"Wow... this is amazing!" Krillin cried wide-eyed. "First Sakura and now Trunks!"
Yamcha nodded. "And I'd thought Vegeta had gotten powerful."
"Hey, wait a second..." Raditz said slowly as Sakura raised her arm and started gathering energy. "That looks almost like the Spirit Bomb..."
"Almost." Appla said with nod. "But it's not quite the same..."
18 remained silent as she stared down at the planet. These powers were far beyond anything she'd dreamed possible. But her mind wasn't really on the fight in Capital City. She was focused more on Cell and Tao. She was tracking Cell's power and Tao's tracker, neither was going in the same direction. They had been, up until Sakura's power up.
Once Trunks followed suit they'd started moving again, in different directions. Cell was still on his way to Capital City but Tao had turned to a north east heading, on a direct course for Gero's lab. She wasn't sure what he was up to but he was moving at top speed while Cell was taking his time. And then she had a thought. One that she didn't like.
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Capital City:
Sakura dropped to the ground quickly, her feet smashed into the concrete and held. She raised her right arm pointing her palm up into the sky and closed her eyes. Blue and green energy sparkled in the air around her and drifted up from the ground gathering above her palm. Meanwhile Trunks lifted higher into the sky until he was about fifty feet above her. He cast a glance down at where she was first and then turned his attention back to Super 13. The Android was just getting back to its feet.
He knew he'd need to hold the machine off for a while to give Sakura time to gather the energy. He pulled his arms back and gathered energy into his hands quickly. With a cry his arms started pumping back and forth, a volley of Ki blasts surging for the large blue Android. The machine brought his arms up to block as the blasts impacted and exploded. Piccolo and the others turned away bringing their arms up to shield their eyes from the blinding explosions and flying dust and debris.
Suddenly the energy barrage came to a halt as Super 13 smashed his fist into Trunks' stomach having charged up through the attack. He then slipped around behind him and smashed his fist into his back driving the powerful Sai-jin into the ground. Trunks thrust his arms down and pushed himself up into the air backflipping and spinning around as he did. He moved just in time, a second later 13's foot had slammed into the ground where he'd been.
Trunks launched a hard right at the Android's head but it dodged around it and then fired off a kick of its own for his head. There was a loud crack as Trunks blocked the kick with his arm. He then slammed his knee into the blue machine's chest, jumped into the air, and smashed a roundhouse into the side of his head knocking him through several buildings and down several blocks.
In a flash of gold he shot after the Android. The two met again a second later and became nothing but blurs as they attacked, dodged, and blocked while slowly lifting into the air. A loud crack came a moment later as their fists smashed into each other's faces at the same time knocking them apart. "Give up already." 13 growled.
"Not a chance." Trunks replied panting heavily. "I came back in time to save this world, to prevent the horrible future I came from, at least in this time-line. And to find a way to save my time too. I wont give up until you're destroyed."
"Then you'll simply die because I cannot be destroyed." the machine responded. "You already grow tired, weaker, I do not. I could fight forever and never tire."
Trunks shook his head. "I already know that. But you can still be destroyed. A strong enough attack will wipe you out." He tilted his head back and looked up at the odd sky overhead. "I didn't think things would be this hard. I never dreamed that even Gero was as strong as he is, or that you even existed. But look at that, that sky is a testament to the fact that we can change things.
"With that sky you are trapped here, on Earth. Even if we fall now, which we wont, you couldn't spread beyond this world. You can't leave the Earth, can't attack any other worlds. In that way we've already won."
"It will fade."
"And be restored." Trunks said. "My grandfather is capable of keeping this planet sealed off for a decade at least. And if it comes to it..."
Super 13 scowled. "Too bad you wont live to see it." The Android thrust it's arms out and a red ball of energy started to gather in front of his palms.
Gero turned his attention from the fight in the sky to look for some sign of Sakura. He found it odd that she'd not been involved in the battle recently. And then he saw her, arm held high, a blue-green ball of Ki pulsing over her head. "13, the girl!" he called up quickly as his scanners started gauging the attack strength.
/Damn/ Sakura cried mentally. /I need more time.../ She opened her eyes and looked up to where Trunks was. -Trunks, keep him back a bit longer, it's not ready! I still need at least ten minutes!-
-Right.- Trunks said mentally, with a nod.
As the Sai-jin charged in at the distracted Android, Hotaru raised an eyebrow. She'd caught the faint glow to Sakura's eyes after Gero warned the other of her attack. With her eyes a solid color it was easier to notice. The tell-tale sign of a mental conversation, which revealed something about the two before her that she'd not known yet, and she smiled at the discovery.
There was a flash of orange from her as she transformed. "Sanjuu Kinryoku!" she cried shooting forward. Piccolo and Vegeta turned and watched her as she sped out passed them, both shocked that she was heading into the battle. She zipped passed Sakura flying along only a couple feet above the road. Above her Trunks and 13 were fighting again, the Android too busy with the Sai-jin to notice her.
Once she was passed them, behind the Android, she veered up into the sky and turned so she was facing their way. She slowed her ascent as she neared their altitude coming to a stop as she leveled off with them. As she stopped her silver aura faded away back to her orange aura again. "Shika-Shidou." she said softly as she brought her arms up before her, her hands moving rapidly through a series of motions.
She closed her eyes as her orange aura swirled and then pulled into her body as her hands worked furiously. Suddenly they came to a stop and her eyes snapped open again. They flashed bright white as she called out. "Iryoku!" There was a bright flash of white from her and she threw her head and arms back, a blinding white aura flaring up around her. She lowered her head a second later, her still solid white eyes glowing, her hair floating in the air and glowing white as well. Blue and gold energy sparking around her bright white aura.
Her power had jumped up massively from what it had been a moment before. The sudden power surge and flashes of light drew the attentions of Trunks and 13 as well, the two only just now noticing her presence as she shifted her position and cupped her hands at her side. There was a flash of blue between her palms that pulsed and then turned silver, the power radiating from it growing quickly. "Kame... Ryoku... haaaaaaaaa!" She cried thrusting her arms forward.
The rush of power as the silver energy wave surged out washed over the city tearing up the street, shredding buildings, and sending cars sailing away. Trunks had already moved aside as soon as he realized Hotaru was going to attack leaving only the Android to stare down the massive stream of energy charging its way. Super 13 was too shocked from the sudden and powerful attack to block and it slammed directly into him engulfing him completely.
Hotaru kept it up for several seconds and then it faded into nothing, as did her power. The white aura shifted back to orange, her eyes turned red and then returned to normal, her hair fell back down against her head, the glows of white and blue fading away, and her power dropped below where it had been before she'd started the assault run. She'd obviously expended a lot of her power in that move.
Panting heavily she smiled. There was no sign of the Android, though she doubted she'd destroyed it, just knocked it well into the distance. "That was... amazing." Trunks breathed as he stared off in the direction the attack had driven the Android.
Hotaru shrugged. "I have a few tricks." she said breathlessly. "Besides, you didn't think I'd let my daughter and her husband fight that thing by themselves."
"Husband?" Vegeta cried in shock. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Sakura smiled. "You noticed I take it?"
"The tell-tale glowing eyes? Ya, I noticed." She turned her attention back out to where 13 was no doubt recovering by now. "We can discuss it later, though. We still have a fight to win."
"You don't." Trunks said shaking his head. "Thank-you for the help, you probably bought us the time we need, but you're far too worn to help further."
Hotaru sighed and nodded. "Ya, that took a lot out of me... You two finish up..." she said as she drifted back over to where Vegeta and Piccolo stood. As she did Sakura turned to face the way 13 had gone, the energy over her head still pulsing and growing. A moment later a dot appeared in the distance, but not a black dot, a glowing dot. One with a yellow aura, and a power level.
"Cell!" Sakura cried in shock. As he neared she noticed that 13 was beside him. "Damn!"
-Don't worry, you take out 13, I'll fight Cell.- Trunks said telepathically, not taking his eyes off the nearing opponents.
-Right, be careful.- she replied as the two reached them.
"Well now, what do we have here?" Cell asked smirking. "I must admit, you've gotten a lot stronger. Still though, you can't beat me."
"I'd have to disagree." Trunks replied. "You've not gotten nearly strong enough to stand against Sakura or I."
"Oh, but I have!" Suddenly Trunks felt Cell's power rising steadily, soon it was at Sakura's level, then his, and then beyond.
"What!"
"This isn't good..." Piccolo growled. "Damn it, he's gotten even stronger than I'd expected!"
"Then I'll just have to deal with you both!" Sakura called as she recovered from the shock of Cell's power. She lowered her arm, pointing her palm, and the energy above it, toward Cell and Super 13. "Wakusei Reikon Kougeki!" she called, the energy blasting toward them.
Cell moved in front of Super 13 and crossed his arms as the attack neared and then impacted engulfing them and then exploding savagely. When the dust and glare faded it revealed an unscathed Super 13, thanks to Cell's defense, and a Cell that was missing his arms. Sakura smiled. "Well, not what I'd hoped for but it works."
"Think again, girl." Cell said with a smirk as his limbs regenerated. "Being part Namek... comes in handy."
Suddenly 13 smiled. "It would seem your idea worked." he said looking at Cell. "I shall be on my way then."
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Gero's Lab:
Tao took a seat at the computer and set to work. Both he and Cell had been suprised by the powers coming from Capital City. It was apparent that Tao was far outmatched so the original plan wouldn't work. Tao had intended to return to Capital City to help in the fighting but with the powers there, well, it wouldn't be possible. However, Cell was still, in Tao's opinion, obsessed with becoming Perfect.
So Tao had set off to the lab. 18's tracking device was blocked now, yes, but there was still one way to find her. She put out an energy, just like him and her brother. It wasn't Ki but it was detectable. He'd use Gero's satellites to locate her and then send that info to 13. While the Android got her, Cell would deal with those in Capital City.
"Ah, there you are." Tao said looking at the blinking dot over the hologram. "Interesting... she's well above the Earth's surface... Wait, I know this area. That tower is there, were I first fought Goku. Very interesting."
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The Lookout:
"I have to go." 18 said turning from the edge.
"What? Why?" Krillin asked.
"There's still a means of tracking me, my energy output." she replied. "Tao must have gone to the lab now to do just that. He's found me and now 13 is coming after me. It's not safe here." She stopped in mid step as something dawned on her. "It's not safe anywhere..."
"Energy output?" Raditz asked. "You have no detectable Ki..."
"Not Ki, I have a Proton Wave Generator. Proton Wave's are more powerful than Ki. Tao's going to use Dr. Gero's satelites to track my Proton Wave output and find me."
"You're shilded now though." Appla said resting an arm on her shoulder. "They can't find you here..."
"Proton Wave's have a long range. Several hundred miles, they go beyond the protection of the Lookout, and aren't part of the shielding that Goku wished for. If I stay you're in danger... But no matter where I go they'll find me..." she shook her head and turned to face Appla. "If I live you're in even more danger. You have to destroy me."
"What?" Yamcha cried.
"It's the only way. I don't want to be part of that... that thing down there!" 18 said. "I've got a self-preservation system in me, it wont let me destroy myself, but you can. I can lower my output low enough that you can destroy me at your full power." she said to Appla.
Appla shook her head. "No, there has to be another way."
"There is no other way! Please!"
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Capital City:
13 had flown off leaving Cell behind to fight the Z Fighters. "Where's he off to?" Vegeta growled watching after him. Unkown to the others, Gero had taken off as well.
"Oh, did I forget to tell you?" Cell asked laughing. "He's gone to retrieve 18 for me now that we know her location. After that last display of power I figured it would be best if I fought you and he got her."
"How did..." Trunks started.
"We find her?" Cell finished. "Easy enough, she does have an energy output after all. It's not Ki but it's trackable."
"The others!" Sakura cried.
"We'll go." Hotaru said looking over to Piccolo. The Namek nodded and the two took off. They weren't sure if they could stop the Android but they had to at least help the others.
"Father..." Trunks started.
Vegeta smirked and then let out a yell as he transformed. It only took a few seconds and then he was back at full power. He then floated up beside his son while Sakura floated up on Trunks' other side.
"Oh, please Vegeta." Cell laughed. "You think you can fight me with such a puny power?"
"In a three on one fight?" Vegeta asked, smirking. "Sure."
"We'll see about that."