Aside from Bulma, Hercule, Goku, Bardock, Chi-Chi, Gohan, Videl, and the two youngest children, everyone else had remained on the Lookout. Either taking turns in the RoSaT for training or sparring outside on the Lookout itself. Everyone was rather suprised by how relaxed and calm Goku and Bardock seemed. While most of them were training as hard as they could those two were relaxing.
At the moment the two powerful Sai-jins were doing just that, too. They were stretched out under the shade of a tree near Goku's house relaxing, a small table a few feet away with lemonade and snacks. "I don't get how you two can be so relaxed." Krillin said as he landed.
"Oh, hey, finished your training?" Goku asked looking toward his friend.
Krillin nodded. "Ya, and Yamcha was right, it really didn't make much difference. I'm a good bit stronger but it wont be enough, I don't even know if I'm going to go back in with the others later." The bald man shook his head. "I just don't get it Goku. You said it yourself, Cell's strong. Do you really think you can take him now?"
"We don't know." Bardock said, answering for his son. "We're not sure how strong he is exactly. Sakura told us what happened after his first transformation, how he'd been holding back his power at first. It's possible he is now too."
"No, not possible, likely." Goku interrupted. "I doubt this is all the stronger he is, as cocky as he is. It would be nice if it was, though. Bardock or I could take him out no sweat."
"You're that strong?" Krillin asked, wide-eyed.
"Sure." Goku replied nonchalantly. "I'm just worried about how much he's holding back. Sakura said he had been holding back over a third of his power before. He might be doing it again."
Bardock picked up from there. "If he is, well, it could be a problem."
"Then... why are you two so calm and relaxed? Why aren't you training?"
"There's no reason to." Goku responded. "Sure, we could go back in again, but the benefits wouldn't outweigh the problems."
"Goku and I have pushed our Super Sai-jin forms to the limits for now." Bardock explained. "That estimate of our powers yesterday was conservative... how to explain this? Think of... think of a sponge, full of water. You can only squeeze out so much water at a time, then you need to soak it again. Right now, we've squeezed out all the power our bodies can offer."
"I'd say we're at, what? Twenty times base?" Goku said.
"Bout that." Bardock answered, closing his eyes.
"So, ya, we max out at about nine times stronger than this."
"NINE TIMES?" Krillin cried, eyes wide as saucers. "B-but that's... that's..."
"Worthless." finished Bardock as he picked a weed and started to chew on the end. "The form's too bulky, too slow. Our muscles expand to... well, big. It's far too hard to move effectively, like that. And the strain on the body adds to that making the entire thing pointless. We can stay like this forever, we could barely keep that state for more than two hours before needing to revert to base to relax."
"Yup. So the training wouldn't help. We'd just be piling on more useless muscle mass, assuming we could even find any more energy to call out. Sure we'd increase the power of our normal Super Sai-jin forms too, but in the end it wouldn't be nearly as much or really useful either. With as much as we did last time our bodies are still recovering."
Krillin sighed and took a seat leaning back against the tree. "What about Gohan and Videl? I thought they were here with you guys?"
"Chi-Chi made lunch earlier, last I saw they were still eating." Bardock replied yawning. He glanced to his side at the sound of snoring and found Goku fast asleep.
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May 20th, Sai-jin Embassy:
"How far out is she?" Hotaru asked as she walked into the Space Command room. There was only a small skeleton crew on duty, most of the embassy employees were home with their families. With the temporal tears up around the Earth space traffic was... non-existant. Well, almost. Sango's ship was slated to arrive soon.
"Normally I'd say about five minutes. But since she can't land..." the tech said.
Hotaru nodded. She pushed her power up to make it easier for Sango to pick her out of the crowd. She knew how her friend intended to get to the planet, a feat only two people she knew could pull off. A second later the Tanarian was standing beside her smiling. "I knew you'd still be alive."
Hotaru smiled but shook her head. "You really shouldn't have come you know, it's dangerous."
Sango shrugged. "Offical business." she said, motioning to the pin. "Besides..."
"I know."
The other nodded. "So, how's Sakura anyway? The 3 year-old one, I mean." she added with a laugh.
Hotaru laughed as well as the two of them started their way through the halls of the Embassy. "She's good. Though I've recently found out she's going to be quite the handful..."
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May 24th, 11:52 AM:
The two weeks following Cell's announcement had been hectic, the world over. Looting and riots had sprung up in several cities, despite the Embassy and Earth Defense Force's best efforts to contain matters. Even though Gero wasn't technically in power at this point there were still a lot of scared people.
Everyone was currently gathered at the Son Home making the last minute preperations for the Cell Games. Despite protests from Gohan and Videl it was decided, mainly by Chi-Chi and Hercule, that the two of them wouldn't be going to the Cell Games. They, along with Bulma, Hercule, Chi-Chi, Sango, and Roshi would be remaining at the Son Home and watching the Cell Games via the galaxy wide broadcast that King Vegeta had set up.
"Be careful Goku." Chi-Chi said as he walked outside with the others.
"Don't worry, we can handle this, no problem." he said with a smile and wave. A moment later they were all in the air flying through the sky toward the ring that Cell had made two weeks before. They flew in silence toward the ring.
Goku, Piccolo, Krillin, Tien, Yamcha, Sakura, and Hotaru all were in their normal attire. Bardock, Appla, Raditz, and Trunks were in the new formal armors. Grey body suits with red boots and gloves and black armor with red trim and purple straps and abdomen section. Vegeta was, once more, in the blue armor he'd worn on Planet Vegeta when fighting Cooler, only now he also had a blue body suit on underneath and he had removed the pendant and detatched the cape.
A moment later the tall spires of the ring came into view and the twelve of them descended, landing a few feet away from the edge of the ring, opposite the side where Gero, Tao, Super 13, and Cell stood. The four of them weren't the only ones there, either. A ring of Sentinels stood around the area the ring was in.
Thier four main opponents had watched them approach and land and now the sixteen people stood in silence, a strong, chill wind blowing passed them. Finally the silence was broken by Vegeta. "And why did you three come, anyway?" he asked with a laugh. "You couldn't hope to stand against us."
"It's called upgrades, Vegeta." Gero said, smirking. "I hadn't planned on installing any of them yet, they're untested. The plan was to finish testing them and install them in about ten years."
Sakura and Trunks glanced at each other, another piece of information they hadn't known about. The Androids they had been fighting in their time were apparently even stronger than the ones they'd fought so far. It was, however, Vegeta that once again spoke. "Ha, like it matters. Let's just get this over with."
Cell smirked. "Patience, Vegeta. I think we should do this the proper way. There are four of us, so four of you would make for an eight man tournament. You'll just have to decide who will be fighting. Goku is the only one among you who has to fight."
"I'm definitely fighting." Vegeta said, crossing his arms.
"I am as well." Sakura said.
Trunks was about to speak as well but felt a hand on his shoulder and looked back to see Piccolo. "I'm in." the Namek said.
"And there we have it." Cell said smiling. "So then, who shall fight who in the first round, hmmm? I'll leave you to decide."
"Cell is mine." Vegeta said instantly, glaring at the others and daring them to contradict him.
"I have a fight to finish with Super 13." Sakura said.
"Upgrades or not I can take Tao." said Piccolo.
"Well, that leaves Gero for me then." Goku said with a shrug.
"Very well then." Cell said with a smile. "It is time to begin the Cell games! Match one is Piccolo Vs. Tao!" The Cyborg stepped up into the ring and the Namek followed suit, stopping near the center of the large area. "The rules are quite simple." Cell continued. "Touch anything outside the edges of the ring and you lose the match, get knocked out and you lose the match, die... and you lose the match. Unlike the Budokai there is no rule against killing here. Now, begin!"
Piccolo smirked and shot in instantly, his foot cracking the tile beneath it as he pushed off. As he charged in he removed his cape and turban, tossing them aside. A second later his fist impacted with Tao's face. The Cyborg, not expecting the sudden boost in the Namek's speed, was caught completely offguard and was knocked sailing away, quickly reaching the opposite end of the ring.
He spun about and backflipped at the same time as he flew, his leg snapping out and catching Piccolo across the jaw knocking him spinning. As he straightened out his own flight, an arm snapped out sending a stream of golden energy outward to slam into the Namek. The blast hit, exploded, and knocked Piccolo back down into the ring cracking the floor along the entire length his body skidded. Tao crashed down as a second later, only on his feet instead of back, and slid back a couple feet, his heels just sticking out over the edge of the ring.
"Most impressive." the Cyborg said, standing up and clasping his hands behind his back. "You're almost as powerful as I am, despite my upgrade. Still, you have no chance of defeating me, I still hold the advantage, in power and in stamina."
"Hmph. Like it matters." Piccolo said climbing back to his feet. "There's more to a battle than power. You may be stronger, and have unlimited energy, but your metal parts weigh you down, I'm faster. Plus..." he smirked as he took a fighting stance once more. "I've got more skill."
Tao tilted his head to either side, cracking his neck, and then slipped into a fighting stance once more as well. "In the end it wont matter, I'll still kill you." he said, before launching in toward his opponent. Piccolo followed suit and soon they were only feet apart. There was a loud crack as the right hooks they'd launched a second before smashed into each other. They floated there a moment, fists touching, arms pushing against each other, and then vanished.
There was a bright flash of white followed by a loud crack several yards above the ring. The others looked up to find Piccolo's left arm raised, his forearm holding back Tao's leg from his head. His right arm snapped out smashing into the Cyborg's gut doubling him over. A thunderous double-fisted blow to the back of his head sent him careening down into the ring smashing a hole into the left corner, just inside the edge.
"Man, they keep this up and there wont be a ring left for the rest of the fights." Krillin said wide-eyed. Yamcha just nodded as Tao shot back up into the air and the two warriors began swinging and dodging faster than he could follow, looking like nothing more than green, purple, pink, and silver blurs.
Tao managed to slip under a kick and then come up smashing his metal head into the Namek's chest stunning him for a moment. He took advantage of the opening and snapped out with a roundhouse to his face knocking him away. Instantly he shot after him, catching up and then passing him in only a few seconds. His fist lanced out and connected with a crack to his back.
He then vanished and reappeared in front of the other but Piccolo had already recovered and lashed out with his own kick smashing his foot into the side of Tao's neck before he'd even noticed him move. His arm then reached out and his hand gripped his head. With a growl he turned, whipped his arm up over his head and then down, stretching it out along the way, and smashed the Cyborg down into the ring floor.
The was a golden glow from his hand and then an explosion as he fired an energy blast point blank driving him down through the ring once more and several feet into the ground below it. His arm then retracted back up to where he floated and he grinned. Suddenly Tao was surging up at him again. The Cyborg launched a punch as he neared and smashed his fist into his abdomen stunning him once more.
He then fired off a rapid series of punches smashing them into his stomach driving him up higher and higher. After a moment he spun around above him and slammed his foot into the small of his back knocking him back down into the ring. He then pointed his arm down, his hand transfomring into a barrel. "Goodbye, Namek." he called, as a golden glow eminated from the opening in the barrel. "Super Dodon Ray!" There was a flash of gold and then a stream of energy surged down toward where Piccolo had just impacted.
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Son Home:
"We should be out there helping them!" Gohan nearly yelled, hands clenched into fists. "What was all that training for if we can't fight? It's not fair!"
"Your mom's just worried, and so is my dad." Videl said as she sat down on the edge of Gohan's bed. The two of them decided they'd watch the Cell Games from Gohan's room instead of the living room with the others. Gohan was still quite upset with his mother for not letting him go, and his fater too, for not telling her he could go.
He sighed. "I know. I just feel so useless now." He shook his head. "I don't like fighting, really, but... I don't want to just sit here while my friends are in danger."
Videl sighed as well as her eyes focused on the TV. Thanks to the hover cameras developed by Capsule Corp. using the Sai-jin versions as a base they had a rather good view of the area. Goku and the others had just arrived at the ring and Cell was going over matters. "I know how you feel, but we're supposed to stay here."
"Well, you can if you want." Gohan said, jumping off the bed. "I'm going to go help."
"Wait, Gohan." Videl called, grabbing his shoulder. "Don't go, not yet. Let's stay here, watch how things go. If we're there we might get in the way, your dad could get distracted if Cell came after us. Let's just wait for now, if things start to go badly we can get up there in only a couple of minutes and help. Plus, that way, we'll have the advantage too, a suprise attack."
Gohan stood there in silence for a moment and then nodded. "Ok Videl, we'll stay here for now." He moved back over to the bed and sat down again, both of the children then turned their attention to the screen in front of them. By this time Tao and Piccolo were both in the ring.
"Oh wow." Videl said, watching the fight. "The cameras are actually keeping up with them."
Gohan nodded. He'd not expected that either, even if they had been made specifically for watching battles at high speeds. He figured that, when Bulma had said that, she meant more along the lines of the powers usually seen during the Sai-jin games. He finally smiled again when, a moment later, Piccolo smashed Tao down into the ring. Then his fists tightened around the sheets of his bed as Tao countered. Suddenly he cheered. "Alright Mr. Piccolo!"
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Cell Games Ring:
Suddenly there was a blinding flash of green and a thunderous crack that echoed over the landscape for miles as Piccolo's energy encased fist slammed into the energy beam right over his head. The attack was reflected back, a shockwave flowing along its length as it was forced back up. Tao dodged off to the side at the last second just avoiding his own attack. He turned his eyes back down toward the ring again and found his opponent missing.
Before he had the chance to locate him a foot slammed into the top of his head knocking him back down toward the ring once more. His leg stretched along behind him and then drove his head down into and through the ring floor. As his leg came back up his arm reached up, his index and middle fingers touching his forhead, orange and golden energy sparking on his fingertips.
"I've had enough of you!" Tao yelled surging up toward him again a moment later.
"Same here!" Piccolo retorted. "Special Beam Cannon..." His arm snapped down, fingers aimed toward his charging opponent. "FIRE!" The spiraling beam of energy sped toward Tao at high speeds, the Cyborg started dodging to the side but thanks to his own upward momentum it was too little too late, the powerfull attack punched into and through shoulder, sparks flying out from the impact. A second later there was a loud explosion and Tao and his arm were blasted apart from each other.
The one armed Cyborg landed, right at the ring's edge, a scowl on his face. Straigtening up he turned his eyes skyward and his scowled deepened. Above him Piccolo was frowning as well. He'd intended to end the fight there. He may have taken Tao's arm but he doubted it affected the Cyborg's power. Meanwhile his had just taken quite the dip. There was only one option left.
The Namek smirked as he reached up and cracked his neck. "Looks like developing this new technique was time well spent." he said softly. He stayed where he was, letting his body relax and recover from his last attack. He was going to let Tao come to him, waste as little energy as possible, save it all for his attack. He ran his tongue along his lips, his fangs showing, as he smirked. This match was going to end with a bang.