a tiny smile, watched as his son's fist brutally connecting with his chin, roughly snapping his head back. With quickness, Gohan leaped high up, grasped his father's golden hair and ruthlessly slammed his kneecap against his forehead, the astonished Saiyan crying out in pain as he swore he heard something crack...or maybe that was his heart as the feral demonic look on his son's face had all but shattered it. Goku staggered backwards, swaying drunkenly, his head throbbing from his son's assault. Just as he was regaining his composure, Gohan was on him again, giving him wild punches and kicks that had no particular pattern at all. Just when the full Saiyan thought he had landed his first blow, his eyes widened when his fist phased though his son's after-image, Gohan's smirking face vanishing before him. A silent yell burst from his lips, the fist to his spine causing a stabbing sensation, turquoise orbs whitening. Another came from the side, nailing his left cheekbone with a resounding crack, blood escaping from his mouth and touching the ivory floor.
Goku looked left and right, his eyes frantically searching for his unstable son.
He didn't have to look for long as a thunderous right hook launched the full Saiyan upwards, his eyes squeezed shut when an elbow connected with the small of his back, sending him hurling down to the floor, the bones within his body creaking painfully upon landing. His head spinning, Goku was somehow able to dodge Gohan's next series of attacks and that was just because his son was toying with him, his ascended powers simply being too much to handle. His next jab was caught effortlessly; the half Saiyan's ominous smirk making him inwardly shiver, making him freeze in place. Gohan had no problem taking advantage of the situation, his free small fist sinking into his father's chest, exactly where he had scorched his skin months back. Goku's loud scream sailed through the air as Gohan let loose a yellow energy blast, the chest area on the full Saiyan's armor exploding to pieces.
Gohan choked down a yelled, his hands flings to his head, when a sudden surge of power flared from within his body, the blue streaks of lightening converting to red. Getting up rather sluggishly, Goku's orbs locked with his son's and he winced when he noticed the cold stare he was giving him. Gohan's turquoise eyes briefly flickered crimson as he began slowly make his way towards the battered Saiyan, the red electricity surrounding him becoming more apparent with every second that passed.
"Gohan...get a hold of yourself...or that power will consume you..." Goku rasped out, a dribble of blood running from his busted lips.
Gohan merely blinked.
"Stop…please…"
Gohan smirked.
"No, I think you should suffer for a little while longer."
A powerful kiai threw Goku across the air, Gohan meeting him from behind with a roundhouse kick which sent him rocketing forwards. The full Saiyan hardly blinked when he saw Gohan in from of his spiraling form, or at least his after-image which wore that seemingly ever present grin that made his stomach churn unpleasantly. He must have briefly blacked out because the next time he opened his eyes, he was down on his hands and knees, his half-lidded orbs focusing on a small pair of Saiyan boots, sparks of red electricity dancing up and around them erratically, easily captivating him. Goku's eyes snapped open when a stray volt of lightning jumped at him, making him leap up, only to fall flat on his back as his legs just didn't have the strength to keep him balanced on his feet. Weakly using his elbows as leverage, Goku carefully studied his son.
Despite the overwhelming amount of energy spilling from his body in red waves, he seemed tired. He was panting heavily, his small hands twitching with most likely anger; however Goku was starting to wonder what exactly his son was even mad about. Sure he had made it clear that he wanted him to tell the "truth", but the thing is Gohan already knew it and well Goku had a nauseating feeling that telling him anything wouldn't stop his rampage.
But he tried anyways, a small voice in his head whispering that that's what he should have done before his son had decided to assault him to near death.
"I don't." Gohan tilted his head to the side, silently asking him to continue. "I don't lo- I don't love your mom anymore. No, I never loved her in the way I love...Bra." The full Saiyan's eyes snapped wide open, as he just realized that he is in love with the Saiyan Princess… or perhaps he already knew but had been in denial.
Nevertheless he said it and he'd be a damned liar if he said he didn't feel loads betters, well at least emotionally. Goku took a deep breath while his eyes still remained deadlocked with his son's.
He then found that he couldn't stop talking.
"At first… I didn't understand it. But over time, I realized that I've never felt the way I did when I'm with Bra. I don't know, it's just this weird connection and the feeling…it's amazing. I…you are the first person that knows now…I haven't told her yet. Chi-Chi…I will always love as a friend and became she is your mother. I promise…I promise that I will be there for you and her once we're out of here."
"Okay…."
The full Saiyan released an empty laugh, wiping the blood from his bottom lip. "That's all you have to say? Anyways, think we can stop? I-"
Gohan wasn't smiling. "No."
Goku did a double take. "Why...why not?"
"I still don't think you understand how much of an asshole you were."
Goku's jaw dropped. "Gohan..."
"What? Mom isn't around is she?" he taunted.
Goku swallowed the large lump that suddenly had been lodged within his throat. "But I can't-I don't think I can stand anymore."
"I'm disappointed dad. I saw you give Frieza everything you had and yet with me, your son, you throw in the towel when the odds are stacked against you."
"Gohan? What are you saying!? This isn't the same at all. We're supposed to be training, not fighting to the death!"
"Vegeta has always said that when a Saiyan heals after a near death experience, their strength increases immensely."
"Since when do you care about what Vegeta says?"
"He's right isn't he?"
Goku spat out the blood that had accumulated within his mouth, his tongue stinging slightly from the bite he had giving it at some point during the battle. "He is, only that once you've reach Super Saiyan, the Zenkai boost is reduced for some reason."
"Are you sure?" Gohan asked, raising a yellow eyebrow.
"Well not one-hundred percent but-"
Goku gave a wheezing cough when a palm smashed against his chest, sending him rolling across the floor like a punching bag knocked off its chain. Gohan was already on the other side, throwing his foot at his father's back, causing him to shoot up before appearing above him and giving him a double handed slam to his head, hurling him downwards, Goku landing on his hands and knees. Materializing in front of him, Gohan began to rapidly assault his father, giving him several lightning fast combinations of punches and kicks, making his body jerk left and right. Pulling his fist back, he threw it with such force at that tender spot on his chest that Goku's voice cracked, the scream that ripped from his lungs so loud that he had momentary thought it wasn't his own.
Gohan's expression remained indifferent and it was at that instant that Goku realized that his turquoise eyes were once again that bone chilling blood red. This…this isn't even Gohan anymore…does he even know who he is? Kami what is wrong with him!?
Goku's head bounced off the floor when Gohan came with a drop kick, his small right hand touching the floor and then giving his father a leg sweep, which he was surprisingly able to dodge. However, as stated before, Gohan was just merely toying with him because when Goku had jumped, his hand had latched onto his leg, yanking him down until he clashed against the floor. Gohan then proceeded to blast into the air and cup his hands to his hips in a familiar stance.
"So you said you're not sure?! Why don't we test it out!" Gohan shouted through the chilling air, which was dropping rather quickly since they had wondered further from the Chamber entrance then they should have….not that Goku could help that.
Goku stared at the blue and white ball of ki that was crackling with red electricity, the orb becoming bigger and bigger by the second. Gohan's crimson eyes shrunk, the expression on his face having a crazed look, his yellow hair unkempt with a tint of orange, which was an unusual Super Saiyan trait. In fact, I've never seen that before…
"Gohan! Are you really going to kill me, your own father?!" Goku hollered, mimicking his son's stance.
"Super..." Gohan ignored him, starting his chant, the large ball of energy continuing to grow in size.
I know I can't complete with…that…that's gotta be the biggest Kameha-wave I've ever seen…Goku whispered with awe as he tried with everything he had left to increase the mass of his own.
"Kameeeee-"
A dizzy spell suddenly snuck up on Goku, his right hand breaking away from the other and attaching to his forehead, unintentionally leaving his left hand with the developing blue orb, which was slowly shifting to a soft reddish color.
"Haaammmeeee-"
Everything before Goku's turquoise eyes became blurred, his heart thumping so fast and harshly that he was starting to wonder if he had somehow passed out and was now a victim of a stampeding herd. He gave a delusional chuckle as he'd rather be in such a situation than being in the receiving end of a super charged energy blast, much less because the deadly attack was coming from his unstable son.
"HAAAAAAAAA!" A pained scream tore from his son's throat as he thrust his hands forward, the crackling blue wave of energy exploding from his palms, a trail of blood escaping from one of his nostrils and journeying down his chin.
As for the full Saiyan, his reddish orb was diminishing along with his hope, his son's attack closed in on him, Goku's lidded eyes becoming vacant. If Gohan had actually been sane, he would have curved the attack aside when he witnessed his father drop to the floor onto his knees in defeat, his hair flattening and returning back to its natural color.
"I'm sorry…Gohan…"
...
"Daddy!' Gohan exclaimed, clutching the soft Nimbus cloud and watching as his father stepped up to the giant bulky Saiyan with confidence.
"Gohan..." He whispered wearily, his right hand balling up tightly.
"It's okay son, I'm here now." Goku said, cradling his son's head, his heart nearly stopping when he felt that his neck had been fractured. "Gohan...son? Man you're in pretty bad shape."
He reached into his pocket, pulled out a Senzu bean and then placed it inside Gohan's mouth. "This will fix you right up. If you can hear me, chew the bean son."
He did and upon swallowing it the magical bean did its job, Gohan's faded orbs blinking back into focus before landing on his concerned father.
Goku's face brightened. "Hey! Feeling better huh!?"
"Daddy? Is it really you!?" Gohan's small hands latched onto his orange gi top, shaking it urgently as if to confirm that the person in front of him was really his father and not his mind playing tricks on him.
"Dad! Those guys are really strong and-"
"Hey don't worry, I'm here now, just leave everything to me alright?"
Using his right fist to push against the floor, he rose up onto his feet, the red orb still shimmering within his palm. His sights locked on to the incoming super charged energy wave, his black eyes now having a turquoise hue to them.
As if feeling his sudden determination, his brown tail transformed into gold and broke away from his waist, twitching wildly as electricity slithered around it akin to a lightning rod after it was struck by lightning
Daddy! Haha! You're the greatest!"
His body then felt tense as a radical surge of power slammed into him, a sudden boost of adrenaline erupting from deep within.
"You're the best dad ever!"
"Gohan…"
It was only his pure will alone that enabled him to remain standing, to jerk his left hand back, to thrust it forward and to pull the trigger, firing the largest red Kameha-wave he could with all his might, his scream so loud that it matched that of his son's.
"GOOOHANNNN!" He cried out as his energy attack collided with his son's malicious one, his midnight black hair spiking upwards and sparking to gold like a lighter.
Finally, as crackling blue bioelectricity encased his form and his blazing golden aura returned, making his skin burn with hot white fiery, the tears came streaming down his cheeks freely.
I'm bringing you back Gohan...even if it kills me…
A/N: So I didn't cover on...what the hell is Gohan's transformation as I said I would. Just know that his mind is consumed by his rage and that his body is struggling to remain..intact..Oops I said too much...
I must say, I truly loved this chapter and the way it came out. The biggest highlight of the chapter was most definitely the Goku vs Gohan scene. Don't worry, once this blows over, the focus will turn back to Cell, however I at least hope you all enjoyed reading this because I really did put a lot of work into it.
I don't necessarily have writers block, it only happened when I'm not looking at a blank page for several minutes...or possibly hours ^_^;
Anyways, as stated in the beginning (btw I only said season finale cause it sounded so cool in my head XD), this is the end point of the Imperfect Cell Saga and we're now entering the Cell Games era!
And holy dogs I have freaking 171 reveiws, never thought I'd see that staring at me. Oh! look! I can see 200 waving at me, though it seems to be in a deadly dual with Android 29! Please help it get through so I could give him a big hug! =P
Okay I'm done! Thanks for reading and I'll see you whenever next time is. I know I'm an ass for this, but things are going to slow down for a while.
PS. I'm a guy, I just liked the image alot that I wanted it to be my new profile pic. I know I know! I set myself up on that one ^_^; I'll-I'll get working on fixing that *slowly walks away*
Later!
(Posted 10-21-15...)
~Gater~